How licensing works in Minnesota
Minnesota's Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), part of the Department of Public Safety, licenses drivers. Teens move from an instruction permit to a provisional license, then to a full license.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction permit | 15 | Be enrolled in driver education. Pass the knowledge test. Hold at least 6 months. Log 50 hours (15 at night), or 40 if a parent takes the class. |
| Provisional license | 16 | Finish driver education. First 6 months: no driving midnight to 5 a.m. and one passenger under 20. Next 6 months: three passengers under 20. |
| Full license | 17 at the earliest | After 12 months with a provisional license and no crashes. |
New drivers are most likely to crash in their first months of driving alone, and night driving and carrying friends make that risk higher. Graduated licensing rules give you time to build skill in safer conditions, so you gain experience before the limits come off.
Practice hours and the parent class
Teens need 50 hours of supervised driving, including 15 at night. If a parent completes a 90-minute supplemental class, the total drops to 40 hours, still with 15 at night.
When the limits end
- The night limit lasts for the first 6 months, so it can end at 16 years 6 months.
- The passenger limit lasts 12 months, so it can end at 17.
- Family members are generally exempt from the passenger limit.
The Minnesota knowledge test
To get an instruction permit, you pass a knowledge test on Minnesota traffic laws and road signs. Questions come from the Minnesota Driver's Manual, published by DVS.
- Read the whole Minnesota Driver's Manual before you test.
- Bring proof of driver education enrollment if you are under 18.
- Check the DVS website for test locations, documents and fees.
Rules specific to Minnesota
Hands-free law
Since August 1, 2019, Minnesota drivers may not hold a phone while driving. Texting is banned for all drivers. Drivers under 18 with a permit or provisional license face an extra cell phone ban.
Child passengers
Children who are 7 or younger and under 57 inches tall must use a child restraint. An adult seat belt is allowed once a child is 8, or taller than 57 inches.
Impaired driving (DWI)
- A first offense brings a 90-day administrative suspension, with limited privileges possible after 15 days.
- Penalties increase at a BAC of 0.16%.
- Ignition interlocks are required for high-BAC and repeat convictions.
- Sobriety checkpoints are not used, because they are illegal under the state constitution.
Speed limits and work zones
| Road | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Rural interstates | 70 mph |
| Other limited-access roads | 65 mph |
| Urban interstates | 55, 60 or 65 mph as posted |
Fines double in work zones, with a minimum of $300.
Key numbers to remember
Many test questions ask for an exact age, time or number. Use this table as a quick review before you practice.
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Permit age | 15 |
| Permit holding period | 6 months |
| Practice hours | 50 (40 with parent class), 15 at night |
| Provisional age | 16 |
| Night limit | Midnight to 5 a.m. (first 6 months) |
| Passengers, months 1 to 6 | 1 under 20 |
| Passengers, months 7 to 12 | 3 under 20 |
| High-BAC level | 0.16% |
Test tips
- Read the Minnesota Driver's Manual.
- Learn the numbers: 15, 16, 6 months, 50 or 40 hours, 15 night hours, midnight to 5 a.m., under 20.
- Take these practice tests until you score 90% or more.
- Review signs every day for a week before your test.
On test day
Give yourself plenty of time on the day of your test. Get a good night's sleep, eat something before you go, and arrive early so you do not feel rushed.
- Bring every document on the official checklist, plus your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see.
- Turn off your phone and put it away before the test starts.
- Read each question all the way through, then read every answer before you choose.
- If you are not sure, first rule out the answers you know are wrong.
- Change an answer only if you are sure you misread the question.
If you do not pass, do not give up. Look at the topics you missed, study those parts of the handbook again, and take more practice tests before you try again.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to Minnesota. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your test.