Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau road test: what to expect
No road tests are currently given for the regular (Class R) license. Applicants under 17 submit a Road Test Waiver affidavit certifying 50 hours of supervised driving. Road tests still apply to CDLs (scheduled by phone, 601-487-7028) and motorcycle endorsements.
After you pass
Drivers under 16 for a Class R regular license (no separate intermediate license is described by DPS); 17+ may be licensed directly get a provisional or junior license first. Its restrictions:
- Under 17: an affidavit for Road Test Waiver signed by a parent, teacher or guardian certifying at least 50 hours of witnessed driving and proficiency
- No road test is currently given for Class R; only the written and vision exams
- Beginning July 1, 2027: proof of a certified Driver's Education course is required for a license. From July 1, 2026, only certificates from Mississippi public schools or DPS-certified instructors are accepted
How to prepare
- Practise in the car you'll take the test in, including parking and backing up.
- Drive the kinds of roads near the test site with your supervising driver: intersections, lane changes, school zones.
- Check the car the day before: lights, signals, horn, brakes, mirrors, tires, seat belts, and current registration and insurance documents.
- On the day, signal every turn and lane change, check mirrors and blind spots visibly, and come to full stops behind the line.
Questions
How long do I need my permit before the Mississippi road test?
At least 12 months (or until the 17th birthday, whichever comes first). Applicants 17 and older need not hold a permit and may get the permit and license the same day. Out-of-state permit time counts., with 50 hours of supervised driving.
How old do I have to be to take the Mississippi road test?
16 (after holding the permit 12 months; permit at 15½ means license at 16½) for a provisional or junior license; restrictions end at 16 for a Class R regular license (no separate intermediate license is described by DPS); 17+ may be licensed directly.
Source: Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau, checked 2026-10-27.