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View All PlansFree Minnesota DMV Permit Practice Test 2026
| 90-100 | => | 12% |
| 80-89 | => | 18% |
| 70-79 | => | 24% |
| 60-69 | => | 23% |
| <60% | => | 23% |
The Minnesota Class D knowledge test has 40 multiple-choice questions pulled from a bank of about 150, and you need at least 32 correct to pass (80%). The test is untimed and covers all 8 chapters of the Minnesota Driver’s Manual: signs, signals, and pavement markings, traffic laws, road sharing, DWI laws, driving conditions, and vehicle equipment. About 56% of people fail the written test on their first attempt, so preparation matters. In Minnesota, what most people call the “DMV” is officially DVS (Driver and Vehicle Services).
This Minnesota practice test is current for May 2026 and covers 20 of the most important road signs and traffic rules from the official 2026 MN Driver Handbook. The test closely mirrors the actual format of the Class D Knowledge Test.
Bring two primary ID documents (or one primary + one secondary) to a DVS exam station. Common primary documents include a U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, or permanent resident card. You’ll also need to know your Social Security number. If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian must be present. The instruction permit costs $29.50.
No mandatory waiting period between written test attempts – you can try again the next business day. The first two attempts are included in the permit fee; third and subsequent attempts cost $10 each.
Minnesota’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program starts at age 15 with an instruction permit. Teens must be enrolled in driver’s education (30 hours classroom + 6 hours behind-the-wheel). With a permit, you drive with a parent/guardian or licensed driver 21+ in the front seat. At 16, after holding the permit for 6 months and logging 50 hours of supervised driving (15 at night), you can pass a road test for a provisional license. For the first 6 months, no driving midnight to 5 AM and max 1 passenger under 20. Cell phone use is completely banned for drivers under 18.
If you’re 18 or older, driver’s education is not required. You must hold an instruction permit for 6 months (or 3 months if 19+) and pass the road test. Third-party proctored knowledge testing is available at approved driving schools – not from home, but it can be more convenient than a DVS exam station.
Minnesota permit test: quick facts
What to expect at the DVS
Where Minnesota test-takers struggle most
Based on 13,075 Minnesota learners who practiced on our site in the last 30 days. 50% pass our practice tests, with an average first-try score of 69%.
At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle on the right has the right of way when two vehicles arrive at the same time. If turning left, a driver must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk, even if the turning driver arrived at the intersection first.
Minnesota requires headlights to be on from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility drops below 500 feet due to weather. On snow or ice, following distance should increase significantly - the standard 3-4 second rule is insufficient when stopping distances triple or quadruple on frozen roads.
Minnesota's freeway speed limit is 70 mph on rural interstates and 65 mph in urban areas. Drivers must yield to merging traffic when safe to do so, and the left lane is reserved for passing - staying in the left lane while not passing is considered an improper lane use.
Before changing lanes in Minnesota, drivers must signal, check mirrors, and check the blind spot by physically turning their head. Signaling alone is not enough - the lane change must only begin once the adjacent space is confirmed clear.
U-turns are prohibited at intersections with traffic signals unless a sign explicitly permits them. They are also illegal wherever they cannot be made safely, including on curves or hills where visibility is limited to less than 500 feet in either direction.
Data updated daily from our practice test results
First-try score distribution
How Minnesota learners score on their first practice test attempt
Minnesota-specific rules you must know
Rules that are unique to Minnesota or differ from most other states
Under Vanessa's Law, any teen convicted of impaired driving or a crash-related violation is denied a driver's license until age 18, regardless of the circumstances or how close they were to the normal graduation date. There is no early reinstatement process or exception based on individual record.
Since October 1, 2023, Minnesota issues standard driver's licenses to all eligible applicants regardless of immigration status. The Department of Public Safety is prohibited by law from sharing applicant data with federal immigration authorities without a court order.
Minnesota permits teens to count 40 supervised hours instead of 50 toward their provisional license requirement if a parent or guardian completes an approved 90-minute Parent Awareness class. This is one of the few states that formally incentivizes parent participation with a concrete reduction in the practice hour requirement.
Minnesota offers an Enhanced Driver License (EDL) with an embedded RFID chip that serves as a valid document for crossing U.S. land and sea borders into Canada and Mexico. Only five U.S. states offer this option. It does not replace a passport for air travel, but eliminates the need for a separate card at northern border crossings.
Reviewed for legal and handbook accuracy
M.S. (MIT, Columbia), Chief Educational Researcher. ACES member (Society for Editing). Verifies all 50 state tests against official handbooks weekly.
How to study for the Minnesota permit test
- Start here. One of 4 free online Minnesota tests. ~6 min. Read explanations as you go.
- Cover more ground. All tests have different questions - no repeats.
