To take the permit test in St. Louis, you go to a Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination station for a 25-question written exam, a road-sign recognition test, and a vision screening. Pass all three and you take the paperwork to a Department of Revenue license office, where a clerk issues the instruction permit for $10.00. Two offices, two visits, one permit.
Who Can Apply
You must be at least 15 years old and a Missouri resident.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 302.130 – Issuance of Temporary Instruction Permit, When – Requirements – Duration If you’re under 18, a parent or legal guardian has to sign the application in person at the license office. You also need to be clear of any disqualifying license suspensions or revocations.
What to Bring
Bring originals. Copies and expired documents are generally not accepted. The Department of Revenue asks for proof in three categories before it will issue a permit:2Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri Driver Licensing Checklist
- Identity and date of birth: a certified U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or another approved identity document.
- Social Security number: your Social Security card or another document showing the full number.
- Missouri residency: at least one document with your current Missouri address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or pay stub.
If the name on your identity document doesn’t match your current legal name, bring proof of the change, like a certified marriage certificate or court order.
REAL ID or Standard
If you want the permit to be REAL ID-compliant, you need two residency documents from different sources instead of one, plus a document proving U.S. citizenship or lawful status (a U.S. passport can cover both identity and citizenship).3Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri REAL ID Information Compliant cards carry a star in the upper-right corner; non-compliant cards are printed “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES.” Since May 7, 2025, the REAL ID version is what’s required to board a domestic flight or enter a federal facility.
What the Test Looks Like
The exam runs at a Highway Patrol driver examination station, not at a DOR license office. No appointment is needed for the written test; you can walk in during regular hours.4Missouri State Highway Patrol. Driver Examination FAQs
The knowledge portion is 25 multiple-choice questions on Missouri traffic laws. You have to get at least 20 right, an 80-percent passing mark.5Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri Driver Guide A road-sign recognition section asks you to identify signs by shape, color, and meaning. A basic vision screening rounds out the visit. Plan on roughly an hour, longer if the station is busy.
Study the Missouri Driver Guide, which the Department of Revenue publishes as a free PDF. It covers right-of-way rules, speed limits, pavement markings, traffic signals, and alcohol laws. Learn the sign shapes and colors so you can identify a sign even when the text is hard to see. If you fail either portion, retakes are handled on the same walk-in basis, so come back another day.
Languages and Accommodations
The computer-based version of the test is offered in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and English. A paper version adds German, Greek, and Italian.6Missouri Office of Refugee Administration. Driver Education The Highway Patrol has been working to add Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda.
If you have a documented disability that affects reading, vision, or another major life activity, you can request reasonable accommodations by submitting Form SHP-885 to the Highway Patrol by mail or email before your visit.7Missouri State Highway Patrol. Americans With Disabilities Act Send it in early rather than arriving at the station with a request in hand.
Where to Go in St. Louis
People waste trips on this, so keep the two offices straight. The written test and vision screening happen at a Highway Patrol driver examination station. The permit itself is issued at a Department of Revenue license office. Different buildings, different agencies.
The Highway Patrol’s Troop C covers the St. Louis region. The main testing facility is the Super Site at 3180 Koch Road in St. Louis (63125), and other exam stations are scattered around the metro area. Check the Highway Patrol’s station map for current addresses and hours, because some smaller stations run limited schedules.8Missouri State Highway Patrol. Driver Exam Station Locations
Once you pass, you can take the results to any DOR license office. St. Louis has more than a dozen locations across the city and county, including Affton, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Downtown St. Louis, Maplewood, North County, Overland, Oakville, Olivette, and South County.9Missouri Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle and Driver License Office Location Map Suburban offices tend to move faster than downtown.
Finishing at the License Office
When you pass, the examiner hands you paperwork confirming your results. Take that paperwork, your identity and residency documents, and your payment to a DOR license office. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian along to sign the application.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 302.130 – Issuance of Temporary Instruction Permit, When – Requirements – Duration
The Class F instruction permit carries a $3.50 permit fee, with the total out-the-door cost coming to $10.00 after processing charges.10Missouri Department of Revenue. Permit/Driver License/Nondriver ID Fees The clerk issues a temporary paper permit on the spot, so you can start practicing right away. Your permanent card arrives by mail, typically within 10 to 15 business days.3Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri REAL ID Information The permit is valid for 12 months and can be renewed if you need more time before the driving test.
Driving on the Permit
An instruction permit does not let you drive alone. Who has to be in the front seat depends on your age:11Missouri Department of Revenue. Graduated Driver License Details
- Under 16: a “qualified person” in the front passenger seat, meaning a parent, grandparent, licensed driving instructor, or a licensed driver at least 25 with three years of experience and written permission from your parent or guardian.
- 16 or older: any licensed driver at least 21 with a valid license in the front seat.
Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt while the permit holder is driving. There is no nighttime curfew at the permit stage, but you’ll need at least 10 nighttime hours of practice to move up to the intermediate license, so don’t skip driving after dark.
What the Permit Sets You Up For
The instruction permit is the first stage of Missouri’s graduated driver license system. To move up to an intermediate license, you’ll need to be at least 16, have held the permit for at least 182 days, log 40 hours of supervised driving (10 at night, verified at the license office by a parent, grandparent, or driving instructor), stay clear of alcohol-related offenses for 12 months and other traffic convictions for six months, and pass an on-road skills test at a Highway Patrol exam station.11Missouri Department of Revenue. Graduated Driver License Details Road tests can be scheduled through the Highway Patrol’s online booking system, and some stations also accept walk-ins for skills testing.4Missouri State Highway Patrol. Driver Examination FAQs