Missouri Permit Practice Test — Written Test, 25 Questions

Free 10-question Missouri permit practice test, then full 25-question tests like the real exam (20 to pass), each question cited to the Missouri Driver Guide.

The exam

The Missouri Department of Revenue knowledge test is 25 questions, and 20 correct is a pass. Everything on it comes out of Missouri Driver Guide. Officially it is the knowledge test; most people call it the written test, or the permit test.

How this works

Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.

You read one law and the reason behind it, then answer a question on that law while it is still fresh. Get it right and you move on; get it wrong and you have found the gap while it is cheap to fix, not on the morning of the exam.

Learning one rule at a time, and proving it immediately, is what turns a manual you skimmed into something you actually know — and it makes studying feel like getting somewhere rather than like waiting to find out.

Ask a question about Missouri road law

Easier than searching the manual: ask in your own words — how far from a fire hydrant you may park, when you must stop for a school bus — and the answer comes from Missouri Driver Guide or Missouri’s code, with the page or the section it is in. When neither says, the answer says so rather than guess. Or tick Nationwide and compare every state on one question.

Ask a question

Missouri driving law, answered

Missouri driving questions, answered

What it costs

  • One payment, once — not a subscription. Nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel, for an exam you sit one time.
  • Free to start: a 10-question test and the first section of cards. No sign-up and no account.
  • Paying opens the rest of the cards, unlimited full-length practice tests, and retests built from exactly the questions you got wrong.
  • Every level up to Prepared — 3 tests passed in a row.
  • Do the work, fail the real exam, and we refund you.

What Missouri tests

143 concepts, 818 separate rules. Each one is a page of its own.

Questions from the Missouri test

Who must hold a valid Missouri driver license?

Anyone who drives a motor vehicle or motor-driven cycle on public roads. The rule covers the road, not the vehicle. A scooter on a public street needs a license just as a car does. Missouri Driver Guide, p.3: “Anyone who operates a motor vehicle or motor-driven cycle on public roadways in Missouri is required to have a valid driver license.”

What does Missouri require you to have with you every time you drive?

Your driver license or permit. A license left at home proves nothing at the roadside. The officer can only read the card in front of them. Missouri Driver Guide, p.3: “You are required to carry your driver license or permit when you drive.”

What is Missouri's basic driver license called?

A Class F, or operator, license. Class F is the ordinary card. Knowing its letter is how you tell it from the ones a truck or a bus needs. Missouri Driver Guide, p.4: “This is the basic driver license, also called an operator license.”

A Missouri nondriver ID expires on your birthday in which year after you apply?

The sixth. It runs on the same clock a license does. Knowing the year saves a trip that turns out to be too late. Missouri Driver Guide, p.5: “Your nondriver ID expires on your date of birth in the sixth year after you apply.”

At what age may a young driver apply for a Missouri instruction permit?

15 years old. Fifteen is when the state lets you start, under supervision. The permit is a learning stage, not a small license. Missouri Driver Guide, p.3: “Instruction Permit — Eligible Age: 15”

What does a motorcycle instruction permit issued at 15 and a half allow?

Daylight riding within 50 miles of home, no passengers, 250 cc at most. Four limits at once, because the rider is fifteen. Each one removes a way the ride could go wrong before skill catches up. Missouri Driver Guide, p.4: “This permit allows daylight driving only, within a 50-mile radius of home, a motorcycle of no larger than 250 cc, and no passengers.”

How are the conditions on a restricted Missouri license shown?

As restriction codes printed on the license. The card carries its own limits so an officer can read them. Nobody has to take your word for what you are allowed to do. Missouri Driver Guide, p.9: “If you have a restricted license, it will have one or more of the restriction codes shown below.”

Seizures, convulsions, or blackouts within how long before applying can call for a physician's statement?

Six months. A blackout at the wheel is the one symptom that ends a trip instantly. Six months is the window the state looks back over. Missouri Driver Guide, p.9: “You have had epileptic seizures, convulsions, or blackouts within the six months prior to your application for a license.”

How does an endorsement differ from a restriction?

It qualifies you to do something the plain license does not allow. One word adds, the other takes away. Mixing them up is how a driver reads their own card backwards. Missouri Driver Guide, p.9: “Endorsements are just the opposite of restrictions because they qualify you to do things you couldn’t do without the endorsement”

How far ahead of expiry may a Missouri license be renewed?

Up to six months. The window is there so a trip to the office can fit your week instead of your expiry date. Missouri Driver Guide, p.10: “You can renew your license up to six months before it expires.”

Your license is stolen. What does Missouri require?

That you apply for a duplicate license. Driving with no card is its own offense. The duplicate is what puts you back inside the law while you look for the original. Missouri Driver Guide, p.11: “If your license is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you must apply for a duplicate license.”

What does answering yes to the donor registry question at the license office do?

Adds your name to the registry, with no further consent needed. First-person consent means your answer stands on its own. It spares your family a decision at the worst possible moment. Missouri Driver Guide, p.12: “No further consent is needed, which relieves your family of making that decision on your behalf.”

Who may ask the Director of Revenue to deny a license to a driver under 18?

