Pass Your Missouri Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You'll Actually See

The Missouri written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a 25-question, multiple-choice exam designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws and safety rules before you start practicing on the road. To pass, you must answer at least 20 questions correctly (an 80% score). You will also need to pass a separate road sign identification test.

Confidence comes from preparation. All questions are pulled directly from the "Missouri Driver Guide". To help you study, we have created this list of 15 practice questions that mirror the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Missouri Permit Practice Test

Read each question carefully and select the best answer. The correct answers and detailed explanations follow below.

1. A driver with an intermediate license is under a driving curfew between what hours? a) 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. c) 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. d) 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

2. In Missouri, when must you use your headlights? a) Only when it is dark outside. b) From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. c) When using your windshield wipers. d) Both B and C.

3. During the first six months of holding an intermediate license, a teen driver is limited to how many non-family passengers under the age of 19? a) Zero b) One c) Two d) Three

4. A solid yellow line on your side of the road means: a) You are approaching a stop sign. b) Passing is permitted with caution. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. d) The road is ending ahead.

5. A flashing red traffic light at an intersection should be treated as: a) A yield sign. b) A stop sign. c) A warning that the light will turn green soon. d) A signal to proceed with caution.

6. An eight-sided (octagon) sign always indicates: a) Yield b) A railroad crossing c) Stop d) A school zone

7. In Missouri, you must signal your intention to turn or change lanes at least how many feet before the maneuver? a) 50 feet b) 100 feet c) 200 feet d) 300 feet

8. When parking your vehicle UPHILL on a street with a curb, you should turn your front wheels: a) Straight ahead. b) Away from the curb (left). c) Toward the curb (right). d) It doesn't matter.

9. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for a driver 21 years or older in Missouri? a) 0.10% b) 0.05% c) 0.08% d) 0.02%

10. What does a triangular sign with a red border and white center mean? a) Stop b) Do Not Enter c) Yield d) No Passing Zone

11. A teen driver must hold their instruction permit for a minimum of how long before taking a road test for an intermediate license? a) 90 days b) 182 days (6 months) c) 270 days (9 months) d) 1 year

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, you must: a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel, unless on a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median. b) Slow down to 10 mph and pass with caution. c) Stop only if you are traveling in the same direction. d) Honk to alert children you are approaching.

13. A round, yellow sign with a black "X" and "RR" is an advance warning for a: a) Hospital ahead b) An intersection ahead c) A railroad crossing d) A dead-end street.

14. What is the minimum age to obtain an instruction permit in Missouri? a) 14 years and 6 months b) 15 years old c) 15 years and 6 months d) 16 years old

15. What is the standard speed limit on a rural interstate in Missouri, unless otherwise posted? a) 55 mph b) 65 mph c) 70 mph d) 75 mph

Answer Key and Explanations

1. c) 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. This is a key GDL rule for intermediate license holders.

2. d) Both B and C. Missouri law requires headlights to be on from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and at any time when windshield wipers are in use.

3. b) One. This strict passenger restriction is a major part of the GDL program for the first six months.

4. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. A solid yellow line on your side of the road indicates a no-passing zone for traffic on your side.

5. b) A stop sign. You must come to a complete stop, yield to all traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed when it is safe to do so.

6. c) Stop. The unique octagon shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs to make them easily recognizable.

7. b) 100 feet. Signaling your intention well in advance is crucial for communicating with other drivers.

8. b) Away from the curb (left). This ensures that if the car's brakes fail, it will roll back into the curb and stop, rather than rolling into traffic.

9. c) 0.08%. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or over. For drivers under 21, Missouri has a zero-tolerance policy.

10. c) Yield. The inverted triangle shape is the universal symbol for a yield sign, requiring you to slow down and give the right-of-way.

11. b) 182 days (6 months). A teen must hold their instruction permit for at least six months before being eligible to take the road test for an intermediate license.

12. a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel, unless on a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median. On a two-lane road, all traffic must stop.

13. c) A railroad crossing. This round sign is the advance warning sign placed before a railroad crossing.

14. b) 15 years old. This is the minimum age to begin the GDL process in Missouri.

15. c) 70 mph. This is the standard maximum speed limit on rural interstates in Missouri unless a different limit is posted.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the "Missouri Driver Guide". Read it thoroughly, paying special attention to GDL restrictions, speed limits, and right-of-way rules. By combining diligent study with practice tests, you'll be well-prepared to ace your written exam.