Minnesota DVS Permit Practice Test

Practice free with questions based on the official Minnesota driver handbook, with every answer explained.

Updated on 2026-11-06 · Ver en español

DMVPermitUSA is an independent study tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services or any other government agency. Requirements were checked against official Minnesota sources (listed below) and can change: always confirm with the DVS before your test.

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Minnesota permit test at a glance

Agency	Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)
Passing score	At least 80% correct
Minimum permit age	15 years old
Permit holding period	6 months
Supervised driving	50 hours, including 15 at night (40 hours, including 15 at night, if a parent completes the supplemental parent class).
Provisional license from	age 16
Full license	at 17
Test languages	Offered in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Vietnamese, Russian, Karen and American Sign Language.
Official handbook	Minnesota Driver's Manual

Try 5 Minnesota permit test questions

In Minnesota, what is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers 21 and over? 0.02% / 0.05% / 0.08% / 0.10%. Answer: 0.08%. As in almost every state, the limit in Minnesota is 0.08% for drivers 21 and over; 0.04% for commercial drivers, and zero tolerance under 21.
A downward-pointing triangle with a red border means: Stop / Yield the right-of-way / Railroad crossing / No passing zone. Answer: Yield the right-of-way. The red-and-white inverted triangle is the YIELD sign: slow down, be ready to stop, and let traffic and pedestrians with the right-of-way go first.
A flashing red traffic light means: Slow down / Stop, then go when safe / Stop and wait for green / The light is broken, ignore it. Answer: Stop, then go when safe. Treat a flashing red light like a STOP sign: stop completely, then proceed when the way is clear.
When is it legal to drive faster than the posted speed limit? When passing / When traffic is light / Never / On an empty highway at night. Answer: Never. The posted limit is the maximum in ideal conditions. You must drive slower when weather, traffic or visibility require it (the basic speed law).
What does a red octagonal sign mean? Yield / Stop completely / Slow down / No entry. Answer: Stop completely. The eight-sided red sign is always STOP. Stop completely at the stop line, before the crosswalk or before entering the intersection, then go when it is safe.

How the Minnesota DVS permit test works

The Minnesota knowledge test is a multiple-choice exam based on the official DVS handbook, the Minnesota Driver's Manual. To pass you need at least 80% correct.

Multiple-choice and true/false questions on traffic laws and road signs, taken by appointment at a DVS exam station or online at home with an approved adult proctor (30-minute limit). Teens under 18 can take the online test through their driver education program.

You may take only one knowledge test per day.

Offered in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Vietnamese, Russian, Karen and American Sign Language.

Minnesota learner's permit requirements

In Minnesota you can apply for a learner's permit at 15. Applicants under 18 usually need a parent or guardian's consent.

Teens under 18 need at least 30 hours of classroom driver education and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction; the classroom part (or the first 15 hours of a concurrent course) comes before the permit.

Before the road test, teen drivers must hold the permit for at least 6 months. Supervised driving required: 50 hours, including 15 at night (40 hours, including 15 at night, if a parent completes the supplemental parent class).

Proof of identity and date of birth (such as a birth certificate or passport).
Your Social Security number, if you have one.
Proof of Minnesota residency.
A vision screening and the knowledge test.

The DVS publishes the exact document list: check it before your appointment, especially if you want a REAL ID-compliant card.

Minnesota graduated driver licensing (GDL)

After the learner stage and the road test, teens can get a provisional (intermediate) license from age 16.

For the first 6 months, provisional drivers may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. (with exceptions such as work or school events) and may carry only one passenger under 20 who is not immediate family unless a parent or guardian is in the car. For the next 6 months the limit is three such passengers.

Restrictions end and you hold a full, unrestricted license at 17, provided your record stays clean.

Minnesota rules worth knowing for the test

Signs and most rules are the same nationwide, but each state has its own laws — and the DVS test asks about them.

Drivers under 18 with a permit or provisional license may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except to call 911 in an emergency.
Minnesota's hands-free law, in effect since August 1, 2019, bans all drivers from holding a phone to text, read or browse while the vehicle is moving or part of traffic.
A teen can move from a provisional license to a full license after 12 months with no alcohol or drug violations, no crash-related moving violations and no more than one other moving violation.
Teens must show the blue card from their driver education program, plus a primary and a secondary ID, before taking the knowledge test.

What the Minnesota knowledge test covers

Topics follow the chapters of the DVS handbook. These are the ones asked most often:

Road signs by shape and color (federal MUTCD standard): see the road signs guide.
Right-of-way at 4-way stops, left turns, crosswalks and for emergency vehicles: right-of-way rules.
Speed limits in mph and the 3-second following rule: speed guide.
Alcohol and drugs: the 0.08% BAC limit, zero tolerance under 21 and implied consent.
Traffic signals and pavement markings, parking, passing, and sharing the road with cyclists, motorcycles and trucks.

How to study for the Minnesota permit test

Read the official DVS handbook once cover to cover, then take practice tests by topic to find your weak spots. Once you consistently score above 90%, take a full timed mock exam.

Drill the numbers — ages, distances, speed and BAC limits — they are the most-missed questions. More tips in how to pass the permit test.

How to get your learner's permit in Minnesota

Check the minimum age In Minnesota, you can apply for a learner's permit at 15.
Complete the required course Teens under 18 need at least 30 hours of classroom driver education and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction; the classroom part (or the first 15 hours of a concurrent course) comes before the permit.
Study the handbook and practice Read the official DVS handbook and take practice tests until you pass comfortably.
Gather your documents Proof of identity, Social Security number and Minnesota residency; parental consent if under 18.
Pass the vision and knowledge tests To pass you need at least 80% correct.
Drive supervised Hold the permit for at least 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, including 15 at night (40 hours, including 15 at night, if a parent completes the supplemental parent class).
Take the road test From age 16 you can get a provisional license.

Minnesota permit test FAQ

What score do you need to pass the Minnesota permit test?

You need at least 80% correct.

How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Minnesota?

You can apply at 15. Applicants under 18 usually need a parent or guardian's consent.

How long do you have to hold your permit in Minnesota?

At least 6 months for teen drivers. Supervised driving required: 50 hours, including 15 at night (40 hours, including 15 at night, if a parent completes the supplemental parent class).

Can I take the Minnesota permit test in Spanish?