What to Bring to Your Mississippi Permit Test Appointment
Last updated 2026-08-03
Two proofs of identification, non-negotiable
Mississippi requires exactly two proofs of identification before any license or permit can be issued: a Social Security card and a certified birth certificate. If you no longer have your Social Security card, you'll need to obtain a replacement before your appointment -- there's no substitute document accepted in its place.
If you currently hold a driver's license from another state, bring that too, along with a lost-license affidavit if it's been lost -- your out-of-state license needs to be surrendered as part of the Mississippi application.
Proof of residency: two documents, real addresses only
You'll need two separate documents proving where you live, each showing a physical address -- post office boxes aren't accepted for either one. If you're under 21, you can use your parent's residency documents instead of your own.
Bring originals, not photocopies, wherever possible, and make sure the address on each document is current -- an outdated address on even one of the two documents is a common reason applicants get sent home to gather better paperwork.
School enrollment proof for applicants under 18
If you're under 18, bring a Certification of Attendance form from your school, and make sure it's no more than 30 days old at the time of your appointment -- an older form won't be accepted. If you're home-schooled, you'll need a blank Certification of Attendance from the Department of Public Safety website, filled out and signed by your parents.
If you're under 18 and married, you can show a marriage license instead of the school certification -- worth knowing if that applies to your situation, since it changes what you need to gather beforehand.
Notarized signatures for applicants under 17
If you're under 17, your application needs the signatures of both living parents who have legal custody of you (or your legal guardian or employer if that's not possible), and those signatures must be notarized. This isn't something you can arrange after the fact at the license office -- plan to have the notarization done in advance.
Whoever signs your application takes on legal liability for your negligence or willful misconduct while driving, and retains the right to later request that your license or permit be cancelled -- worth discussing with whoever is going to sign before the appointment, not as a surprise on the day.
The Computerized Exam itself
Unless you already hold a valid out-of-state license (which waives the Computerized Exam, though you'll still need to pass a vision screening), plan for the Computerized Exam as part of the same appointment. It's based directly on the contents of the manual, with particular focus on Mississippi traffic laws, safe driving rules, and licensing requirements.
If you're reading impaired, the exam includes a headset that reads the questions and answer choices aloud, so you don't need to arrange anything special in advance -- just let the examiner know when you arrive.
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More Mississippi Guides
- How Long Is a Mississippi Learner's Permit Valid?
- How Mississippi's Graduated Licensing Process Works
- What Happens If You Fail the Mississippi Computerized Exam?
- Do You Need Driver's Education in Mississippi?
Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with MDPS before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Mississippi cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Mississippi practice test.