Driving Tests

Mississippi Permit Test: What Is On It and the Testing Rules

informational·how to guide·Published August 24, 2026

What is on the Mississippi permit test?

The Mississippi permit test is the Computerized Exam, a multiple-choice test that you take in person at a driver license station. It is based on the Mississippi Driver's Manual, with a focus on traffic laws, safe driving rules and license requirements. State law sets a minimum of 10 questions, and a passing score stays valid for two years.

Where these Mississippi test rules come from

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver Service Bureau sets the testing rules. This guide uses the Driver Service Bureau learner's permit page, the Mississippi Driver's Manual and the DPS Testing Policy. The question minimum comes from the 2021 act text of Section 63-1-33 (Laws of 2021, S.B. 2598). Other details come from the DPS Interpreter Oath form and the Driver Service Bureau Class R and FAQ pages. DPS does not publish the exact number of questions or the passing score. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) before you drive.

What the Mississippi Computerized Exam covers

The exam is built on the Mississippi Driver's Manual, so study the manual carefully. By law, the examiner must test whether you can read and understand road signs and give the required signals, and every exam must check that you know the school bus safety rules. The manual has sections on pavement markings, traffic signal lights and yielding to school buses. For example, try the free practice question on how far to stop from a school bus. Our practice tests are free and in English only, and they are not the official test.

Can you take the Mississippi permit test online?

No. All knowledge exams must be taken in person. You take the written exam at the driver license station when you go there to get your permit, and you cannot take it from home. This free question page shows how the knowledge exam is delivered.

How many questions are on the test, and what score do you need?

Under the 2021 text of Section 63-1-33, the commissioner must prepare and give a test of at least 10 questions on the safe and proper operation of a motor vehicle. Ask the examiner at your driver license station how many questions your test has and what score you need to pass.

How to get ready for the Mississippi permit test

1
Get the manual
Download a free copy of the Mississippi Driver's Manual, or buy a printed copy at your local driver license station for $3.00 (U.S. dollars).
2
Check that you qualify
You must be at least 15 years old and show proof that you are enrolled in school. Applicants aged 15 to 17 bring a school attendance form that is not more than 30 days old.
3
Get the right signatures if you are under 17
Both of your parents sign your application if both are living and both have legal custody of you. If not, your legal guardian or employer signs. Each person who signs must have the signature notarized.
4
Make an appointment and gather your documents
The Driver Service Bureau highly recommends an appointment for all applicants (dps.ms.gov/appointment). Bring a completed and signed application, your original birth certificate or another acceptable document (no photocopies), your Social Security card or an official government paper with all 9 digits, and two proofs of residency.
5
Pass the eye exam too
You must pass both the knowledge exam and the eye exam before you get the permit. If the eye test shows that you may need glasses, an eye specialist or optometrist must test your eyes and fill in the vision form (DE26).
6
Pay for the permit
The regular learner's permit costs $7.00 and is valid for 2 years.

Testing rules inside the Mississippi test room

Leave cell phones, ear buds, smart watches and all other electronic devices outside the testing area.
Examiners watch the testing.
If you are caught cheating or with banned items, the test is cancelled immediately.
You are asked to leave the facility, and a note goes in your record.
You cannot test again for 6 months.

Special cases: interpreters, reading help and new residents

You need an interpreter

Complete the Mississippi Interpreter Oath form, and bring the form and your interpreter to the exam. The interpreter swears before a notary public to give only a true interpretation of the questions in your language. It is unlawful for the interpreter to give answers or hints or to explain what a question means.

You have trouble reading

Have someone teach you the contents of the manual before test day. The Computerized Exam includes a headset, and the machine reads the questions and answers aloud for you.

You moved to Mississippi with an expired out-of-state license

You must take the knowledge exam. The out-of-state license exchange guide has the full steps.

How long is your Mississippi exam score valid?

Your Computerized Exam score is valid for two years. If you pass it for your permit and then bring the signed 50-hour affidavit for your license before two years have passed, you do not take the exam again. If you wait longer than two years, you must retake it. At this time, DPS says no road test is given and you are only required to take the written exam. The guide to the 50-hour affidavit and road test waiver explains that step.

Key takeaways

The permit test is the Computerized Exam: multiple choice, taken in person and based on the Mississippi Driver's Manual.
State law requires at least 10 questions and a check of school bus safety knowledge. Ask the examiner about the passing score.
Electronics stay outside the testing area. Cheating or banned items end the test, and you cannot test again for 6 months.
A passing score is valid for two years.
Next step: practice on the free Mississippi Class R practice test.

Mississippi permit test: common questions

Can I appeal if I am removed from the Mississippi permit test for cheating?

Yes. Send a written appeal to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Email it to driversed@dps.ms.gov, or mail it to the Driver Service Bureau, Attn: Driver's Education Program Coordinator, 152 Watford Parkway, Canton, MS 39046. The appeal must be received within 30 days.

What happens if I fail the Mississippi permit test?

Ask the examiner at the driver license station when you can take the test again, and study the parts of the manual that gave you trouble before your next try. The 6-month wait in the testing rules applies to an applicant who is caught cheating or with banned items.

Is the permit test different from the driver's license test in Mississippi?

No. To get a regular learner's permit, you pass the same Computerized Exam that a regular driver's license requires. If you are 17 or older, DPS says you may get the learner's permit and the driver's license on the same day, once you pass the knowledge and eye exams and bring all the required documents.

Do I have to retake the knowledge test if my Mississippi license expired?

Yes, if your Mississippi driver's license has been expired for more than 60 months. In that case, you must take the knowledge exam again before you get a new license. You can renew your license at any time within six months of its expiration date.

Is there an official app to study for the Mississippi permit test?

No. Mississippi does not currently have a state app for studying for the permit exam. Study the Mississippi Driver's Manual instead, and make sure that you use the current printable edition, which was updated in 2025.