That driver's parent or guardian. A parent who thinks their teenager is not ready can say so to the state, and the state will listen. Missouri Driver Guide, p.14: “If you are under the age 18, your parent or guardian may request that the Director of Revenue deny you a license.”

What does Missouri's Graduated Driver License Law require of first-time drivers under 18?

An instruction permit, then an intermediate license, then a full license. Three stages, each one loosening a little. A new driver meets night traffic and a car full of friends years apart, not on the same evening. Missouri Driver Guide, p.15: “Missouri’s Graduated Driver License Law requires all first-time drivers under 18 years old to obtain an instruction permit and complete a period of driving with a licensed driver, followed by a period of restricted driving (intermediate license), before getting a full license.”

How long must a Missouri instruction permit be held before an intermediate license?

182 days. Six months of supervised driving is the point of the permit. The state counts it in days so there is nothing to argue about. Missouri Driver Guide, p.16: “You must have an instruction permit for a minimum of six months (182 days) beginning the day after issuance.”

At what age may a Missouri driver obtain the full under-21 driver license?

18 years old. Eighteen is the end of the graduated path. The card still says minor, but the restrictions come off. Missouri Driver Guide, p.17: “Step Three: Full Driver License (Under 21) Eligible Age: 18”

How many parts does the Missouri driver examination have?

Four parts. Four separate checks, and passing one says nothing about the others. Knowing there are four is how you turn up prepared for all of them. Missouri Driver Guide, p.18: “The driver examination consists of a four-part test”

How many of the 25 written test questions must you answer correctly to pass?

20 questions. Twenty of twenty-five leaves room for five mistakes and no more. That margin is why guessing is a poor plan. Missouri Driver Guide, p.2: “You must correctly answer 20 questions to pass the test.”

What two things does the Missouri vision test measure?

Acuity and peripheral vision. Seeing clearly straight ahead is only half of it. A car coming from the side has to register too. Missouri Driver Guide, p.18: “You must take an acuity vision test and a peripheral (side) vision test when you apply for any new or renewal driver license or permit.”

What does the Missouri road sign test check?

Your ability to recognize and understand traffic signs. Recognizing a sign is not the same as understanding it. The test asks for both, and the drawing is the whole question. Missouri Driver Guide, p.19: “The road sign test will check your ability to recognize and understand traffic signs.”

When may a Missouri applicant take the driving test?

After passing the written, vision, and road sign tests. The other three come first because they are cheaper to fail. Nobody goes out on the road untested on paper. Missouri Driver Guide, p.19: “After you pass the written, vision, and road sign tests, you may then take the driving test.”

What can fraud during a Missouri licensing examination cost you?

Your driving privilege for up to one year. Cheating is not treated as a testing problem. It is a crime, and the license is part of what it costs. Missouri Driver Guide, p.21: “Fraud is a Class “A” misdemeanor that may result in the loss of your driving privilege for up to one year.”

What does the Missouri Driver Guide call your highest duty as a motorist?

To drive carefully and prudently. Every other rule sits under this one. When two rules seem to disagree, this is the tiebreaker. Missouri Driver Guide, p.22: “Your highest duty as a motorist is to drive your vehicle carefully and prudently.”

You are turning left and a vehicle is coming straight toward you. Who yields?

You do, to the oncoming vehicle. The turn crosses their path, so the wait belongs to you. Misjudging this is one of the most common ways people are hurt at intersections. Missouri Driver Guide, p.23: “Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight;”

What combination identifies an emergency vehicle you must yield to?

A siren or air horn together with a red or blue flashing light. The siren and the light together are the signal. One without the other is not the same claim on the road. Missouri Driver Guide, p.23: “You must yield the right-of-way to police, fire, ambulance, or any other emergency vehicles using a siren or air horn, and a red or blue flashing light.”

How many lanes must a road have before the lane-change duty applies at a stationary emergency vehicle?

At least four, with at least two running your way. The worker beside that vehicle is standing in traffic. An empty lane between you and them is what keeps them alive. Missouri Driver Guide, p.23: “make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle (if on a roadway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle)”

How far before a designated stop does a school bus begin flashing its amber warning lights?

500 feet ahead. The amber lights are the warning that a red-light stop is coming. Five hundred feet is enough room to slow down instead of brake hard. Missouri Driver Guide, p.23: “Amber warning lights will flash 500 feet before the bus comes to a designated stop.”

How many points are assessed for failing to stop for a school bus?

Five points. Five points is more than speeding costs, and eight in eighteen months suspends you. One of these gets you most of the way there. Missouri Driver Guide, p.24: “Any driver convicted of an offense of failing to stop for a school bus that is receiving or discharging students shall be assessed five points.”

What does the guide say compounds the danger of passing?

Intersections, vehicles within them, and two-lane roads. Three things make a pass worse, and they often arrive together. Knowing them is how you decide not to start one. Missouri Driver Guide, p.22: “Passing is a dangerous maneuver where the dangers are compounded by intersections, other vehicles within an intersection and two-lane roads”

When does Missouri allow passing on the right?

When the vehicle ahead is making or about to make a left turn. A car waiting to turn left has stopped in the middle of the road. Passing it on the right is the only way past. Missouri Driver Guide, p.22: “only under the following conditions: • When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn;”

Why does Missouri bar passing near the crest of a hill?

