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Driver's Licenses
RSMo 302.171effective 28 Aug 2022

Application for license

In plain English

To get a Missouri driver's license, a person must prove they live in Missouri and are a U.S. citizen, national, or legal immigrant. The application asks for basic personal info like name, Social Security number, age, and driving history. People under 21 get materials about drunk driving dangers. A person can choose to donate a dollar or more to organ donation, blindness programs, or a medal of honor fund when applying. If someone lies or cheats on their application, their driving privilege can be taken away for one year. People 65 and older who already had a Missouri license do not have to show proof of residency to renew. Someone who has held a Missouri license for 15 or more years but is missing required documents may get one extra year to renew, but after that they must provide the proper proof.

Word-for-word law

302.171. for — form — content — educational s to be provided to s under twenty-one — voluntary to certain programs and of , when — from requirement to provide of residency — one-year renewal, requirements. — 1. The shall that an applicant for a driver's license is a Missouri resident or of the United States or a noncitizen with a , and a Missouri resident before accepting the application. The director shall not a driver's license for a period that exceeds the duration of an applicant's lawful immigration status in the United States. The director may establish procedures to verify the Missouri residency or United States naturalization or lawful immigration status and Missouri residency of the applicant and establish the duration of any driver's license issued under this section. An application for a license shall be made upon an approved form furnished by the director. Every application shall state the full name, Social number, age, height, weight, color of eyes, sex, residence, mailing address of the applicant, and the for which the applicant has been licensed, and, if so, when and by what state, and whether or not such license has ever been , , or , and, if revoked, suspended or disqualified, the date and reason for such , or and whether the applicant is making a one or more dollar donation to promote an organ donation program as prescribed in 2 of this section, to promote a blindness education, screening and treatment program as prescribed in subsection 3 of this section, or the Missouri medal of honor recipients fund prescribed in subsection 4 of this section. A driver's license, , or issued under this chapter shall contain the applicant's legal name as it appears on a birth or as legally changed through marriage or . No name change by common usage based on shall be ted. The application shall also contain such as the director may require to enable the director to determine the applicant's qualification for driving a motor vehicle; and shall state whether or not the applicant has been in this or any other state for violating the laws of this or any other state or any of any , relating to driving without a license, careless driving, or driving while , or failing to stop after an accident and disclosing the applicant's identity, or driving a motor vehicle without the owner's . The application shall contain a by the applicant as to the truth of the facts stated therein. Every person who applies for a license to operate a motor vehicle who is less than twenty-one years of age shall be provided with educational materials relating to the hazards of driving while intoxicated, including information on penalties imposed by law for violation of the intoxication-related offenses of the state. Beginning January 1, 2001, if the applicant is less than eighteen years of age, the applicant must comply with all requirements for the of an section 302.178. For persons mobilized and deployed with the United States , an application under this subsection shall be considered satisfactory by the if it is signed by a person who holds general by the person deployed, provided the applicant meets all other requirements set by the director.

2. An applicant for a license may make a donation of an amount not less than one dollar to promote an organ donor program. The shall collect the donations and all such donations in the to the of the organ donor program fund established in sections 194.297 to 194.304. Moneys in the organ donor program fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in sections 194.297 to 194.304 except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its . The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for the license at the time of issuance or renewal of the license. The director shall make available an informational booklet or other informational sources on the importance of organ and tissue donations to applicants for as designed by the organ donation established in sections 194.297 to 194.304. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one or more dollar donation prescribed in this subsection and whether the applicant is interested in inclusion in the organ donor and shall also specifically inform the licensee of the ability to consent to organ donation by placing a donor symbol sticker and issued by the on the back of his or her driver's license or as prescribed by (1) of subsection 1 of section 194.225. A symbol may be placed on the front of the license or identification card indicating the applicant's desire to be listed in the registry at the applicant's request at the time of his or her application for a driver's license or identification card, or the applicant may instead request an organ donor sticker from the department of health and senior services by application on the department of health and senior services' website. Upon receipt of an organ donor sticker sent by the department of health and senior services, the applicant shall place the sticker on the back of his or her driver's license or identification card to indicate that he or she has made an . The director shall notify the department of health and senior services of information obtained from applicants who indicate to the director that they are interested in registry participation, and the department of health and senior services shall enter the complete name, address, date of birth, race, gender and a unique personal identifier in the registry established in subsection 1 of section 194.304.

3. An applicant for a license may make a donation of one dollar to promote a blindness education, screening and treatment program. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund established in section 209.015. Moneys in the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in section 209.015; except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for the license at the time of issuance or renewal of the license. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the licensee presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.

4. An applicant for may make a donation of one dollar to the Missouri medal of honor recipients fund. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the Missouri medal of honor recipients fund as established in section 226.925. Moneys in the medal of honor recipients fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in section 226.925, except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for registration at the time of issuance or renewal. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the applicant presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.

5. Beginning July 1, 2005, the director shall deny the driving privilege of any person who commits or deception during the examination or who makes application for an instruction permit, driver's license, or nondriver's license which contains or is substantiated with false or information or documentation, or who conceals a or otherwise commits a fraud in any such application. The period of denial shall be one year from the of the denial notice sent by the director. The denial shall become effective ten days after the date the denial notice is mailed to the person. The notice shall be mailed to the person at the last known address shown on the person's driving . The notice shall be received three days after mailing unless returned by the postal authorities. No such individual shall reapply for a driver's examination, instruction permit, driver's license, or nondriver's license until the period of denial is completed. No individual who is denied the driving privilege under this section shall be eligible for a issued under section 302.309.

6. All appeals of denials under this section shall be made as required by section 302.311.

7. The for under this section shall be extended under subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of section 556.036.

8. The director may and regulations necessary to and this section. No or portion of a rule pursuant to the of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to .

9. any of this chapter that requires an applicant to provide proof of Missouri residency for renewal of a noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or nondriver's license, an applicant who is sixty-five years and older and who was previously issued a Missouri noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or Missouri nondriver's license is from showing proof of Missouri residency.

10. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, for the renewal of a noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or nondriver's license, a photocopy of an applicant's United States birth certificate along with another form of identification approved by the department of revenue, including, but not limited to, United States military identification or United States military papers, shall constitute sufficient proof of Missouri citizenship.

11. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if an applicant does not meet the requirements of subsection 9 of this section and does not have the required documents to prove Missouri residency, United States naturalization, or lawful immigration status, the may issue a one-year driver's license renewal. This one-time renewal shall only be issued to an applicant who previously has held a Missouri noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or nondriver's license for a period of fifteen years or more and who does not have the required documents to prove Missouri residency, United States naturalization, or lawful immigration status. After the expiration of the one-year period, no further renewal shall be provided without the applicant producing proof of Missouri residency, United States naturalization, or lawful immigration status.

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Source & history notes

(L. 1951 p. 678 § 302.170, A.L. 1955 p. 621, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1611 Revision, A.L. 1989 1st Ex. Sess. H.B. 3, A.L. 1991 H.B. 202 & 364, A.L. 1995 H.B. 178, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1169 & 1271 merged with S.B. 722, A.L. 1997 H.B. 783, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19, A.L. 2000 S.B. 721, A.L. 2003 S.B. 356, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1233, et al., A.L. 2006 S.B. 1001, et al., A.L. 2007 S.B. 82, A.L. 2008 S.B. 1139, A.L. 2009 H.B. 361, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision, A.L. 2019 S.B. 368, A.L. 2021 S.B. 258, A.L. 2022 H.B. 2331 merged with S.B. 710) Missouri medal of honor recipients fund created, use of moneys, 226.925

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 302.171: Application for license | KnowMo Laws