Missouri Legal Ages

Legal ages in Missouri

1. Age 7

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Missouri requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 7.

     An enrolled child aged 5 to 7 must attend while enrolled.

     Missouri law · RSMo 167.031.4(1)

2. Age 8

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 8; after that a seat belt can be used.

     Earlier once the child weighs 80 pounds or is taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

     Missouri law · RSMo § 307.179.2(3)-(4)

3. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     Missouri bars employment of children under 14 in any occupation, except as the child labor law allows.

     Exceptions include some entertainment work.

     Missouri law · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 294.021

4. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Missouri issues a temporary instruction permit at 15.

     Missouri law · RSMo § 302.130.1

5. Age 16

   • No work permit needed

     Missouri requires a school-issued work certificate for children under 16 who work during the school term.

     Missouri law · Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 294.011, 294.024

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     An intermediate license for driving alone is available at 16 after six months with a permit.

     Requires 40 hours of supervised driving, 10 at night.

     Missouri law · RSMo § 302.178.1

6. Age 17

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Missouri's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 17th birthday.

     Attendance also ends once a student completes 16 credits toward graduation. A metropolitan school district (St. Louis City) may lower its age to 16 by board resolution (RSMo 167.031.4(2)).

     Missouri law · RSMo 167.031.4(1)

7. Age 17 and 6 months

   • Can pre-register to vote

     Missouri lets residents register to vote at 17 and 6 months, to vote in elections held on or after their 18th birthday.

     Missouri law · RSMo § 115.133(1)

8. Age 18

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     From 18, a person can be tattooed without a parent's consent.

     Missouri law · RSMo 324.520.1(4); RSMo § 324.520.2

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 18.

     Missouri law · RSMo § 431.055

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     A minor emancipated by a court, marriage or active military duty can also make a will.

     Missouri law · RSMo 474.310

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     Missouri law · RSMo 451.090(1)-(2) (eff. Aug. 28, 2025; A.L. 2025 H.B. 737 & 486 merged with S.B. 43)

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 18.

     A birth parent can file a contact preference; both birth parents objecting can block release.

     Missouri law · RSMo 193.128(3)(1)

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     Missouri tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     A juvenile court can transfer some younger defendants to adult court for serious offenses.

     Missouri law · RSMo § 211.021(2)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     State law bars selling lottery tickets to anyone under 18.

     Missouri law · RSMo 313.280

9. Age 21

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Missouri can keep a driver with recent point convictions on the intermediate license until they are eligible for a six-year license at 21.

     With 12 months free of point convictions and alcohol-related contacts, an intermediate licensee can get a full license at 18 (or in the 30 days before) under RSMo § 302.178.6(1).

     Missouri law · RSMo § 302.177.3; § 302.178.6(3)

   • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

     Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 21.

     Missouri law · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 494.425(1)-(5)

   • Can buy tobacco or vapes

     Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

   • Can buy alcohol

     Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

     Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

   • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

     Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

10. Age 25

    • Can serve in the U.S. House

      The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

11. Age 30

    • Can serve as governor

      Missouri's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

      Missouri law · Mo. Const. art. IV, § 3

    • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

      The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

12. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

13. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

14. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

15. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

16. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

17. Age 75

    • Can ask to be excused from jury service because of age

      From age 75, a person can ask to be excused from jury service because of age.

      The excuse is granted on timely application to the court.

      Missouri law · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 494.430.1(7)

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