Because the driver's view is obstructed. Over a rise you cannot see what is coming, and neither can they see you. The pass is committed before either of you knows. Missouri Driver Guide, p.22: “No vehicle shall at any time be driven to the left side of the roadway under the following conditions when: • Approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve of the highway where the driver’s view is obstructed within such distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach from the opposite direction;”

What is the minimum fine for a first offense of speeding in a Missouri work zone?

$250. The people beside that lane have nothing between them and your car. The fine is set high because the risk is. Missouri Driver Guide, p.22: “you could be fined a minimum of $250 for the first offense and a minimum of $300 for a second or subsequent offense in addition to any other fine authorized by law according to Section 304.582, RSMo.”

How far before a turn should you signal in Missouri?

At least 100 feet. A signal given as you turn tells nobody anything. A hundred feet is what makes it a warning instead of an announcement. Missouri Driver Guide, p.24: “You should signal at least 100 feet before you turn so the other drivers can be ready.”

With no markings to control turning, which lane should you turn into?

The lane closest to the one you came from. Taking the nearest lane on each side crosses the fewest paths. Every extra lane you cross is another car that has to guess. Missouri Driver Guide, p.24: “you should turn from the lane that is closest to the direction you want to go, and turn into the lane closest to the one you came from”

Where should a U-turn never be made?

On a curve or near the crest of a hill. A U-turn puts your car sideways across the road for several seconds. On a blind rise that is the worst possible place to be. Missouri Driver Guide, p.25: “U-turns should not be made on any curve or near the crest of a hill when your vehicle may not be seen by other drivers.”

You are turning from the right-hand of two left-turn lanes. Which lane do you enter?

The right lane. Two cars turn side by side and must stay side by side. Drifting across is how they meet in the middle. Missouri Driver Guide, p.26: “If you are turning from the right side, left-turn lane, enter the right lane.”

Why are roundabouts statistically safer than traditional intersections?

They lower speeds and remove left turns across opposing traffic. The two most dangerous things at an ordinary intersection are speed and the left turn. A roundabout takes away both. Missouri Driver Guide, p.26: “Statistically roundabouts are safer than traditional intersections because they reduce fatal and injury crashes by reduction of speeds and removing left-turns in front of opposing traffic.”

How does a driver at a J-turn intersection reach the opposing lanes?

Turn right, merge to the far left lane, then turn left. Crossing four lanes of fast traffic at once is the movement that kills people. The J-turn replaces it with three easier ones. Missouri Driver Guide, p.27: “drivers at a J-turn intersection turn right in the same direction of traffic, merge into the far left lane, and then make a left turn in the direction they intend to travel”

Which traffic regulations must a Missouri driver obey?

Those set by a municipality, a county, or the state. The sign does not say who put it there, and it does not have to. All of them bind you the same way. Missouri Driver Guide, p.27: “You must obey any traffic sign or regulation whether set by a municipality, county, or the state.”

How much of a lane does a motorcycle need?

The entire lane. A motorcycle uses the whole width of a lane to dodge a pothole or a gust. Half a lane is not enough room to ride in. Missouri Driver Guide, p.28: “You should not share a lane with a motorcycle. The motorcyclist needs the entire lane for safety reasons.”

What does Missouri law require of a motorcycle rider?

That they wear a helmet. The head is what a fall reaches first. A safety-certified helmet is the single thing that changes the outcome most. Missouri Driver Guide, p.28: “The law requires you to wear a helmet.”

What may a typical tractor-trailer combination weigh?

Up to 80,000 pounds. Eighty thousand pounds does not stop or turn like your car. Every other truck rule follows from that number. Missouri Driver Guide, p.29: “A typical tractor-trailer combination, a power unit pulling a loaded semitrailer hinged to its rear end, may weigh up to 80,000 pounds.”

What are a truck's blind spots called?

The No-Zone. Four blind spots, not one. The No-Zone is the name for all of them together, and it is where most car-truck crashes start. Missouri Driver Guide, p.29: “These blind spots are referred to as the “No-Zone.””

You have a green light and a pedestrian is still in the intersection. What must you do?

Yield the right-of-way to them. A green light clears the cars, not the people. Somebody may still be finishing a crossing that started on the last cycle. Missouri Driver Guide, p.30: “Even when you are facing a green light you must yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians in the intersection.”

What does Missouri require of drivers when a blind person is crossing?

To always yield the right-of-way to them. Someone who cannot see you cannot get out of your way. Missouri makes this duty absolute rather than conditional. Missouri Driver Guide, p.31: “Drivers must always yield the right-of-way to persons who are blind.”

Does the duty to yield at a crosswalk depend on the crosswalk being painted?

No, it applies to marked and unmarked crosswalks alike. A crosswalk exists at most corners whether it is painted or not. Waiting for paint is how drivers miss the duty. Missouri Driver Guide, p.31: “Drivers must yield when a pedestrian is in a marked or unmarked crosswalk on or approaching their side of the road.”

What should a pedestrian do before crossing on a Walk signal?

