What Do I Need to Get My License in Mississippi?

To get a driver’s license in Mississippi, you need to visit a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver Service Bureau station with proof of identity, your Social Security number, two documents showing your Mississippi address, and — if your name has changed — the legal paperwork showing that change. You’ll pass a vision screening, a written knowledge test, and a behind-the-wheel road test, then pay the license fee. Applicants under 18 have extra requirements: proof of school enrollment and time spent in Mississippi’s graduated licensing system.¹

Documents to Bring to the Driver Service Bureau

Mississippi asks for documents in three categories. Missing one means you’ll be turned away, so pull everything together before you leave the house.

Proof of Identity and Date of Birth

Bring an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship. Photocopies are not accepted.²

Social Security Number

Your Social Security card works, but so does any official government document that shows your full nine-digit number: a W-2, a 1099, a pay stub with your name and full SSN, or a military DD-214.² If you’ve never been issued a number, you’ll sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury saying so.

Two Proofs of Mississippi Residency

You need two separate documents that show your name and physical Mississippi address. P.O. boxes don’t count. Accepted documents include a utility bill (electric, water, gas, or cable), a bank statement, a paycheck stub, a lease or rental agreement, a mortgage document, a property tax statement, a voter registration card with your physical address, returned IRS or state tax forms, or a phone or internet bill.²

Name Change Documents

If your current legal name doesn’t match your birth certificate, bring the document that changed it: a marriage license, divorce decree, adoption order, or court order.²

REAL ID and the Gold Star

Federal agencies began enforcing REAL ID on May 7, 2025, with full enforcement required by May 5, 2027.³ A REAL ID-compliant Mississippi license has a gold star in the upper corner and lets you board domestic flights, enter military bases, and access certain federal buildings. Mississippi issues REAL ID licenses, and the documents listed above are exactly what you need to get one. If your current Mississippi license doesn’t have the star, you’ll need a station visit with all the documents to upgrade it, so bring everything the first time.

Documents for Non-US Citizens

Non-US citizens don’t need a Social Security card. Instead, bring your immigration documentation from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A license issued without a Social Security number is valid for one year, and you’ll bring all your immigration documents again at every renewal. If you do have a Social Security number, you can receive the standard four-year license.⁴

The Three Tests

Vision Screening

You need visual acuity of at least 20/40 in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses.⁵ If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them. Fail the screening and you’ll need to see an eye doctor before you can move on.

Written Knowledge Test

The written exam covers Mississippi traffic laws, road signs, pavement markings, and right-of-way rules.⁶ DPS publishes a free driver’s manual that covers everything on the test. Study it. The questions are specific, and plenty of first-time test-takers fail because they tried to rely on general driving knowledge.

Behind-the-Wheel Road Test

Pass the written and you’ll take the road test with a state examiner in the passenger seat. The examiner evaluates vehicle control, turns, traffic observation, mirror and blind-spot checks, and how you handle road conditions.⁶ You have to provide the vehicle, and it must have valid registration, proof of insurance, and be able to pass a basic safety inspection.⁷ Show up with expired tags or no insurance card and you won’t test that day.

Fees and Accepted Payment

The base statutory fee for a Class R operator’s license is $18.00 for a four-year license or $36.00 for an eight-year license. A card stock production fee is added on top.⁸ The card stock fee can change independently of the statutory fee, so check the current total on the DPS Driver Service Bureau site before you go.

Stations accept cash, debit cards, and credit cards. Personal checks are not accepted.⁹

Extra Requirements if You’re Under 18

The Graduated License Steps

Mississippi uses a three-step system for drivers under 18, and you can’t skip ahead.

Learner’s permit at 15. You can only drive with a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the seat next to you. You have to hold the permit for at least one full year with no DUI or moving violation convictions. A single conviction resets the one-year clock.¹⁰¹
Intermediate license at 16, after a clean permit year. You can drive unsupervised from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Outside those hours you need a supervising driver aged 21 or older beside you. Driving directly to or from work is exempt from the curfew. The commissioner may impose additional restrictions during the first 12 months.¹¹¹
Full license at 18. All intermediate restrictions drop.

Proof of School Attendance

If you’re under 18, your driving privileges are tied to your education. You must be enrolled in school, already graduated, or pursuing a GED. Stop attending school without an approved exemption and DPS can deny your application or suspend a license you already hold.¹² Bring a completed Certificate of School Attendance form signed by your school.

If You Already Have an Out-of-State License

Mississippi waives the written and road tests if you hold a valid license from another state. You still bring all the standard identity documents, pass the vision screening, pay the fee, and surrender the out-of-state license. One catch: if your out-of-state license has been expired for more than 30 days, the waiver goes away and you take both exams.¹³ If you’ve recently moved, don’t sit on it.

What Happens at the Station

You can schedule an appointment through the DPS Driver Self-Service Portal at ms.gov. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointment holders go first at most locations.

After your tests and document review, a staff member takes your photo and captures a digital signature. You’ll complete Form DL-4, which asks for your legal name, date of birth, physical characteristics, and health disclosures for conditions that could impair driving. Answer honestly. Taking an exam for someone else or using a false name is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both.¹⁴

You’ll leave with a temporary paper permit that serves as legal proof of your driving privileges. The permanent card is processed and mailed within 48 hours, and it should reach you within three to five business days.¹⁵

1
Justia. Mississippi Code 63-1-9 – Persons Prohibited From Obtaining License; Issuance of Learner’s Permits and Driver’s Licenses
2
DPS Driver Service Bureau. Required Documents
3
Federal Register. Minimum Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Acceptable by Federal Agencies for Official Purposes
4
Legal Information Institute. 31 Mississippi Code R 1-8.5 – Non US Citizen License or Identification Cards
5
Mississippi Secretary of State. Driver License Regulations
6
Justia. Mississippi Code 63-1-33 – Examination of Applicants
7
DPS Driver Service Bureau. Road Test
8
Justia. Mississippi Code 63-1-43 – Fees for Licenses Generally
9
DPS Driver Service Bureau. Driver Service Fees
10
Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Mississippi Driver’s License Manual
11
Justia. Mississippi Code 63-1-21 – Temporary Permits
12
Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Certificate of School Attendance – DL Application Supplement Under 17
13
Legal Information Institute. 31 Mississippi Code R 1-8.2 – Out-of-State Driver License
14
Justia. Mississippi Code 63-1-60 – Alteration, Fraudulent Use, or Fraudulent Procurement of License
15
DPS Driver Service Bureau. Once My Drivers License Has Been Validated by the Agency, When…