How licensing works in Mississippi
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety's Driver Service Bureau licenses drivers. Teens move from a learner's permit to an intermediate license, then to full privileges at 18.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's permit | 15 | Pass the written test. Drive only with supervision. Hold at least 12 months. |
| Intermediate license | 16 | Driver education if under 18. Night restriction (see below). No passenger limit. |
| Full privileges | 18 | Night restriction ends. |
New drivers are most likely to crash in their first months of driving alone, and night driving and carrying friends make that risk higher. Graduated licensing rules give you time to build skill in safer conditions, so you gain experience before the limits come off.
Intermediate night restriction
| Nights | Restricted hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday to Thursday | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Friday and Saturday | 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
Mississippi does not set a required number of logged practice hours, and it has no teen passenger limit. Even so, the more you practice with an experienced driver, the safer you will be.
The Mississippi written test
Before you get a learner's permit, you pass a written test on Mississippi traffic laws and road signs. Questions come from the Mississippi Driver's Manual.
- Read the whole Mississippi Driver's Manual.
- Learn every road sign by shape and color.
- Check the Department of Public Safety website for test locations, documents and fees.
- Practice with these questions until you score 90% or more.
Rules specific to Mississippi
Phones
Texting while driving is banned for all drivers, and police can stop you for it. School bus drivers may not use cell phones while driving. State law also stops cities and counties from passing their own distracted driving bans.
Seat belts
Mississippi has a primary seat belt law. Riders 7 and older must buckle up in every seat, front and back.
Child seats
| Child | Required restraint |
|---|---|
| Under 4 | Child restraint |
| 4 to 6, under 57 inches or under 65 pounds | Booster seat |
| 7 or older, or 57 inches, or 65 pounds | Adult seat belt allowed |
Impaired driving
- A first offense brings a 90-day administrative suspension.
- An ignition interlock is required for all impaired driving convictions.
Keep a safe following distance, especially at night when you have less time to react.
- Your car.
- The car ahead.
- Count seconds as you pass the same marker.
Key numbers to remember
Many test questions ask for an exact age, time or number. Use this table as a quick review before you practice.
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Permit age | 15 |
| Permit holding period | 12 months |
| Intermediate age | 16 |
| Weeknight limit | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Weekend limit | 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Seat belts required | Age 7 and older, all seats |
| Booster seat | Ages 4 to 6 (under 57 inches or 65 pounds) |
| First-offense suspension | 90 days |
Test tips
- Read the Mississippi Driver's Manual all the way through.
- Learn the numbers: 15, 16, 18, 12 months, 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., age 7 for seat belts.
- Take these practice tests until you score 90% or more.
- Review road signs the week before your test.
On test day
Give yourself plenty of time on the day of your test. Get a good night's sleep, eat something before you go, and arrive early so you do not feel rushed.
- Bring every document on the official checklist, plus your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see.
- Turn off your phone and put it away before the test starts.
- Read each question all the way through, then read every answer before you choose.
- If you are not sure, first rule out the answers you know are wrong.
- Change an answer only if you are sure you misread the question.
If you do not pass, do not give up. Look at the topics you missed, study those parts of the handbook again, and take more practice tests before you try again.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to Mississippi. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your test.