Make sure all drivers see them and stop for them. Having the right-of-way and being seen are different things. The signal gives one; looking gives the other. Missouri Driver Guide, p.30: “You may begin to cross the road after you make sure all drivers see you and stop for you.”

Where do most collisions with bicycles and mopeds happen?

At intersections. The intersection is where paths cross, and a bicycle is the easiest thing there to look past. Missouri Driver Guide, p.31: “Most collisions with bicycles and mopeds happen at intersections”

Which way must a bicycle or moped be ridden on a Missouri public street?

With traffic, never against it. Riding against traffic doubles the closing speed and puts the rider where no driver is looking. Missouri Driver Guide, p.31: “Always ride with traffic, never against it.”

Within how many feet must a Missouri bicycle's brakes stop it from ten mph?

25 feet. Twenty-five feet from walking-pace speed is not much to ask. Brakes worse than that will not stop for anything sudden. Missouri Driver Guide, p.33: “Your brakes must be able to stop you within 25 feet when traveling ten mph.”

How large may an electric bicycle's motor be under Missouri law?

Less than 750 watts. Under 750 watts and still pedalable is what keeps it a bicycle in law rather than a motorcycle. Missouri Driver Guide, p.33: “an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the three classes:”

Who or what outranks an organized funeral procession at an intersection?

An emergency vehicle, or an officer. Breaking a procession scatters people who are following the car in front and nothing else. Only an emergency outranks it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.33: “An organized funeral procession has the right-of-way at all intersections regardless of any traffic control device, except for emergency vehicles or when directed otherwise by law enforcement officials.”

How does the Missouri guide define road rage?

An uncontrolled display of anger by a driver. It starts as temper and finishes as a crash or an assault. Naming it is the first step in not joining in. Missouri Driver Guide, p.34: “Road rage is an uncontrolled display of anger by the operator of a motor vehicle”

What should you do if you believe you have seen a drunk driver?

Tell the police immediately. An impaired driver removed from the road is a crash that never happens. The call is the whole of what is asked. Missouri Driver Guide, p.34: “If you believe you have seen a drunk driver, tell the police immediately.”

Who is responsible for a parked vehicle not becoming a hazard?

The driver who parked it. A parked car cannot steer out of the way. Where you leave it is the last decision you make about it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.35: “Drivers are responsible for making sure their vehicles do not become hazards after they have been parked.”

Which of these three places does Missouri's no-parking list name?

Across a driveway entrance. Each one blocks something that has to stay open: the turns through an intersection, the route people walk, and somebody's only way out. Missouri Driver Guide, p.35: “Do not park: • In an intersection. • On a crosswalk or sidewalk. • Across a driveway entrance.”

When may a vehicle displaying a handicapped placard use a handicapped space?

When the handicapped person is in the vehicle or being dropped off. The placard alone is not the permission. The person it belongs to has to be there. Missouri Driver Guide, p.35: “Handicapped parking spaces may only be used when the vehicle displays a handicapped person placard or license plates, and a physically handicapped person is the occupant of the motor vehicle at the time of parking, or a physically handicapped person is being dropped off or picked up.”

Why do you turn the wheels sharply when parking on a hill?

So the vehicle would roll away from traffic. The wheels decide where a rolling car goes. Pointed at the curb, it stops. Pointed out, it joins the traffic. Missouri Driver Guide, p.35: “When you park on a hill, turn your wheels sharply towards the side of the road. This way, if your vehicle starts to roll downhill, it will roll away from traffic”

How far to the left of the vehicle ahead do you stop to begin parallel parking?

One and a half feet. Starting position decides everything after it. Too far out and the car will not swing in; too close and it will not clear. Missouri Driver Guide, p.36: “Stop even with the vehicle ahead of the parking space about 1½ feet to the left of that vehicle.”

Which lane do you drive in on a two-lane highway?

The right hand lane. The left of a two-lane road belongs to oncoming traffic. Being in it is only ever temporary. Missouri Driver Guide, p.37: “When driving on a highway with a total of two lanes (one lane in each direction), drive in the right hand lane.”

Where may you never pass on a Missouri highway?

On the shoulder or the unpaved part of the highway. The shoulder is where broken-down cars and people changing tires are. It is not a lane. Missouri Driver Guide, p.37: “Never use the shoulder or unpaved part of the highway to pass.”

What is a blind spot?

A space you cannot see with your rearview mirrors. Every car has them and no mirror covers them. That is why a turn of the head is part of a lane change. Missouri Driver Guide, p.37: “Blind spots are the spaces you cannot see with your rearview mirrors.”

Another vehicle begins to pass you. What should you do?

Stay in your lane and do not increase your speed. Speeding up turns a short pass into a long one, with both of you in the oncoming lane for longer. Missouri Driver Guide, p.38: “If another vehicle begins to pass you, stay in your lane and do not increase your speed.”

What does the guide say about stopping on the highway itself?

Never do it, because rest stops and service areas exist. There is somewhere designed for stopping, usually within a few miles. The travel lane is not it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.39: “Never stop on the highway itself.”

What are the entrance ramp and acceleration lane for?

Increasing your speed to match the traffic on the highway. Joining at highway speed means merging into a gap. Joining slowly means making everyone else brake. Missouri Driver Guide, p.39: “Use the ramp and acceleration lane to increase your speed to match the speed of the vehicles on the highway.”

