US driving theory test practice

Mississippi DMV Cheat Sheet

A condensed study guide for the MDPS written knowledge test — test logistics, plus the Mississippi-specific rules most likely to differ from what you already know. This isn't a substitute for the official Mississippi driver's manual, or for practicing the real questions. Looking for the core rules and signs that apply everywhere, not just Mississippi? Check the general driving theory cheat sheet instead.

30Questions
80%To Pass
$7 Learner's Permit; $24 (4-year) or $47 (8-year) Regular Class R licenseFee

Mississippi-Specific Rules

Minor & Provisional Licensing

  • A Regular Learner's Permit is available at 15, held one year (unless the holder turns 17 first), valid two years, and requires a licensed adult 21+ in the seat next to the holder.
  • The Learner's Permit requires the same Computerized Exam as the Regular Driver's License.
  • A passed Computerized Exam score stays valid two years; a 50 hour supervised-driving affidavit plus a School Attendance Affidavit submitted before then avoids a retest.
  • A Regular Driver's License is available at 16 (permit held one year), at 17+ regardless of prior permits, or after six months holding a valid out-of-state license.
  • An under-17 applicant can submit a Road Test Waiver affidavit (50 hours of witnessed supervised driving) instead of taking an actual road test.
  • Applicants under 18 need a Certification of Attendance no more than 30 days old, unless married (a marriage license substitutes).
  • If the applicant is under 17, the application needs both living parents' notarized signatures (or a guardian/employer's); the signer becomes liable for the applicant's negligence.
  • Beginning July 1, 2027, a Class R license will require documented completion of a certified Driver's Education and Training Program -- not currently required.

Licensing Procedure & Documents

  • A new resident must get a Mississippi driver's license within 60 days of moving, but only has 30 days to get a Mississippi license plate/tag.
  • Proof of residency requires two documents with a physical address (no PO boxes); under-21 applicants may use a parent's documents instead.
  • Two proofs of identification are required: a Social Security card and a certified birth certificate.
  • A license may be renewed up to six months before its expiration date.
  • A licensee out of state on military service when their license expires gets 90 days after discharge or returning to renew, with no delinquent fee and ordinarily no exam.
  • A Regular Class R license costs $24 for a 4-year term or $47 for an 8-year term; a driver under 21 pays a flat $24 for a 4-year license.

Vehicle Equipment & the Squatted Vehicle Law

  • The Squatted Vehicle Law bans driving a passenger vehicle whose front fender sits four or more inches higher than the rear fender due to modification.
  • A vehicle's foot brake must stop it within 30 feet from 20 mph; its parking brake within 55 feet from 20 mph.
  • A vehicle's horn must be audible from 200 feet away; sirens, exhaust whistles, and spark whistles are illegal.
  • No more than one spotlight and three auxiliary lights are allowed (never red or blue), and no more than four lights besides headlights may burn at once.
  • Mississippi doesn't legally require a rearview mirror -- only a side mirror if the vehicle's body blocks the driver's rear view.
  • Aftermarket window tint requires inspection plus a $5 compliance certificate and decal, with at least 28% light transmittance still required.

Rules of the Road

  • Default speed limits: 70 mph interstates (40 mph minimum), 65 mph four-lane state/US highways (40 mph minimum), 55 mph two-lane state/US highways, 50 mph Natchez Trace Parkway.
  • School zone speed limit is 15 mph; a school bus is capped at 45 mph on regular routes, 65 mph on interstates.
  • Stop at least 10 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights, regardless of direction of travel, and stay stopped until children clear and the bus resumes moving.
  • On a divided highway with four or more lanes (two or more each direction), opposite-direction traffic doesn't have to stop for a school bus, but same-direction traffic still must.
  • Low-beam headlights are required within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, or when following within 500 feet of another vehicle.
  • Parking is banned within 20 feet of an intersection crosswalk, 30 feet of a traffic control device approach, and 15 feet of a railroad crossing.
  • A parallel-parked vehicle must be within 12 inches of the curb.
  • An accident causing injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage must be reported to law enforcement.

Child Passenger Safety & Seat Belts

  • The seat belt law covers the driver and every passenger, front or back.
  • Children under 4 must ride in a car seat that meets applicable safety standards.
  • Children at least 4 but under 7 years old who are under 4 feet 9 inches or under 65 pounds must ride in a booster seat.
  • Children under 13 are recommended to always ride in the back seat.

DUI & Alcohol Laws

  • The legal BAC threshold is .08% for a driver 21+, but Zero Tolerance sets it at .02% for a driver under 21 -- unless that driver's BAC reaches .08%+, which is charged as a standard DUI instead.
  • Refusing a breath/chemical test means an immediate license surrender for a temporary permit valid 45 days, plus an administrative suspension of 90 days.
  • Testing at or over the BAC limit means surrendering your license for a temporary permit valid only 30 days.
  • A first DUI conviction brings a $250-$1,000 fine, up to 48 hours jail, and a 120-day suspension; a second within five years brings $600-$1,500, 5 days-6 months jail, and a 1-year suspension.
  • A third DUI conviction within five years is a felony (1-5 years custody, then 3 years interlock-only); a fourth or later is 2-10 years custody, then 10 years interlock-only.
  • Zero Tolerance DUI penalties escalate from a $250 fine/120-day suspension on a first offense to up to $1,000/2-year suspension (or until 21, whichever is longer) on a third offense within five years.
  • A first-offense DUI conviction combined with a test refusal adds a 90-day suspension on top of the original penalty.

Crashes, Insurance & License Actions

  • Minimum liability insurance is $25,000 single person/single accident, $50,000 for two or more people, and $25,000 property damage (25/50/25).
  • After an accident without proof of insurance, a driver risks suspension unless they show an existing policy, a $15,000 deposit/securities, self-insurance (25+ vehicle fleet), a bond, or a liability release.
  • A full one-year revocation applies for offenses including vehicular manslaughter, a felony using a vehicle, hit-and-run, perjury about vehicle ownership, or three reckless driving convictions within a twelve-month period.
  • Reinstatement fees: $175 for a DUI/Implied Consent conviction, $25 for failure to pay child support, $100 for all other suspensions.
  • A license may be suspended without a hearing for reasons including being a habitually reckless driver, an out-of-state DUI conviction, fraudulent license use, or failure to pay child support.
Want the core rules and road signs that apply everywhere, not just Mississippi?General cheat sheet →

Rules and fees change — always confirm current details with MDPS before your exam. Cheat sheet v1.0, last checked 2026-08-03.