Driving Tests

Missouri Intermediate License Rules: 1 a.m. Curfew and Passenger Limits

informational·how to guide·Published September 18, 2026

What can you do with a Missouri intermediate license at 16?

You can drive alone, except from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. In that window you need a licensed driver 21 or older, unless you drive to or from school, work or an emergency. For the first six months, you may carry only one passenger under 19 who is not in your immediate family. After that, the limit is three. Everyone in the car wears a seat belt.

Where the Missouri intermediate license rules come from

The rules come from section 302.178 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (the law) and the Missouri Department of Revenue Graduated Driver License page. The fee comes from the DOR driver license fee page. The DOR GDL FAQ, the Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination FAQ and the Missouri Driver Guide give the same limits. This guide is current as of 2026. Where the law and a DOR page differ on a driving rule, this guide follows the law. The fee and the license term are from DOR. Confirm the rules with the Missouri Department of Revenue (dor.mo.gov) before you drive.

What a Missouri intermediate license lets you do

Who gets it: drivers aged 16 to 18 who finish the instruction permit stage.
Driving privileges: the same as a regular driver license of the same class, except for the curfew and the passenger limits.
Seat belts: the driver and every passenger, front and back, wear a belt at all times.
Alcohol and drugs: the driver and passengers must be free of alcohol and drugs, and the driver obeys all traffic laws.
Carry the license: the test paper from the Highway Patrol does not let you drive on its own.
Family rules: a parent or guardian may set stricter limits on where, when and with whom you drive.

How does the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew work?

Between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., you may not drive unless a licensed driver who is 21 or older rides with you. You may drive alone in that window only on three kinds of trips: to or from school or another educational program or activity, to or from your regular job, and in an emergency. Before 1:00 a.m. and after 5:00 a.m., you may drive alone. Try the practice question about a 17-year-old who wants to drive alone at 1:30 a.m. to test the rule.

How many passengers can you carry?

How many passengers can you carry?
Time since you got the license	Most passengers under 19 who are not immediate family
First six months	1
After six months	3

Who counts as immediate family?

Passengers 19 or older do not count toward the limit, and neither does your immediate family. The law lists brothers, sisters, stepbrothers and stepsisters, including adopted or foster children who live in your household. DOR guidance also names parents and grandparents. The passenger limits do not apply while you drive a vehicle that is used for agricultural work. Test yourself with the question on the largest number of passengers in the first six months.

How to get a Missouri intermediate license

1
Hold the instruction permit for six months
The law requires at least six months, and DOR counts a minimum of 182 days, starting the day after the permit is issued. A permit or license from another state can count.
2
Log 40 hours of supervised driving
Include at least 10 hours of night driving between sunset and sunrise. Time with a qualified driver training instructor counts. A parent, grandparent or legal guardian goes with you to the license office and signs the application to confirm the hours.
3
Keep a clean record
You need no alcohol-related enforcement contacts in the last 12 months and no traffic conviction with points in the last six months.
4
Pass the tests at the Highway Patrol
Pass the driving test at a Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination station. If your vision, road sign recognition and written test results are more than one year old, pass those tests again.
5
Get the license at a license office
Pay the $14 (U.S. dollars) fee for a Class F intermediate license (as of 2026). A parent or guardian must sign the application until you turn 18.

What happens if you break the rules?

Breaking an intermediate license rule is an infraction, and no points are assessed for that violation. Points from other tickets still count: with six or more points in a 12-month period, you may have to complete a driver-improvement program, and the program does not replace point assessment. A conviction with points in the last 12 months also delays your full license. A parent or guardian can ask DOR to deny your license with Form 4811. The guide to Missouri teen points and zero tolerance covers points in full.

What if you are not on the usual path?

You are already 18 and meet all other licensing requirements

You are exempt from the intermediate licensing requirements.

You are under 18 and move to Missouri with a full license from another state

If you are eligible for a Missouri license, you get an intermediate license. If you apply within the 30 days before your 18th birthday, you may get a full license instead.

You are under 21 and have an alcohol-related offense or a traffic conviction from the last 12 months

You can only renew the intermediate license until the offense or conviction is 12 months old, or until you turn 21, whichever comes first.

How long does the license last, and when do you get a full license?

The license is valid for up to two years from the date it is issued. If it expires on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, it stays valid for the next five business days. At 18, or within the 30 days before your 18th birthday, you can apply for a full license if you have had no alcohol-related contacts and no point convictions for 12 months. You do not take the written or driving test again. The guide to the Missouri full driver license at 18 has the steps.

Key takeaways

You may not drive alone from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless the trip is for school, work or an emergency, or a licensed driver 21 or older is with you.
For the first six months, carry only one passenger under 19 who is not immediate family. After that, the limit is three.
Everyone in the vehicle wears a seat belt at all times.
To qualify, hold the permit at least 182 days, log 40 hours (10 at night) and pass the driving test.
Next step: practice the Missouri rules on the free Missouri Class F practice test.

Missouri intermediate license: common questions

Can I drive alone at 2 a.m. with a Missouri intermediate license?

No, unless the trip is to or from school, work or an emergency. Otherwise a licensed driver who is 21 or older must be with you from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. A friend under 21 cannot be that person, even with a license.

Can I drive my brother, my sister and a friend at the same time?

Yes. Brothers, sisters, stepbrothers and stepsisters, including adopted or foster children who live with you, do not count toward the passenger limit. In the first six months, you may add one passenger under 19 from outside your family. After six months, you may carry three. Everyone in the vehicle wears a seat belt.

Does a ticket on an intermediate license add points?

A violation of the intermediate license rules is an infraction with no points. A regular traffic ticket is different: it can add points, and six or more points in 12 months can lead to a driver-improvement program.

How much does a Missouri intermediate license cost?

The fee is $14 for a Class F intermediate license as of 2026, and the license is valid for up to two years. You can pay by cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, or a Discover, American Express, Visa or Mastercard card. A card payment adds a vendor convenience fee of 2.0% plus $0.25.

Can I supervise my friend who has an instruction permit?

No. A permit holder who is 16 or older must drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 in the seat beside them. A permit holder under 16 needs a parent, grandparent, guardian, qualified driving instructor or an adult 25 or older who has been licensed for three years and has written parent permission. An intermediate license holder is under 21, so you cannot fill that seat.

Can I get an intermediate license after four months on a permit?

No. You must hold the instruction permit for at least six months, which counts as 182 days starting the day after issue. You also need 40 hours of supervised driving, with 10 at night.