When should you move into the lane for your exit?

Well in advance of the deceleration lane. Crossing lanes at the exit is where the late exit becomes a crash. The lane change belongs earlier. Missouri Driver Guide, p.39: “Make sure you are in the proper lane to leave the highway well in advance of the deceleration lane.”

What is unusual about driving through a Diverging Diamond Interchange?

You travel on the left side of the roadway for a short distance. It looks wrong and is not. Knowing that before you meet one is the difference between following the signs and panicking. Missouri Driver Guide, p.40: “When driving through a DDI, you will travel on the left side of the roadway for a short distance.”

What cellular number does the guide give for a highway emergency?

Star five five. It reaches the Highway Patrol directly. Knowing it before you need it is the whole point of it being printed. Missouri Driver Guide, p.41: “The cellular number to call in an emergency is *55.”

What does a broken line on the roadway allow?

Crossing it in a passing maneuver. One rule covers every line on the road. Broken means the choice is yours, solid means it is not. Missouri Driver Guide, p.42: “Lines — Broken Lines may be crossed in a passing maneuver.”

How is a no passing zone marked on a two-lane road?

With a solid yellow line. The line is doing the work of a sign you may never see. On a two-lane road it is the only warning you get. Missouri Driver Guide, p.42: “Two-lane roads may have “no passing zones” marked with a solid yellow line.”

An officer signals you to stop at a green light. What must you do?

Stop, because the officer's direction governs. The officer can see the whole intersection, including the reason the signal is wrong today. Missouri Driver Guide, p.43: “if the officer signals for you to stop at a green light, you must stop”

Where does a red light require you to stop?

At the stop line or the crosswalk. Three stopping places, in order. The first one you reach is the one that applies to you. Missouri Driver Guide, p.44: “A red light tells you to stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before the intersection.”

What does a flashing red light mean?

The same as a stop sign. Same duty, different hardware. Stop, look, and go when it is safe. Missouri Driver Guide, p.44: “A flashing red light means the same thing as a stop sign.”

What does a permissive left turn phase require?

Waiting for an adequate gap in opposing traffic. Permissive means allowed, not protected. The gap is still yours to find. Missouri Driver Guide, p.44: “Permissive — Vehicles are given a circular green or a flashing yellow arrow and required to wait for an adequate gap in the opposing traffic prior to making their turn.”

What do red traffic signs indicate?

Stop, yield, or prohibited. One color carries the three strongest instructions on the road, which is why nothing else uses it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.45: “Red = Stop, Yield, or Prohibited”

What does an octagonal sign mean?

Stop. Both shapes are unique to their message, so you can read them from behind or in the dark. Missouri Driver Guide, p.45: “Octagon = Stop”

What do warning signs like this one tell a driver to do?

Slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary. Every sign in this family says the same thing underneath: something is coming that you cannot see yet. Missouri Driver Guide, p.46: “These signs warn you to slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary because a special situation or a hazard is ahead.”

Why is no merging necessary where an Added Lane sign is posted?

Because a lane has been added. It looks like a merge and is not. The lane arriving beside you is a new lane, not a claim on yours. Missouri Driver Guide, p.46: “No merging is necessary because a lane has been added.”

What does this sign warn of?

A sharp turn with a recommended maximum of 30 mph or less. Thirty or less is what separates a turn from a curve on these signs. It is a sharper change of direction than it looks. Missouri Driver Guide, p.47: “A turn sign is used to warn of a sharp turn or turn where the recommended maximum speed is 30 mph or less.”

What does this sign warn you about?

The road becomes slippery when wet. Some surfaces lose far more grip than others when wet. The sign marks the ones that do. Missouri Driver Guide, p.47: “The road ahead becomes unusually slippery in wet weather. Drive carefully in these conditions.”

What does this sign tell you is ahead?

Another road crossing the one you are on. A crossing road brings traffic from two sides at once, and neither of them is in front of you. Missouri Driver Guide, p.48: “Another road crosses the road. Watch carefully for traffic crossing your path.”

What does a Side Road Ahead sign tell you?

Another road enters from the direction shown. Traffic is joining from one side. Which side it is matters, and the sign is what tells you. Missouri Driver Guide, p.48: “Another road enters the road from the direction shown on the sign.”

What must you do at this sign?

Come to a full stop and wait until the intersection clears. The stop is only the start. What it buys is the look, and the look is not finished until the crossing traffic is gone. Missouri Driver Guide, p.49: “When you see a stop sign, you must come to a full stop. You must wait until crossing vehicles and pedestrians have cleared the intersection.”

What does this sign tell you?

You are nearing a railroad crossing. It appears before the crossing itself, while you still have room to slow down. Missouri Driver Guide, p.50: “The round advance warning sign tells you that you are nearing a railroad crossing.”

What does a sign of this kind indicate?

Work is being performed on or alongside the roadway. The road you memorized last week is not the road today. These signs are the difference. Missouri Driver Guide, p.51: “Work zone signs are fluorescent orange and indicate some type of work is being performed on or alongside the roadway.”

What do guide signs show?

