Minnesota DMV Permit Practice Test

The Minnesota DVS knowledge test is your entry point to an instruction permit. The Minnesota Driver's Manual is the official study material, and drilling practice questions alongside it helps you find your gaps.

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  The test (under 18)You must score at least 80% to pass. Minnesota uses a single test format for all ages, but the minimum hold time before road testing varies by age.
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  The test (adults 18+)Same test format, same 80% threshold. Age 18: hold the permit at least 6 months before the road test. Age 19 or older: at least 3 months.
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  Application fee$29.50 for the Class D instruction permit (valid 2 years). You pay when you complete your application after passing the written test.
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  Bring with youProof of identity: two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary (a birth certificate, passport or Social Security card are common examples), plus your Social Security number if you have one. You give your Minnesota address on the application; only a REAL ID card needs extra residency documents. DVS cannot accept photocopies.
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  Driver education requirementRequired for all drivers under 18. You must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 6 hours of in-car driving from a DVS-approved driver education program before applying for a provisional license.
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  Cover every topicThe handbook covers traffic laws in detail. Don't over-focus on road signs — right-of-way, speed, and school bus rules matter too. Study every topic, not just the most memorable ones.
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  Retake policyYour first two attempts are free at a DVS exam station. After two failed tests, DVS charges a $10 retest fee for the third and each later test. You may take only one written test per day, so you will need a new appointment for another day.

Traffic laws, safety, and road signs are major parts of the Minnesota Driver's Manual. Master these three areas first, then fill in the smaller ones.

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  Road signsYellow-green fluorescent signs mark school zones and pedestrian crossings. Diamond-shaped yellow signs warn of hazards ahead. Advisory speed signs (yellow background) show the maximum safe speed for a curve or exit ramp; orange is reserved for work zones. Learn signs by their images, not just their names.
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  Turn signal distanceIn Minnesota, your signal has to be on for at least 100 feet before you turn. Signal for lane changes and when pulling away from a curb too, though no set distance applies to those. Know this one cold.
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  Following distanceMaintain at least a 3-second gap under normal driving conditions. Increase the gap in rain, snow, or when following a large vehicle that blocks your view.
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  Four-way stop right-of-wayAt a four-way stop, whoever arrives first goes first. When two vehicles pull up together, the left-hand driver gives way to the one on the right, and all simultaneous arrivals follow that same rule.
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  Urban speed limit30 mph on urban or town roads unless a different speed is posted. On a two-lane highway (one lane each direction) with a posted limit of 55 mph or more, you may exceed the limit by up to 10 mph, but only while lawfully passing another vehicle.
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  BAC limit — 21 and olderIt is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Even amounts below 0.08% impair judgment, perception, and memory — even the smallest amount of alcohol limits concentration.
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  Alcohol and driving — key factsBAC depends on how much you drink, time between drinks, and your body weight — not fitness level. Only time reduces BAC: coffee, exercise, and cold showers have no effect. Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a serious traffic safety problem.
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  Railroad crossingsStop when: red lights are flashing, a gate is lowered, a stop sign is posted, or a flagger signals you to stop. Never race a train. When approaching tracks, look both ways and be prepared to stop — crossings are always dangerous.

These are rules that are easy to mix up — scenarios where the right answer seems obvious until you read the specific conditions in the question.

