Mississippi Learner's Permit Fees: Application, Duplicate, and Other Costs

The Mississippi learner's permit application fee is $7.00. This single payment covers the vision screening and the 30-question knowledge test.

Official Mississippi Learner's Permit and Testing Fees

The $7.00 fee covers your Class R learner's permit, valid for two years. For applicants comparing Mississippi permit costs across states, this is one of the lowest first-time permit fees in the southeastern United States. Failed the test? You pay another $7.00 for each new attempt.

There is no separate "retest fee" - the $7.00 application fee includes your test attempt. Download the Application for Mississippi Driver License/ID for minors before your appointment to save time.

Review permit rules at Mississippi permit fee guide to understand all requirements before visiting the office. This prevents costly return trips and additional fees.

Is there a separate Mississippi knowledge-test or vision-test fee in addition to the $7 permit fee?

Mississippi DSB lists the regular learner's permit fee as $7. Its published driver-service fee schedule does not list a separate charge for the initial vision screening or knowledge exam. Retake questions are covered separately because the public guidance is not clear enough to treat every retest payment the same way.

How much is a Mississippi learner's permit plus a 4-year Class R license altogether?

For a first-time applicant who must complete the learner-permit step, the basic state fees are $7 for the permit + $24 for a 4-year Class R license = $31. Optional training, replacement documents, notarization, and similar outside costs are separate.

Other Costs Beyond the $7 Mississippi Permit Fee

Beyond the $7.00 permit cost, applicants often face unexpected expenses. A realistic total if you fail once is $14, plus potential hidden fees. Mississippi DPS accepts cash, credit, and debit cards at all Driver Service Bureau locations statewide.

• Notary Fees: When an adult signature is required on the current driver license/ID application, the signature must be notarized. Notary costs can add to the total.
• Payment Surcharges: Tupelo office frequently has system outages, forcing cash-only payments. Card fees elsewhere add $1-$2.
• Documentation Costs: Lost birth certificate or Social Security card? Replacements cost $20-$50.
• School Form Rejection: Gulfport applicants bring attendance forms over 30 days old, requiring return visits and another $7 fee.

Fee from a cached county site showed the old rate-a Gulfport applicant arrived $5 short and had to return same afternoon. Always check dps.ms.gov directly for current rates; county sites lag by months. Mississippi's fee schedule updates without fanfare.

Study the 2025 Mississippi Driver's Manual to avoid retest fees. Download the permit duplicate application form if you lose your permit. Biloxi branch tests frequently include school zone fines and Zero Tolerance law questions.

Paying Mississippi DPS Permit Fees: Accepted Methods Explained

The learner's permit fee is paid as part of the in-person permit transaction. For license and ID fees, Mississippi DSB accepts cash, debit cards, and credit cards; personal checks are not accepted. For the full list of payment options, see the dedicated payment-methods guide.

• There is no general payment plan for the standard learner's permit fee.
• There is no broad low-income permit-fee waiver.
• Exception: Mississippi law waives the learner's permit or driver's license fee for qualifying applicants in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS).

Retake and refund questions are covered separately in the failed/retakes and test-fee-refund guides.