Direction and distance to cities and special areas. They are the only signs on the road that are about where you are going rather than how you are driving. Missouri Driver Guide, p.54: “They show direction and distance to various locations such as cities, airports, and state lines”

What should you look for when driving through a work zone?

Lower limits, narrow lanes, and workers. Three things change at once inside a work zone, and all three are easier to meet if you were expecting them. Missouri Driver Guide, p.52: “Stay Alert! Look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes, and highway workers”

What does the shape of a route sign indicate?

The type of roadway. Four kinds of road, four shapes. It is how a map and a roadside sign agree with one another. Missouri Driver Guide, p.54: “The shape of route signs indicates the type of roadway: interstate, United States, state, or county.”

Who does Missouri's general seat belt law cover in a passenger vehicle?

Only the operator and the front seat. The ordinary law reaches the front seats. Everything about where you sit changes what the law asks of you. Missouri Driver Guide, p.55: “Missouri law requires the operator and front seat occupants of all passenger vehicles to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.”

Why should you wear a belt in a car fitted with air bags?

Air bags do not protect you in side, rear, or rollover crashes. An air bag is aimed forward. It does nothing about the three other ways a car is hit. Missouri Driver Guide, p.55: “they do not protect you if you are hit from the side or rear, or if the vehicle rolls over”

What does Missouri require for a child less than four years old?

A child passenger restraint system, regardless of weight. Under four, weight does not enter into it. The seat is required whatever the child weighs. Missouri Driver Guide, p.55: “Children less than four years old, regardless of weight, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child.”

How often should a defensive driver check behind them?

Every few seconds. Fixing your eyes on the car in front is how the rest of the road disappears. Missouri Driver Guide, p.56: “Keep your eyes moving. Notice what is happening ahead of you and on the sides of the road, and check behind you through your mirrors every few seconds.”

Where should your right hand sit on the steering wheel?

Between the three and five o'clock positions. Low and wide gives you the most wheel to turn without moving your hands, and keeps them out of the air bag. Missouri Driver Guide, p.56: “Place your left hand between the seven & nine o’clock positions and your right hand between the three & five o’clock positions on the steering wheel.”

What does the guide call its measure of safe following distance?

The three-second rule. Distance in car lengths changes with speed. Distance in seconds does not, which is why the rule is a count. Missouri Driver Guide, p.57: “A good way to measure your safe following distance is to use the “three second rule.””

How can you help the driver behind keep a safe distance?

Keep a steady speed and signal in advance when slowing. The driver behind can only react to what you show them. A steady speed is the easiest thing to follow. Missouri Driver Guide, p.57: “you can help keep the driver at a safe distance by keeping a steady speed, and signaling in advance when you slow down”

When should you use your turn signals?

Before any turn, merge, lane change, or park. Four maneuvers, and every one of them moves your car into somebody else's space. Missouri Driver Guide, p.58: “You should use your turn signals before you change lanes, turn right or left, merge into traffic, or park.”

What does Missouri say about driving below a posted minimum speed?

It is against the law under normal driving conditions. A minimum is a limit like any other. Below it you are the obstacle other traffic has to get around. Missouri Driver Guide, p.59: “It is against the law for you to drive slower than the posted minimum speed under normal driving conditions.”

What does the guide say about carbon monoxide from a vehicle motor?

It is a deadly gas. It has no smell and no color, so the first warning is usually feeling unwell, which is already too late. Missouri Driver Guide, p.59: “Vehicle motors give off carbon monoxide which is a deadly gas.”

You see one deer cross the road ahead. What should you expect?

Others nearby. The second deer is the one that hits you, because you relaxed after the first one cleared. Missouri Driver Guide, p.59: “Deer seldom travel alone.”

Where is the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle found?

In the manual or on the door jamb. The number on the tire itself is a maximum, not a recommendation. The door jamb is where the right figure is. Missouri Driver Guide, p.60: “check the tire pressure using the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) located in the vehicle owner’s manual or the driver’s side door jam of the vehicle”

What should you do first when an officer signals you to stop?

Activate your turn signal and pull over safely. The signal tells the officer you have seen them, which is the first thing they are waiting to know. Missouri Driver Guide, p.60: “stay calm, activate your turn signal, and pull off or to the side of the roadway as soon and safely as possible”

When must headlights be on in Missouri?

From half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise. Half an hour either side of the sun is when the light fails but the sky still looks bright enough to a driver. Missouri Driver Guide, p.62: “Turn your headlights on from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise.”

What must be cleared before driving in winter?

All snow and ice from the windows, headlights, and taillights. A patch scraped clear at eye level is not the same as a clean window, and the rest of it is where the cyclist is. Missouri Driver Guide, p.62: “In winter, clean all snow and ice off your windows, headlights, and taillights.”

Why is a road especially slippery when it first starts to rain?

Water mixes with dust and oil to form a greasy film. The first few minutes of rain are the worst, because everything that settled on the road is now floating on it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.63: “When it starts to rain, water mixes with the dust and oil on the road to form a slick, greasy film.”

What is hydroplaning?

The tires riding on water rather than the pavement. The tire is no longer touching the road at all. Nothing you do with the wheel or the brake reaches the surface. Missouri Driver Guide, p.63: “On wet pavement, your tires may ride on the water rather than the pavement. This is known as “hydroplaning” and it refers to loss of traction and control.”

