In Minnesota you can apply for an instruction permit at age 15. You need a score of 80 percent on the knowledge test to pass. Rules and fees change, so as of 2026 treat this guide as a starting point and confirm everything on the official site. The official source is the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division and the Minnesota Driver's Manual.
Age and test format
The minimum age for an instruction permit is 15. The passing score is 80 percent. Check the DVS site for the current number of questions, fees and the documents you must bring.
Practice hours and time with the permit
- Teens need 50 hours of supervised driving, with 15 of them at night. If a parent completes the required parent class, the total is 40 hours, still with 15 at night.
- Teens under 18 hold the permit for at least 6 months before the road test.
- A supervising driver must be a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old.
Keep a log. It is much easier to write down each drive than to remember months later.
Rules you should know
- School buses: stop at least 20 feet back when the red lights flash and the stop arm is out. The exception is a road with separated roadways, where you are on the other side of a barrier or median.
- Blood alcohol limits: 0.08 for most drivers, 0.04 for commercial drivers, and zero tolerance for drivers under 21.
- Parking: stay 10 feet from a fire hydrant, 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, 30 feet from a stop sign or signal, and 50 feet from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
- The Move Over law asks you to move a lane away from stopped emergency and roadside work vehicles with flashing lights, or slow down if you cannot.
- Leave at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicycle.
- Hands-free law: do not hold your phone while driving. Voice commands are allowed, and drivers under 18 may not use a phone, even hands-free, except to call 911.
Minnesota's hydrant distance is 10 feet and its crosswalk distance is 20 feet. If you study for more than one state, label your notes with the state.
Why details matter
Test writers like numbers: distances, ages, hours, and limits. When you read the manual, highlight every number and make a one-page summary. Review it before each practice test.
A simple study plan
- Read the Minnesota Driver's Manual in short sessions, one chapter at a time.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Take practice tests and explain every wrong answer out loud.
- Repeat your weak topics, such as right of way or parking distances.
- Sleep well the night before and bring your documents.
Confirm current fees, documents and testing locations with Minnesota DVS at dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs.
After the permit: the provisional license
- For the first 6 months, new drivers may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., with a few exceptions such as work or a licensed driver age 25 or older in the car.
- In the first 6 months, only one passenger under 20 is allowed who is not a family member, unless a parent or guardian rides along. In the second 6 months the limit is three.
- Some violations can delay a full license for 12 months or until age 18.
Tips for parents and guardians
Parents can make a big difference without taking over. Sit down with your teen once a week and ask them to explain a rule in their own words. If they can teach it back to you, they probably know it.
Look at the practice driving log together, plan a mix of daytime, night and bad weather drives, and keep the first drives in quiet places such as empty parking lots or calm neighborhood streets. Minnesota winters make snow and ice practice especially valuable. Stay patient. Everyone is nervous at the start.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Studying only signs and skipping the numbers and rules.
- Using a manual from a different state.
- Waiting until the night before to study.
- Rushing through questions without reading every answer.
- Forgetting to check the document list for your MN visit.
On test day
Arrive early, bring everything on the official list, and take a few slow breaths before you begin. Read each question twice. If a question is confusing, move on to the next one if the test allows it and come back later. Staying calm is part of passing.
DMVZone practice questions are for study only. They are not the real test questions, but they help you practice the kinds of topics the test covers.