Driving Tests

What to Bring to a Mississippi Driver License Station (Gold Star REAL ID)

informational·how to guide·Published August 15, 2026

What documents do I need for a permit or license in Mississippi?

Bring a signed application, an original or certified birth certificate (no photocopies), your Social Security card or an official paper that shows all 9 digits, and two proofs of Mississippi residency. Under 18, add a school attendance form that is not more than 30 days old. Mississippi issues every license and ID card with the Gold Star (REAL ID), so you do not need to ask for it.

Where these document rules come from

The document lists come from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver Service Bureau: its required documents page, its learner's permit page, its Class R license page, its fees page and its frequently asked questions page. The REAL ID deadline and the place of the gold star come from a DPS news release of April 2025. The Mississippi Driver's Manual (revised December 2024) adds the application details. 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.

The documents to bring to the driver license station

A completed and signed application. It asks for your full name, date of birth, home address and Social Security number.
Proof of your date of birth: an original birth certificate or a certified copy with a state seal and a certificate number, a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship.
Proof of your Social Security number: your Social Security card, or an official government paper that shows all 9 digits.
Two proofs of Mississippi residency, for a permit, a license or an ID card.
A school attendance form if you are under 18.
Legal name-change papers if you go by a new name.

What is the Gold Star, and do I need to ask for it?

The Gold Star shows that a license or ID card is REAL ID compliant. Mississippi issues all driver licenses and ID cards as REAL ID compliant, with the Gold Star, so you do not need to ask for it. To check a card that you already have, look for a gold star in the upper-right corner. A DPS release of April 2025 said that after the REAL ID deadline of May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID compliant license or ID card to board commercial flights and enter certain federal facilities.

Which papers count as proof of Mississippi residency?

Each proof must show your name and a Mississippi home address. A P.O. box does not count. The accepted list includes a utility bill (electric, water, gas or cable), a bank statement with a physical address, a lease or rental agreement, a school record or transcript and a Mississippi license issued to your parent or legal guardian. Junk mail, envelopes, handwritten letters and blank checks are not accepted. You may bring extra papers to support your residency, but the Driver Service Bureau decides whether to accept them.

What if your residency papers are in someone else's name?

You are under 21 and the papers are in your parent's or guardian's name

You may use documents that apply to your parent's or guardian's home.

You are 21 or older, and no bills show your name

You may use papers in your spouse's or parent's name. Bring a marriage license or a birth certificate that proves how you are related.

You are 21 or older and live with a roommate, landlord, parent or guardian

That person can complete a Proof of Domicile Affidavit. Use it with a license or ID card that shows the same address as yours, or with one other accepted document, to make two proofs.

What extra do I need if I am under 18?

If you are under 18 and have not graduated, bring the school attendance form. If you are married, bring a marriage license instead. If you graduated, bring your diploma or GED certificate. If you are home-schooled, get a blank Certification of Attendance from the DPS website, and have your parents sign it. Under 17, the Driver's Manual says that both parents must sign your permit or license application if both are living and have legal custody. The guide to the Mississippi permit at 15 has the full permit steps.

What if my name changed?

To change the name on a license or ID card, bring one of four legal papers: a marriage license, a divorce decree, an adoption order or a court order. Your Social Security card does not have to show the new name when you first change it on your license. You are strongly encouraged to update the card before you renew your license or ID card.

Mississippi permit, license and ID card fees

Mississippi permit, license and ID card fees
Item	Fee (U.S. dollars)	How long it lasts
Learner's permit (Class R permit)	$7.00	2 years
Class R driver license	$24.00 or $47.00	4 years or 8 years
ID card (new or renewal)	$17.00 or $33.00	4 years or 8 years
Mississippi Driver's Manual	Free to download, or $3.00 at a station	Not applicable

How to get ready for your visit

1
Book an appointment
The Driver Service Bureau highly recommends an appointment for all applicants. Book one at dps.ms.gov/appointment or on the bureau website.
2
Collect your originals
Find your original or certified birth certificate and your Social Security card or a government paper with all 9 digits.
3
Choose two residency proofs
Pick two papers from the accepted list that show your name and your Mississippi home address. For a Class R license, the proofs cannot be more than 60 days old.
4
Get the school form if you are under 18
Ask your school to complete the Certification of School Attendance Status. It is valid for only 30 days, so get it close to your visit. Our free practice question on how recent the school form must be checks this rule.
5
Bring payment
Bring cash, a debit card or a credit card for the fee in the table above.
6
Keep electronics out of the testing area
If you take the knowledge exam, you take it in person. Phones, ear buds, smart watches and other electronics are not allowed in the testing area.

What do I bring at 16 for a Class R license?

At 16, when you have held the permit for twelve months, bring a valid learner's permit, an up-to-date school attendance form and a Waiver of Road Testing Affidavit, together with the documents above. At 17 or older, the affidavit is not required. At this time, Mississippi gives no road test to applicants for a regular driver license. The guide to the 50-hour road test waiver affidavit explains the form.

Key takeaways

Bring a signed application, an original or certified birth certificate, proof of your Social Security number and two proofs of Mississippi residency.
Photocopies of a birth certificate are not accepted. Residency proofs must show your name and a Mississippi home address, not a P.O. box.
Under 18, add a school attendance form that is not more than 30 days old. Under 21, you may use your parent's or guardian's residency documents.
Every new Mississippi license and ID card comes with the Gold Star. Pay with cash, a debit card or a credit card.
Next step: practice on the free Mississippi Class R practice test.

Mississippi license documents: common questions

Can I use a photocopy of my birth certificate in Mississippi?

No. Bring an original birth certificate or a certified copy. A small card or a full-size certificate is accepted if it has a state seal and a certificate number. A Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship also proves your date of birth.

What if I lost my Social Security card?

Bring an official government paper that shows all 9 digits of your number. Examples are a returned W-2 or 1099 form, a pay stub with your name and full number, a military DD-214 or a National Guard NGB-22. Replace the card when you can: the Driver's Manual says that you must get a new one if you no longer have yours.

Can a teenager use a parent's utility bill as proof of residency?

Yes, if you are under 21. You may use documents that apply to your parent's or guardian's home, and a Mississippi license issued to your parent or guardian is also on the accepted list. Each paper must show a Mississippi home address, not a P.O. box. For a Class R license, it cannot be more than 60 days old.

Do I need to replace my old-design Mississippi license?

No. DPS introduced a new license design in 2024, and licenses with the old design stay valid until they expire. If you want the new design, you can buy a renewal license. To see if your card is REAL ID compliant, look for the gold star in the upper-right corner.

Does a Mississippi Gold Star license cost more?

No. The Gold Star is not an extra that you choose. Mississippi issues every license and ID card with it, so you pay only the normal fee. As of 2026, a Class R license is $24.00 for 4 years or $47.00 for 8 years, and an ID card is $17.00 for 4 years or $33.00 for 8 years.

Can I pay for my Mississippi license with a personal check?

No. License and ID card fees are paid with cash, a debit card or a credit card, and personal checks are not accepted. As of 2026, for example, a learner's permit is $7.00 and a 4-year Class R license is $24.00.