Driving Tests

Minnesota Driver’s License Cost: Permit, Test and Retest Fees

informational·how to guide·Published September 26, 2026

How much does a driver's license cost in Minnesota?

As of 2026, a Minnesota instruction permit costs $29.50 and is valid for 2 years. A provisional license costs $32.50, and a full Class D license costs $46. After two failed tests in a row, each written retest costs $10 and each road retest costs $20. A road test no-show, or a cancellation less than 24 hours ahead, costs $40.

Where the Minnesota fee facts come from

The fees come from the Minnesota DVS fee page. The retest and road test cancellation fees are set in Minnesota Statutes section 171.13. The written test rules come from the DVS page for new drivers under 18. Other facts come from the DVS pages for new drivers 18 and older and for Enhanced cards, Minnesota Statutes sections 171.04, 171.05 and 171.06, and the Minnesota Driver's Manual (June 2026). DVS is Driver and Vehicle Services, part of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. This guide is current as of 2026. Minnesota law sets these fees, and they can change. Confirm the rules with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs) before you drive.

Minnesota driver's license fees at a glance

Minnesota driver's license fees at a glance
What you pay for	Fee
Class D instruction permit (valid 2 years)	$29.50
Instruction permit renewal	$24.50
Provisional driver's license	$32.50
Class D license	$46
Class D renewal	$41
Provisional upgrade to an under-21 license, no violations on record	$37.50
Duplicate license (all classes)	$26
Enhanced license, added to the card fee	$15
Third and later written test after two fails	$10
Third and later road test after two fails	$20
Road test no-show, or cancel less than 24 hours ahead	$40
Road test cancel 24 to 72 hours ahead	$20

What does a Minnesota instruction permit cost?

A Class D instruction permit costs $29.50. You pay it at the office where you apply after you pass the written test, so bring the right fee. The permit is valid for 2 years from the date you apply. Our free question on when a permit applied for in May 2026 expires shows how the 2 years count.
If the permit runs out before you get your license, a renewal costs $24.50. You can renew it without a new written test if it has been expired for less than one year.

What does the written test cost in Minnesota?

At a DVS exam station, your first two written tests are free if you have not already tested with a proctor. After two failed tests in a row, each later test costs $10. You may take only one written test per day, and you need 80 percent to pass. Our free question on a 78 percent score shows what the 80 percent pass mark means. To prepare for the test itself, read our guide to the Minnesota knowledge test.

What does a Minnesota road test cost if you fail or cancel?

You fail your first road test

Your second road test has no retest fee. The $20 fee starts only after two failed tests in a row. For help with the test itself, see our guide to the Minnesota road test.

You fail two road tests in a row

Each later road test costs $20. After four failed tests, state law requires at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with an approved instructor before you test again.

You cancel or reschedule 24 to 72 hours before the test

You pay a $20 late cancellation fee.

You do not show up, or you cancel or reschedule less than 24 hours before the test

You pay the $40 no-show fee. This amount applies to no-shows and cancellations on or after August 1, 2025.

What a first Minnesota license costs in total

What a first Minnesota license costs in total
Step	New driver under 18	New driver 18 or older
Instruction permit	$29.50	$29.50
Provisional license (after the road test)	$32.50	Not needed: you apply for the full license after the road test
Full license	$37.50 (upgrade, no violations on record)	$46 (Class D)
Total card fees, no retests	$29.50 + $32.50 + $37.50 = $99.50	$29.50 + $46 = $75.50

Why do the fees in Minnesota law look lower?

Minnesota Statutes section 171.06 lists base fees, for example $11.25 for an instruction permit. On top of each base fee, the law adds a $2.25 surcharge and a filing fee. DVS must charge the filing fee, and a driver's license agent may charge it. That is why the DVS fee page shows higher totals. To avoid scams, trust only the fees on the DVS fee page.
The application also lets you add an optional $2 donation for public education about organ and tissue donation.

Key takeaways

Permit $29.50 (renewal $24.50), provisional license $32.50, Class D license $46 (renewal $41), duplicate $26.
Written test: the first two are free at a DVS exam station. After two failed tests in a row, each later test costs $10.
Road test: $20 for each test after two failed tests in a row. A no-show or a cancel less than 24 hours ahead costs $40; a cancel 24 to 72 hours ahead costs $20.
Card fees with no retests add up to $99.50 for a teen with a clean record and $75.50 for a new driver 18 or older.
Next step: practice on our free Minnesota Class D practice test, in English only, before you book the written test.

Minnesota license cost: common questions

Is it cheaper to take the Minnesota written test at a proctor?

A DVS exam station gives you two free written tests, but only if you have not tested with a proctor first. A third-party proctor may charge up to $10 for each test. A proctor also sets a time limit and allows no interpreters or other help. A DVS exam station has no time limit, and you need an appointment.

How much is a Minnesota driver's license with Enhanced?

An Enhanced card adds $15 to the card fee, so a new Class D license with Enhanced costs $46 + $15 = $61. You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 16. The card is REAL ID-compliant and lets you cross the border to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean by land or sea.

How much does it cost to replace a lost Minnesota driver's license?

A duplicate driver's license costs $26 for any class. If your card is Enhanced, the $15 Enhanced fee is added to the duplicate fee. An Enhanced card also needs a new photo with every application, duplicates included, so be ready for a photo at the office.

Can I pay with a credit card at a Minnesota exam station?

Not always. Some testing stations do not take credit cards, so ask the station how to pay before your test day. When you apply for your permit or license at an office after a test, bring the right fee with you.

Can I pay extra to get my first Minnesota license faster?

No. Fast track costs $20 extra, but first-time applications, Enhanced cards and license upgrades do not qualify. For an application that qualifies, DVS processes the card in three business days, and the card comes by UPS within 10 business days. Fast track is available only at participating offices.