Driving Tests

Missouri Driving Test: What the Highway Patrol Examiner Checks

informational·how to guide·Published September 14, 2026

What is on the Missouri driving test?

The Missouri driving test is part 4 of the driver exam. A Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) examiner gives it after you pass the written, vision and road sign tests. You start and stop, park parallel, back up, make turns, park on a hill and drive through intersections. If you lose more than 30 points or cause a crash, you fail. The test is free.

Where these Missouri driving test rules come from

The test steps and the grading come from the Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026). The pass mark, the cost, the car rules and the retake limits come from the Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination FAQs and the Missouri Department of Revenue driver license FAQ. The appointment details come from the MSHP Driver Examination page and the DOR driver license services page. The intermediate license test rules come from the DOR graduated driver license page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Missouri Department of Revenue (dor.mo.gov) before you drive.

Who gives the Missouri driving test, and when do you take it?

The driver exam has four parts: a written test, a vision test, a road sign test and the driving test. You take the driving test last, after you pass the other three. The MSHP runs the exam at its driver examination stations, and an MSHP driver license examiner rides with you for the driving test. You buy the permit or license later, at a license office.

What car do you need for the Missouri driving test?

You bring the car; the MSHP does not provide one. It must be registered and insured, with valid plates.
Current plates and a valid inspection sticker.
Seat belts that work.
Doors that work for you and the examiner, and a clean, safe seat for the examiner.
A working foot brake and a working parking brake.
A working horn.
Proof of insurance (proof of financial responsibility).
Before you drive, the examiner checks this equipment and the safe condition of the car, including the brake lights, turn signals and inside and outside door handles. If the car is not properly equipped, or the examiner thinks the test would be dangerous, you cannot take the test.

What the examiner checks while you drive

What the examiner checks while you drive
Part of the test	What you do	What the examiner checks
Controls	Find and use the controls that the examiner names, such as the brakes and turn signals	You find each control without searching and use it correctly
Start and stop	Start, drive off and stop	Smooth, safe starts and stops, your reaction time and your control when you stop
Parallel park	Park in a space 25 feet long and 7 feet wide	No more than 18 inches from the curb, within two minutes
Backing	Back up	You look over your right shoulder through the rear window and back in a straight line
Turns	Make at least two right turns and two left turns	The correct turn signal at the correct time
Hill park	Park on a hill	Front wheels turned the correct way and the parking brake set
Intersections	Enter and leave intersections	A full stop at the correct place at stop signs, and yielding without blocking traffic
Signs and signals	Drive the whole route	You notice and obey traffic signs and signals

Do you fail the Missouri driving test for bad parallel parking?

No. Errors in the parallel park cost points, but the maneuver is worth only a few points of the whole test. You fail on points only when you lose more than 30. To review the steps, try our free practice questions on where to stop before you back into a parallel space and which way to turn the front wheels when you park downhill.

What makes you fail the Missouri driving test?

The examiner subtracts points for each driving error. If you lose more than 30 points, you fail.
The MSHP pass mark for the skills test is a minimum score of 70%.
Whatever your points, you also fail if you cause a crash with another vehicle, hit a pedestrian, drive so dangerously that you could have caused a crash, break a traffic law or refuse to drive as the examiner asks.

What if you fail the driving test?

You fail once or twice

The examiner suggests more practice before you retake the test. You may take only one skills test per day anywhere in Missouri, with a maximum of three tests.

You fail three times

You cannot test again without written permission from the Department of Revenue. The Department contacts you by mail and usually asks for more behind-the-wheel practice: 20 hours, recorded on a practice log. You send the log back, and the Department tells you when you may test again. The guide to free Missouri driver tests and retake limits has the full retake rules.

How to take the Missouri driving test, step by step

1
Pass the first three tests
Pass the written, vision and road sign tests at an MSHP driver examination station.
2
Bring your ID and the car
A teen can show a valid Missouri permit, or a permit that expired no more than six months ago, as ID. Bring a car that meets the list above.
3
Drive where the examiner tells you
The examiner tells you where to drive, turn and stop. Keep talk to a minimum and focus on the road: the job of the examiner is to test you, not to teach you.
4
Keep your test result form
When you pass, you get a form with your test results. The form is not valid for driving.
5
Buy your license or permit
Take the form to a license office (a Department of Revenue contract office) and buy your license or permit there. Only then may you drive on it.

Do you need an appointment for the Missouri driving test?

No appointment is required for the driving test of a non-CDL license. Some stations offer appointments, and the MSHP driver examination station map shows which ones. If your station offers appointment slots, booking one is highly recommended. The Department of Revenue MyDMV site also lists an option to schedule a driver test appointment with the MSHP. Without an appointment, arrive early: tests depend on staff availability and the number of people who wait, and arrival before closing time does not guarantee a test.

Key takeaways

An MSHP examiner gives the Missouri driving test after you pass the written, vision and road sign tests. The test is free.
You bring a registered, insured car with current plates, a valid inspection sticker, and seat belts, brakes, horn and doors that work. Only you and the examiner ride in it.
You fail if you lose more than 30 points, cause a crash, hit a pedestrian, drive dangerously, break a traffic law or refuse to drive as asked.
You may take one skills test a day, with a maximum of three tests. After three fails you need written permission from the Department of Revenue.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Missouri Class F practice test, which is in English only.

Missouri driving test: common questions

Can I take the Missouri driving test in a truck or my parent's car?

Yes. The vehicle does not have to belong to you. Any street-legal passenger vehicle, such as a van, truck or jeep, can be used if it has current registration (plates and tabs) and insurance. Pick a vehicle that you know well, because you must find and use its controls on the test without searching.

Will a check engine light or a cracked windshield stop my driving test?

A check engine light that is on generally is not a reason to refuse the test. A crack in the windshield can be a reason if the damage blocks the clear view of the driver or the examiner. Fix such a crack before the test day, or bring another car.

How much does the Missouri driving test cost?

Nothing. The MSHP charges no fee for the written test or the non-CDL driving test, and a retake is also free. You pay only when you buy your permit or license at a license office.

Can my parent ride with me during the driving test?

No. Only you and the examiner are in the car during the test. A parent has a different job after a teen passes: a parent, grandparent or legal guardian goes with the teen to the license office to confirm at least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training. See the Missouri intermediate license rules.

Who can drive me to the driving test if I only have a permit?

Anyone may come with you. If you drive to the station on your permit, the licensed driver beside you must be at least 21. If you do not drive there, any licensed driver may come along. A permit that expired less than six months ago is valid only for the test drive with the examiner, not for the trip there.

Which tests do I need for an intermediate license if I have a permit?

The DOR driver license FAQ says that with a valid instruction permit you need only pass the driving test, with a score of 70% or better, at an MSHP driver examination station. The DOR graduated driver license page adds one condition: you must retake the vision, road sign and written tests if your earlier results are more than one year old.