- Finish strong. Try the Exam Simulator for a full-length run.
Why this works
- Exam-like questions from the current handbook + questions most people get wrong. Explanations cite the manual.
- AI Assistant explains like a friend.
- Performance Insights shows where you need work.
- Challenge Bank⢠saves your mistakes for targeted practice.
Sample Minnesota permit test questions
7 questions written and verified by our content team against the current Minnesota Driver Handbook
- Question 1 of 7
In Minnesota, which of these is true about using a cell phone while driving?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - Fully licensed drivers may not hold their cell phone at all while driving, but they can use voice commands or single-touch activation
Minnesota's Hands-Free law took effect on August 1, 2019. Fully licensed drivers can still make calls, listen to music or podcasts, and get directions - but only by voice command or single-touch activation, never while holding the phone. (Underage drivers with provisional licenses may not even use cell phones in a hands-free mode.) A second or subsequent violation of the Hands-Free law carries a $275 fine on top of whatever the court imposes.
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Hands-Free Minnesota Law, p.3; Ch.3, Wireless Communication Devices, p.37 - Question 2 of 7
On a Minnesota road with no posted speed limit signs, what is the default speed limit in an alley?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - 10 mph
Three default speed limits apply when no signs say otherwise: 10 mph in alleys, 30 mph on urban or town roads, and 55 mph everywhere else. These numbers are specific to the state. Approaching an intersection at an unlawful speed also means forfeiting your right-of-way.
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Ch.3: Traffic Laws and Vehicle Operation, Speed Limits, p.22 - Question 3 of 7
When you are lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-way, two-lane Minnesota highway with a posted speed limit of 55 mph or higher, what happens to the speed limit?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - The speed limit is temporarily increased by 10 mph for you during the pass
On two-way, two-lane highways posted at 55 mph or higher, the speed limit for you increases by 10 mph while you are lawfully passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction. Once the pass is complete, you must return to the posted limit. This rule does not apply on highways posted below 55 mph or highways with more than one lane in your direction.
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Ch.3: Traffic Laws and Vehicle Operation, Passing, p.30 - Question 4 of 7
During the first six months of holding a Minnesota provisional license, which restriction applies?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - No driving between midnight and 5 AM, unless going to or from work, school events, or accompanied by a licensed driver 25 or older
Provisional drivers face a midnight-to-5 AM driving curfew for the first six months of licensure. Exceptions include being accompanied by a driver at least 25 years old, driving between home and work, or traveling to a school event the school doesn't provide transportation for. On top of the curfew, only one passenger under 20 is permitted during those first six months, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Ch.1: Your License to Drive, Your Provisional License, p.10 - Question 5 of 7
When a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, how close may you stop your vehicle?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - At least 20 feet from the bus
You must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. Passing is illegal until the lights stop flashing and the arm retracts. The penalty for violating this law starts at a $500 fine plus possible loss of driving privileges. One exception: you are not required to stop if the bus is on the opposite side of a separated roadway (a road divided by a physical barrier or unpaved median).
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Ch.4: Sharing the Road, Stopping for a School Bus / Passing a School Bus, p.38-39 - Question 6 of 7
Under what condition does Minnesota law allow a left turn on a red traffic light?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - When turning left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding
A left turn on red is permitted only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street. You must first come to a complete stop, check that the intersection is clear, and yield to any pedestrians or vehicles. If a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted, you must wait for the green signal regardless. This rule does not apply when turning from a two-way road.
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Ch.3: Traffic Laws and Vehicle Operation, Turning on a Red Light - Left Turn, p.26 - Question 7 of 7
What happens to your driving privileges in Minnesota if you are caught driving over 100 mph?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - Your driving privileges are revoked for a minimum of six months
Driving in excess of 100 mph results in automatic revocation of your driving privileges for a minimum of six months. This is separate from any fines or other penalties a court may impose. Additionally, driving 20 mph or more over the posted limit triggers a surcharge on top of the standard speeding fine.
Source: MN Driver's Manual, Ch.3: Speed Limits and Fines, p.22; Ch.7: Your Driving Privileges, Revocation, p.89
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S. (MIT), Chief Educational Researcher, on .
Real Minnesota drivers who passed first try
Verified student reviews ⢠Shared with permission
More Minnesota permit test study guide & exam resources
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Interactive handbook
Go beyond the boring black-and-white manual. Our interactive handbook lets you read, listen with an MP3 audio version, or even chat with it to find the information you need, faster.
We build our practice questions from the current 2026 MN Driver Handbook and refine them using patterns recent testâtakers report.
Driver handbook ⢠Knowledgeâtest/permit overview ⢠Fees & ID requirements ⢠Office/appointment info
We mirror recurring themes (e.g., rightâofâway traps, sign lookâalikes) and use similar distractors and wording styles.
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