Like many states, Missouri has introduced a Graduated Driver’s License program to help young drivers, who are at least 15 years old, gain the driving experience they need to become fully-capable, independent drivers by the time they turn 18.
Getting your driver's license can be a big deal if you're a teen. That little card with the unflattering photo of you can be your passport to freedom and responsibility. But the legal driving age varies from state to state, so car insurance
app and driver's license genius, Jerry
,has created this guide to getting your driver's license in the state of Missouri. And, before you hit the road, we'll also show you how to score cheap car insurance in Missouri
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What is the driving age in Missouri?
In Missouri, you must be at least 15 years of age to apply for a Graduated Driver’s License—or GDL. To obtain your fully unrestricted license, you must be at least 17 years and 11 months old.
What is the Graduated Drivers License program in Missouri?
The state of Missouri introduced the Graduated Driver’s License Program in January of 2001 in an effort to reduce the number of car accidents involving teen drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
, drivers aged 16–19 are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash than older drivers. In 2000—the year before the state’s GDL program was introduced—97 drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 were killed in car crashes on Missouri roads. The GDL program allows teen drivers to gain the skills and experience needed to become safe, responsible drivers before full, unrestricted driving privileges are bestowed upon them. And it works! Missouri has experienced a 44% decrease in teen driver fatalities since the program was introduced.
The GDL program in Missouri consists of three stages:
Instruction permit stage: supervised driver training period
Intermediate license stage: conditional unsupervised driving period
Full driver license stage: unsupervised, unrestricted standard driver’s license
How to get your instruction permit in Missouri
According to Missouri’s Department of Revenue, all Missouri drivers under the age of 18 are required to complete a period of driving with an instruction permit and an intermediate license before they are allowed to obtain their full driver’s license.
Here’s what you’ll need in order to obtain an instruction permit:
You must be at least 15 years old
Provide a certified U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport, or U.S. military identification card or discharge papers alongside a U.S. birth certificate
Pass a vision test, road sign, and written test
Purchase an instruction permit at the License Contract Office
Provide a social security number and proof of Missouri address
A qualified person must accompany you to sign a permission statement
Remember to get yourself a copy of the Missouri Driver Guide
to study for the big test. You can find a copy on the Missouri Department of Revenue website, and an audio version is available on YouTube
. The written examination is a 25-question multiple-choice test on traffic laws and driving methods. It is not an open-book test. Once you have passed the required tests, a qualified person—parent or guardian—will need to accompany you to the License Contract Office to sign a permission statement. Once all of these steps have been successfully completed, you’ll have yourself a Missouri instruction permit.
Instruction permit restrictions
Your instruction permit must be carried with you in the car at all times and is valid for 12 months, at which point it can be renewed for $3.50.
A driver with an instruction permit under the age of 16 may only drive with a qualified person, grandparent, or qualified driving instructor. Drivers over 16 may drive with a person who is over 21 years of age and who also has a valid driver’s license. A driver with an instruction permit may not drive alone under any circumstances.
How to get your intermediate driver’s license in Missouri
Once you have your instruction permit, you can begin working toward obtaining your intermediate driver’s license
In order to qualify for your intermediate driver’s license, you must satisfy the following criteria:
Hold a Missouri instruction permit for at least 182 days
Received 40 hours of total driving instruction from a qualified instructor
Received a minimum of 10 hours of night-time driving instruction from a qualified instructor
No alcohol-related convictions in the previous 12 months
No traffic convictions in the previous six months
Pass a road sign recognition test
You have three chances to pass your driver’s test, and you cannot take more than one test per day. If you fail your driving test three times, you will not be allowed to test again without special permission from the Department of Revenue.
Intermediate driver’s license restrictions
Now that you’ve got your first driver’s license you’ll find that you have a lot more freedom, but a lot more responsibility. Under Missouri law, you can now drive a car alone—with certain limitations.
During your first six months with your intermediate license, you may not drive with more than one passenger who is under the age of 19 and who is not a member of your immediate family. So, driving your two 18-year-old buddies is a no-no, but driving your 18-year-old buddy and your 16-year-old brother is fine. After that first six months, your number of under-19 non-family passengers increases to three.
You must carry your intermediate license with you at all times, and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts. Your intermediate license also prohibits you from driving between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Exceptions
The state of Missouri will make an exception and allow you to drive during restricted hours in certain scenarios, including:
Traveling to and from a school activity
Traveling to and from work
If you are accompanied by a licensed driver over the age of 21
How to save on car insurance in Missouri
Congratulations you’ve finally earned your full Missouri driver’s license. Now all you need is some good car insurance to keep you protected while you’re out on the road. That’s where licensed broker app
, Jerry,
comes in. Jerry’s whole mission is to save drivers money on car insurance
by comparing rates from over 50 top insurance providers. It’s really easy: just download the app and enter your information. You’ll see all the best quotes that match the type of coverage you need. And Jerry is a licensed insurance broker, so you can switch providers right in the app without any hassle. Jerry’s helped over 2 million customers save big bucks—to the tune of over $800 a year.
“I was worried that adding my 16 year old daughter would spike my insurance rates. I called and spoke to Tim, who was pleasant to work with and got me new rate savings. Jerry
really helped me save thousands.” —Marshall D.
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