What does an anti-lock braking system prevent?

The wheels locking during emergency braking. A locked wheel skids and cannot steer. Keeping it turning is the whole of what the system does. Missouri Driver Guide, p.63: “It offers an important safety advantage by preventing the wheels from locking during emergency braking situations.”

What is the first thing to do in a skid?

Take your foot off the accelerator and do not brake. One procedure for both, which is worth knowing because in a skid there is no time to work out which car you are in. Missouri Driver Guide, p.64: “Take your foot off the accelerator, but DO NOT hit the brakes.”

Which headlights should you use in fog?

Low beams. High beams bounce off the fog and come back at you as a wall of light. Missouri Driver Guide, p.64: “Keep your headlights on low beam. In fog, you will see less if your lights are on high beam.”

What does the guide call the most important rule in any emergency?

Do not panic. Every procedure that follows depends on this one. Panic is what removes the others from reach. Missouri Driver Guide, p.64: “The most important rule in any emergency is do not panic.”

Your vehicle stalls on the tracks and a train is coming. What do you do?

Get out of the vehicle and off the tracks. Nothing in the car is worth the seconds. Getting out is the only step that matters. Missouri Driver Guide, p.66: “If a train is approaching: • Unfasten your seat belt, get out of your vehicle, and off the tracks.”

What does the NTSB recommend for drivers of 12- and 15-passenger vans?

Specific training on handling and operating them. They handle unlike anything else an ordinary license covers, and the recommendation exists because of that. Missouri Driver Guide, p.66: “The NTSB recommends that all drivers of 12- and 15-passenger vans obtain specific training on the handling and operation of these types of vehicles.”

Whose responsibility is it to know when you are not fit to drive?

Your own. Nobody else is going to make the call for you, and the thing impairing you is the thing making the call. Missouri Driver Guide, p.67: “it is your responsibility to know when you are not in shape to drive”

What is the blood alcohol content limit for an adult Missouri driver?

0.08%. Point zero eight is the line for an adult driver. Below it you can still be charged; above it the number alone is the offense. Missouri Driver Guide, p.71: “It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more”

What two kinds of action may be taken against an impaired driver?

Administrative actions and court convicted actions. Two separate processes run at once. Winning one does not end the other. Missouri Driver Guide, p.67: “There are administrative actions and court convicted actions, which carry different penalties.”

Under Missouri's Abuse and Lose law, how long may an under-21 driver lose their license?

90 days. The Abuse and Lose law reaches offenses that are not driving offenses at all. Missouri Driver Guide, p.69: “If you are younger than 21 years of age, your driver license may be taken away for 90 days for any of the following:”

Which of these can cost a Missouri driver under 21 their license?

Attempting to purchase intoxicating liquor. Attempting counts. The offense is complete before anything has been bought. Missouri Driver Guide, p.69: “Purchasing or attempting to purchase any intoxicating liquor;”

How long is your license taken away for refusing a chemical test?

One year. Refusing does not avoid the consequence. It substitutes a fixed one that is longer than a first offense suspension. Missouri Driver Guide, p.70: “If a police officer stops you and you refuse to take a chemical test to determine your BAC, your driver license will be taken away for one year.”

What does an ignition interlock device connect to?

The ignition, horn, and headlights. It is wired to more than the starter, so a driver cannot simply ignore it once the engine is running. Missouri Driver Guide, p.70: “An ignition interlock device (IID) is a mechanical unit that is connected to the vehicle’s ignition, horn, and headlights, and measures the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath.”

What does alcohol do to a driver's reflexes?

Slows them and decreases reaction time. Reaction time is most of what driving is. Slowing it is the first thing alcohol does. Missouri Driver Guide, p.71: “Alcohol slows reflexes and decreases reaction time, making it unsafe for drivers to quickly react to a variety of situations.”

What does the guide say about medication taken as directed?

It can still impair driving. Taken as directed is not the same as safe to drive on, and the label is where the difference is written. Missouri Driver Guide, p.71: “Remember that all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, are potentially dangerous and can impair driving, even when taken as directed.”

Where does marijuana rank among drugs cited in car crashes?

Second, after alcohol. Second on a list nobody wants to be on, and the gap between first and second is not as wide as people assume. Missouri Driver Guide, p.72: “Marijuana is the second most cited drug in car crashes, after alcohol.”

When does the Department add points to your driving record?

On conviction for a moving violation. The points follow the conviction, not the ticket, and only for offenses committed while moving. Missouri Driver Guide, p.73: “When you are convicted of a traffic violation, while your vehicle was in motion, the Department receives notice and adds points to your driving record.”

How many points does a Missouri speeding conviction carry?

Three points. Three points is a quarter of the way to a revocation, from one ordinary ticket. Missouri Driver Guide, p.73: “Speeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 points”

How many points in 12 months brings a point accumulation advisory?

Four points. The advisory is a warning shot. Nothing has been taken yet, and that is the point of sending it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.73: “If you accumulate a total of 4 points in 12 months, the Department will send you a point accumulation advisory.”

What does the Department reduce your points to on reinstatement?