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  Simultaneous arrivals at intersectionsTwo vehicles reaching an uncontrolled intersection together? The left-hand driver must give way to the driver on the right. The rule is simple on its own but gets harder in a scenario with three vehicles at a four-way stop. Work through it car by car, applying the same yield rule each time.
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  School bus rules — when you must stopOn a two-lane highway, all traffic in both directions must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights. After the stop arm retracts, watch for children still walking along the roadside before you proceed. A bus parked with no lights flashing on a shoulder does not require a stop.
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  Hill parking — direction mattersParking uphill with a curb: turn front wheels sharply away from the curb. Parking downhill on any two-way street: turn wheels to the right — toward the side of the road — so a rolling vehicle moves away from traffic. Uphill with no curb: turn wheels toward the edge of the road.
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  Alcohol impairment vs. the legal limitEven the smallest amount of alcohol limits concentration, perception, judgment, and memory. The legal 0.08% threshold is where criminal liability begins — not where impairment begins. Know the difference between the two.
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  Never reverse on a freewayYou must never back up or try to turn around on a freeway or expressway — go to the next exit and return. This is an absolute rule: reversing on a highway is always wrong.
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  Passing a bicycle — keep at least 3 feet of clearanceThe rule is clear: slow down and leave at least 3 feet between your car and the cyclist when passing. If an oncoming car forces a conflict between the car and a cyclist, deal with one hazard at a time — let the car pass first, then pass the bike.
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  Passing prohibition zonesPassing is prohibited at railroad crossings, hills, curves, and intersections. On a two-lane highway (one lane each direction) with a posted limit of 55 mph or more, you may exceed the limit by up to 10 mph — but only while lawfully passing.

Preparing for Minnesota's DVS test works best in short, repeated passes. Here is a simple three-loop plan, each loop building on the last.

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  Loop 1 — Read the Minnesota Driver's ManualRead the Minnesota Driver's Manual (June 2026 edition) cover to cover, once. Don't highlight everything — flag only the numbers: distances, BAC thresholds, speed limits.
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  Loop 2 — Drill the practice examsWork through all of the 40-question practice exams on this site at least once. Give traffic laws and safety plenty of study time. Road signs need separate visual drilling.
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  Loop 3 — Listen along on YouTubeWatch the full practice test video (read aloud) while commuting or before sleep. Hearing the correct answer reinforced after each question builds passive recall.
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  Study sign images, not labelsOn the road you recognize signs by sight, not by name. When reviewing road signs, look at the shape and color first: yellow diamond = warning, white rectangle = regulatory, orange = work zone, green = guidance. Matching image to meaning is faster than memorizing names.
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  Sleep beats crammingMinnesota's rules include specific numbers — 100 feet, 3 seconds, 30 mph, 0.08%. Cramming the night before stacks these facts on top of each other. Get a good night's sleep before the test. Schedule your test for morning the day after your final study session.
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  Read all options before answeringRead every option before you answer. A choice can sound correct on its own while a later option is more complete. Don't stop reading at the first option that looks right.

Minnesota's night curfew applies for the first 6 months of a provisional license, and the passenger limit has two phases over the first 12 months. Violations during that window can delay your full license.

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  Permit — who must ride with youWhile on an instruction permit, you must always be accompanied by a licensed driver seated in the front passenger seat. If you are under 18, that driver must be age 21 or older — a parent, guardian, certified driver education instructor, or other licensed adult. If you are 18 or older, the supervising driver must be age 18 or older.
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  Permit minimum hold timeAge 18 or younger: hold the permit for at least 6 months before scheduling the road test. Age 19 or older: only 3 months required. There is no shortcut — the 6-month minimum is mandatory regardless of driving skill.
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  Supervised driving hoursAt least 50 hours behind the wheel with a licensed supervisor age 21+, including a minimum of 15 hours at night. If a parent or guardian completes a DVS-approved parent class, the total drops to 40 hours (still 15 at night).
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  Night curfew — first 6 monthsDuring the first 6 months of your provisional license, you may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. Exemptions exist for work commutes, school events, and driving accompanied by a licensed adult age 25 or older.
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  Passenger restriction — two-phase ruleFirst 6 months: maximum 1 passenger under age 20 unless a parent or guardian is also in the vehicle. Months 7–12: maximum 3 passengers under age 20. Immediate family members are exempt from both limits.
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  When restrictions liftAfter 6 months of provisional license, the midnight curfew is lifted and the passenger limit relaxes to 3 under-20 passengers. You can get your full license at age 18, or after 12 consecutive months of provisional licensing with no alcohol or drug convictions, no crash-related moving violations and no more than one other moving violation — whichever comes first. You must apply for the upgrade; it does not happen automatically.
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  Zero cell-phone rule while under 18Minnesota prohibits any cell phone use while driving for drivers under 18 — including hands-free devices — except when calling 911 in an emergency. Violating this during the provisional period can affect your license timeline.