Key points
Under Missouri's Abuse and Lose law, a driver under 21 can lose the license for 90 days.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“Missouri’s Abuse and Lose Law If you are younger than 21 years of age, your driver license may be taken away for 90 days for any of the following:”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69Altering, modifying or misrepresenting a driver license is also covered by Abuse and Lose.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“If you alter, modify, or misrepresent a driver license; or”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69A court can suspend or revoke the license of a driver over 15 and under 21 for alcohol offenses.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“If you are older than 15 years of age and under 21 years of age, a state court may suspend or revoke your driver license for any of the following:”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69For minors, consuming alcohol counts as possessing it.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“Possessing any intoxicating liquor (consumption constitutes possession);”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69At 21 or older, you can lose your license for 1 year if you possess or use drugs while driving.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“If you are 21 years of age or older, you may have your driver license taken away for one year if you possess or use drugs while driving.”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69To get your license back you pay a $45 fee and complete a SATOP or similar program.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“Pay a $45 fee, and attend a Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) or comparable program.”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69Proof of insurance must stay on file with the Driver License Bureau for 2 years.
Source: Handbook p. 69
“Proof of insurance must be kept on file with the Driver License Bureau for two years.”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 69An ignition interlock, when required, must stay installed at least 6 months from reinstatement.
Source: Handbook p. 70
“The IID must be maintained for a minimum of six months from your reinstatement date without any violations in the last three months.”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 70It is illegal to possess or purchase alcohol under 21.
Source: Handbook p. 71
“It is illegal to possess or purchase alcohol if you are under the age of 21.”
Missouri Driver Guide, Handbook p. 71
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Abuse and Lose license loss for young drivers | Handbook p. 69 |
| 21 | age under which Abuse and Lose applies | Handbook p. 69 |
| 15 | minors older than this and under 21 face court suspension for MIP | Handbook p. 69 |
| 0.02% | BAC above which a young driver may lose the license | Handbook p. 69 |
| 1 year | license loss for a driver 21 or older who possesses or uses drugs while driving | Handbook p. 69 |
| $45 | reinstatement fee after an intoxication related offense | Handbook p. 69 |
| 2 years | how long proof of insurance must stay on file | Handbook p. 69 |
| 6 months | minimum time an ignition interlock stays installed after reinstatement | Handbook p. 70 |
3 questions from the Missouri practice test
1. After a Missouri MIP suspension, what must a young driver do to get the license back?
- Pay a $45 fee and attend a SATOP or comparable program
- Retake only the vision test
- Wait five years with no further action
- Pay a $500 fine and nothing else
Show answer
Pay a $45 fee and attend a SATOP or comparable program. Reinstatement after a minor in possession suspension has two parts in Missouri: a $45 reinstatement fee and completion of a Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program or a comparable program. A vision test does not address the reason for the suspension, waiting alone does not restore the privilege, and there is no $500 fine in the reinstatement path. Drivers who ignore the program requirement stay suspended even after the suspension period has run out, so start the class early.
2. Which blood alcohol level is listed among the offenses for which a Missouri court may suspend a driver under 21?
- A BAC of .08% or more
- A BAC of more than .02%
- Any BAC over .10%
- A BAC of .04% or more
Show answer
A BAC of more than .02%. Missouri applies a near zero standard to drivers under 21. A blood alcohol content above .02%, roughly a single drink, is enough for a court to suspend or revoke the license under the minor in possession rules. The .08% figure is the adult limit and .04% applies to commercial drivers, so both are far too high for a teen. The .10% number is not a current Missouri threshold at all. For a young driver the safe reading of the rule is that any drinking before driving is disqualifying.
3. Under Missouri minor-in-possession rules, what does consuming alcohol count as?
- A driving test waiver
- Possession of alcohol
- A traffic signal violation
- No offense unless the person was driving
Show answer
Possession of alcohol. For a person older than 15 and younger than 21, Missouri says consumption of alcohol constitutes possession. That means an underage person can face the MIP process even when the issue is described as drinking rather than holding a container. Driving is not required for this rule, and it is unrelated to a test waiver or traffic signal. The practical cue is that consumption itself counts, so do not treat an empty container as protection.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with alcohol and dui questions from the free Missouri practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Missouri Driver Guide, Chapter 10: Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving. 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.