Four points. You do not come back with a clean sheet. Four points is the balance you restart on. Missouri Driver Guide, p.74: “the Department reduces your total points to four”

What may happen if you drive while suspended?

Your driving privilege may be revoked for one year. Driving through a suspension turns a month into a year, and a suspension into a revocation. Missouri Driver Guide, p.74: “If you drive while your license is suspended, your driving privilege may be revoked for one year after you are convicted.”

How long does the court give you to pay before notifying the Driver License Bureau?

30 days to pay. Thirty days is a real second chance, and the clock starts without you being told twice. Missouri Driver Guide, p.74: “The court will give you 30 days to pay the fines before the court notifies the Driver License Bureau (DLB).”

How long do you have to apply for a Missouri vehicle title after buying?

30 days. Thirty days is not long, and the penalty is what the state uses to make sure it is noticed. Missouri Driver Guide, p.75: “When you buy a vehicle, you must apply for a title within 30 days.”

How long does a new Missouri resident have to register their vehicle?

30 days. The same thirty days as the title, and the clock starts when you become a resident rather than when you notice. Missouri Driver Guide, p.76: “If you are a new Missouri resident, you must register your vehicle within 30 days of becoming a Missouri resident.”

How long do you have to report the sale of your vehicle in Missouri?

Thirty days. Until the state is told, the car is still yours on paper, and so is whatever happens with it. Missouri Driver Guide, p.78: “State law requires you to report the sale of your motor vehicle or all-terrain vehicle by completing a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) and submitting it to any license office or to the address on the form within 30 days.”

What does Missouri law require of all motor vehicle operators and owners?

A form of liability insurance. The insurance is not for your car. It is for whatever you do to somebody else's. Missouri Driver Guide, p.79: “State law requires all motor vehicle operators and owners to have a form of liability insurance.”

What happens if you cannot show proof of insurance when an officer asks?

You will receive a ticket. The proof has to be with the car, because that is where the officer is standing. Missouri Driver Guide, p.80: “If a law enforcement officer asks you for proof and you cannot show it, you will receive a ticket.”

What does a first insurance suspension require to end it?

A $20 fee and proof of insurance filed for three years. The fee is small and the filing is long. Three years is the part that costs. Missouri Driver Guide, p.80: “Your driver license and/or license plates will be suspended until you: – Pay a $20 fee. – File proof of insurance. You are required to do this for three years.”

What does Missouri say about leaving the scene of a crash with a parked vehicle?

It is a crime. A parked car has an owner who will come back to it. Driving off is the offense, not the collision. Missouri Driver Guide, p.81: “Even if you have a crash with a parked vehicle, do not leave. Leaving the scene of a traffic crash is a crime.”

What does Missouri law require after a minor, non-injury crash?

That the vehicles are moved off the road. The lane is worth more than the evidence. Missouri decided that in law rather than leaving it to drivers. Missouri Driver Guide, p.81: “A state law that took effect ten years ago requires vehicles involved in minor, non-injury crashes to move off the road.”

How long do you have to file a Missouri accident report?

Within 30 days. Thirty days again, and the report is separate from whatever the police did at the scene. Missouri Driver Guide, p.81: “State law requires the accident report to be filed within 30 days.”

How long is a Missouri safety inspection good for?

Two registration years, unless the vehicle is sold. Two years, and selling the car ends it early because the next owner has not seen the inspection. Missouri Driver Guide, p.83: “Your vehicle safety inspection is good for two registration years unless you sell the vehicle.”

How many functioning headlights must a Missouri vehicle have?

At least two. Two, because one headlight reads to an oncoming driver as a motorcycle at an unknown distance. Missouri Driver Guide, p.84: “Your vehicle must have at least two functioning white headlights.”

From how far must a Missouri rear license plate be visible under its light?

50 feet. Fifty feet is close, which is the point: the plate only has to be readable from behind. Missouri Driver Guide, p.85: “Your vehicle must have a white light shining on the rear license plate so the plate can be seen from 50 feet.”

Which area requires Missouri emissions inspections?

St. Louis City and four surrounding counties. One city and four counties. Everywhere else in Missouri, the emissions test does not apply. Missouri Driver Guide, p.85: “Motorists residing in St. Louis City and the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson are also required to have emissions inspections, if applicable.”

How does the guide define a distraction?

Anything that prevents you operating the car safely. The definition is about the effect, not the object. Anything that takes the car out of your control qualifies. Missouri Driver Guide, p.92: “Events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely are distractions.”

Whom does Missouri's electronic communication device law cover?

Every driver, commercial or not. The rule covers every driver and every road the public can use, not just highways. Missouri Driver Guide, p.93: “It is against the law for any driver of a noncommercial or commercial motor vehicle, on any highway or property open to the public for vehicular traffic, to use an electronic communication device.”

What does a posted speed limit actually tell a Missouri driver?

The maximum allowed in ideal conditions. The sign is a ceiling, not a promise. Hills, rain and a blind curve all sit underneath it, and the guide says by law you must slow down for them. Missouri Driver Guide, p.50: “The speed limit is the maximum allowable speed in ideal conditions.”

Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against Missouri Driver Guide, published by the Missouri Department of Revenue, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-16.