Driving Tests

Minnesota Four-Way Stop and Roundabout Rules: Who Goes First

informational·how to guide·Published July 23, 2026

Who has the right of way at a four-way stop in Minnesota?

Every driver must stop at the stop sign or stop line. If two drivers reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. After you stop, yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic, and wait until vehicles with the right of way have cleared the intersection. The same rule applies at a flashing red light.

Where the Minnesota right-of-way facts come from

The stop and right-of-way rules come from Minnesota law: Minnesota Statutes section 169.30 on stopping, section 169.20 on right-of-way, and section 169.18 on large vehicles in roundabouts. The stop-sign steps, the roundabout steps and the lane sign come from the Minnesota Driver's Manual (June 2026) of Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). For cars, the roundabout steps are manual guidance; the roundabout law covers only large vehicles. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs) before you drive.

How to go through a four-way stop in Minnesota

1
Stop at the line
Come to a complete stop at the stop sign. If there is a marked stop line, stop before it. If there is a pedestrian crosswalk, stop before you enter it.
2
Yield to people and traffic
Yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic before you go. Stay stopped until pedestrians and vehicles with the right of way have cleared the intersection.
3
Use the left-yields-to-right rule
If you and another driver reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
4
Go with care
Go when the way is clear. If parked cars or other things block your view of the intersection, be ready to stop again for traffic or pedestrians in your path.

Who goes first when two cars stop at the same time

Look at the car that stops at the same time as you. If that car is on your left, you go first. If it is on your right, you yield and let it go. Minnesota law (section 169.20) gives this left-yields-to-right rule for intersections with stop signs and for blinking red signals that make drivers from every direction stop.
The same rule applies at an intersection with no signs or signals: when two vehicles enter at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Our free practice question on two cars that reach an intersection at the same time shows the rule.

Flashing red lights, dark signals, two-way stops and turns

The traffic signal is flashing red

Treat it as a stop sign. Come to a complete stop, and go when the intersection is clear.

The traffic signal is dark and does not work

Treat the intersection like an uncontrolled intersection, with no signs or signals. The left-yields-to-right rule applies.

Only your road has a stop sign (a two-way stop)

Stop, then yield to cross traffic that does not have to stop and is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard. Then go with care.

You turn left

Yield to a vehicle that comes from the opposite direction and is in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard.

Your road ends at a T intersection with no signs

You must turn, so you yield to all cross traffic. Our free question on an uncontrolled T intersection shows this case.

You come to the intersection at an unlawful speed

You lose any right-of-way that you would otherwise have. Slow down early, so that you can stop at the line.

How to drive a roundabout in Minnesota

1
Slow down as you approach
A roundabout warning sign tells you to slow to the advisory speed and be ready to stop if needed.
2
Choose your lane early
At a multi-lane roundabout, get into the correct lane well before you enter. Signs or markings show which lanes to use for each turn, and some signs require or prohibit certain movements.
3
Yield to people who cross
Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists who cross the road.
4
Yield to traffic already in the circle
Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout. Do not enter until all traffic from the left has cleared. Our free question on yielding at a roundabout entry tests this step.
5
Drive counterclockwise to your exit
Drive counterclockwise until you reach your exit. Do not stop, pass or change lanes within the roundabout.

Which lane for which turn at a multilane roundabout

Which lane for which turn at a multilane roundabout
Your plan	Lane on the Driver's Manual example sign
Turn right	Right lane only
Go straight	Either lane
Turn left	Left lane only

Trucks and other large vehicles in a roundabout

Minnesota law lets the driver of a vehicle longer than 40 feet or wider than 10 feet, or of any combination of vehicles, leave the lane as needed to approach and drive through a roundabout. The driver must take due regard for all other traffic. So a truck may take more than one lane as it goes through. If two such vehicles come to a roundabout at about the same time, the one on the right yields to the one on the left, and slows down or stops if needed.

Key takeaways

At a four-way stop, stop at the sign or line first. If two drivers reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
After you stop, yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic, and wait until vehicles with the right of way have cleared the intersection.
A flashing red light is a stop sign. A dark signal is an uncontrolled intersection.
In a roundabout, slow down, yield to people who cross, wait for traffic from the left to clear, and drive counterclockwise. Do not stop, pass or change lanes inside.
Next step: practice on the free Minnesota Class D practice test.

Minnesota four-way stop and roundabout: common questions

Does the first car to stop go first at a four-way stop in Minnesota?

The Minnesota rule is for drivers who reach the intersection at the same time: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At a flashing red light, which you treat as a stop sign, the Driver's Manual says to yield to vehicles and pedestrians who reach the intersection before you.

Do I have to stop for a pedestrian at an intersection with no crosswalk lines?

Yes. At any intersection or crosswalk, marked or unmarked, stop for a pedestrian or bicyclist who crosses the road. Stay stopped until that person has passed your lane. The rule applies at every intersection, also where no crosswalk lines are painted on the road.

What do I do if an ambulance comes up behind me in a roundabout?

Exit the roundabout at once, and then pull over. Minnesota law says that when an emergency vehicle with a red light and a siren comes near, you yield, drive to the right-hand edge or curb clear of any intersection, and stop until it has passed. Our free question on an ambulance in a roundabout gives practice.

Is a roundabout safer than a four-way stop in Minnesota?

The Minnesota Driver's Manual says roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow and to give safer intersections than normal four-way stops. In a roundabout, all traffic moves counterclockwise, and drivers who enter yield to the traffic that is already in the circle.