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The Department of Public Safety suspended road tests as a requirement to obtain a license during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five years later, the state hasn’t reinstated the test, and no legislation changes appear to be on the horizon.
So what do you need to obtain a drivers license? Is there any pending legislation to change those requirements? Do requirements for senior drivers differ?
What is required to obtain a driver’s license?
Mississippi suspended its behind-the-wheel road test requirement in 2020 to reduce in-person contact at driver service locations, Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Derrick Beckom told The Dispatch at the time.
Commissioner of Public Safety Sean Tidell told media outlets the following year that the road test would not return. He noted the test had become limited in scope to just a short drive through a parking lot and said mandated drivers’ education courses and supervised driving through a learner’s permit were more effective ways to evaluate readiness behind the wheel.
Now, to obtain a driver’s license in Mississippi, applicants must be at least 16 and are required to pass a knowledge exam and undergo a vision screening. Applicants under the age of 18 must also provide proof of school attendance, a signed affidavit confirming 50 hours of supervised driving and a guardian’s consent.
Drivers age 16 must have held a learner’s permit for at least 12 months, while drivers aged 17 and older can obtain a license without a learner’s permit.
Have there been efforts to reinstate the road test?
Since being suspended, there has been no proposed legislation to restore the state’s road test requirement.
But in May 2024, Gov. Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2695 into law, expanding driver’s education in public schools.
The bill requires secondary schools serving grades nine through 12 to establish and maintain a formal drivers’ education program by the 2026-2027 school year. Instruction must include both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training.
While the law expands access to driver education, it does not include a return to any state-administered driving test.
Earlier this year, lawmakers considered House Bill 1026, which proposed requiring drivers age 55 or older whose licenses had expired for more than five years to retake the road test, though the bill died in committee.
What requirements exist for senior drivers?
Recent rumors have gained popularity online, claiming federal or state laws will soon require senior drivers to take a mandatory eye exam to renew their licenses.
District 17 Sen. Chuck Younger, R-Lowndes County, who chairs the state Senate’s Highways and Transportation Committee, says these claims are false.
“It’s a rumor on Facebook that we did something like that, and it’s not true,” Younger told The Dispatch. “… It’s just bullcrap on Facebook.”
The only time a vision test is required is if you are getting a license for the first time, or if you are from outside the state trying to obtain a Mississippi license, Younger said.
The Department of Public Safety does not outline any special requirements for senior drivers, though DPS does have a process for evaluating whether a person is medically fit to drive.
A family member, friend or concerned citizen can submit a concern to the Driver Service Bureau. If accepted, the department may require the driver to provide a physician’s evaluation or participate in a driving evaluation.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
