Last verified: 23/09/2026
Mississippi at a glance
This guide explains Driver's License requirements in Mississippi, including eligibility, documents, application steps, testing, fees and renewal.
Eligibility & Age Rules
<p>A regular learner’s permit requires the applicant to be at least 15 and enrolled in school. A 16-year-old generally must hold the learner’s permit for 12 months or until age 17 before qualifying for a regular license. Applicants 17 or older may obtain the learner’s permit and Class R license on the same day when all requirements are met.</p>
Costs, timing and validity
Regular learner's permit: 15. A regular Class R driver's license can be issued at 16 after the applicable learner's permit period; applicants 17 or older can obtain the permit and license on the same day when they meet the requirements.
$24 for a 4-year regular Class R license or $47 for an 8-year regular Class R license. A regular learner's permit is $7.
$24 for a 4-year regular Class R renewal or $47 for an 8-year renewal. A $1 late-renewal fee applies when the license is renewed after expiration.
Regular Class R licenses are available for 4 or 8 years. The applicant's age and credential type determine the available term.
Documents and information to prepare
Use the official checklist linked on this page as the final authority. The items below describe the information this state commonly expects for this credential.
Applicants must provide a completed application, original birth certificate or acceptable substitute, Social Security card or qualifying government correspondence, and two proofs of Mississippi residency. Applicants under 18 generally also need a current school-attendance form and required parental documentation.
How to apply
Complete the application, provide the required identity, Social Security, residency and school documents, pass the knowledge and vision examinations for the permit, complete the required permit period when applicable, then obtain the Class R license through the Driver Service Bureau.
Testing, Training & Restrictions
<p>Applicants must pass the knowledge and eye examinations before receiving a learner’s permit. The Driver Service Bureau’s current process allows qualifying applicants age 16 who complete the required permit period to use the road-testing waiver affidavit; applicants 17 and older can obtain the license without the 12-month permit period.</p>
Renewal and ongoing requirements
<p>A Mississippi license can be renewed up to 6 months before expiration. Licenses that have not been expired for more than 12 months may generally be renewed online or at a Driver Service station. After 12 months, renewal must be completed in person and the $1 late fee applies.</p>
Processing time
Processing depends on the Driver Service station, document verification and credential production. Applicants should follow the station's instructions for permanent credential delivery.