Carrying, renewing and losing your license

Key points

1. You must carry your license or permit when you drive and show it to any officer who asks.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “You are required to carry your driver license or permit when you drive. If any law enforcement officer asks to see your driver license or permit, you must present it.”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 3

2. It is against the law to let anyone else use your license or permit.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “It is against the law for you to allow anyone else to use your license or permit.”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 3

3. A new resident who is a commercial driver must get a Missouri license if they moved within the last 30 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “You are an out-of-state commercial driver who has moved to Missouri within the last 30 days.”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 3

4. You may renew your license up to 6 months (184 days) before it expires.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “Since you may renew your license up to six months (184 days) before it expires”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 11

5. If your license has been expired more than 6 months (184 days), you must take the full four part exam again.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “Your Missouri driver license has been expired for more than six months (184 days).”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 6

6. Each time you renew, you take the vision and road sign tests.

   Source: Handbook p. 10

   “Each time you renew, you will be required to take the vision and road sign test.”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 10

7. The standard vision minimum is 20/40 with either or both eyes.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “The standard minimum acuity is at least 20/40 with either or both eyes.”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 18

8. You can lose your license for refusing an alcohol or drug test, leaving a crash scene, or failing to file an accident report.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “Refusing to let a police officer test you for alcohol or drugs. • Leaving the scene of a traffic accident. • Failing to file an accident report”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 14

9. Failing to keep insurance can also cost you your license.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “Failing to keep insurance (financial responsibility) (see Chapter 13).”
   Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 15

10. A parent or guardian of a driver under 18 can ask the Director of Revenue to deny or cancel that driver's license.

    Source: Handbook p. 14

    “If you are under the age 18, your parent or guardian may request that the Director of Revenue deny you a license.”
    Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 14

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Missouri practice test

1. 1. When driving in Missouri, what must a driver carry as evidence of driving authority?

   1. Only the driver examination record
   2. A vehicle title instead of a license
   3. A signed note from an adult passenger
   4. The driver license or permit
   Show answer

   The driver license or permit. A driver must carry the driver license or permit while driving and present it when a law enforcement officer asks to see it. The examination record alone is not the same document and cannot replace the issued credential. A vehicle title proves an ownership matter, while an adult passenger's note has no licensing authority. A simple cue is document in hand: carry the issued license or permit, not merely proof that a test was completed or that the vehicle belongs to someone.

2. 2. Which of these can lead to loss of a Missouri driver license, according to the guide's list?

   1. Stealing fuel from a gas station
   2. Getting a parking ticket
   3. Driving an older vehicle
   4. Moving to another county
   Show answer

   Stealing fuel from a gas station. Missouri's list of actions that can cost you your license goes beyond driving offenses. It includes failing to use an ignition interlock device when required, stealing fuel from a gas station, possessing any intoxicating liquor if you are a minor, submitting false proof of insurance, and failing to yield the right of way and causing injury. Parking tickets, vehicle age and a change of address are not on the list.

3. 3. Which paperwork failure is listed among the reasons Missouri can take away a driver license?

   1. Failing to wash the license plates
   2. Failing to carry the owner's manual
   3. Failing to keep a paper map
   4. Failing to file an accident report when required
   Show answer

   Failing to file an accident report when required. The guide's list of reasons for losing a license includes failing to file an accident report, giving false information when applying for a license, failing to settle a court judgment for damages from a crash, and failing to keep insurance. An accident report is required after crashes that meet the state thresholds, and skipping it is treated as seriously as the crash itself. The other choices are not legal duties.

Source: the Missouri Driver Guide, Chapter 1: The Missouri Driver License. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.