Driving Tests

Minnesota Learner’s Permit Requirements for Teens and Adults

informational·how to guide·Published September 30, 2026

How old must you be to get a Minnesota learner’s permit, and what do you need?

You can get a Minnesota instruction permit (learner’s permit) at age 15. Under 18, you first finish 30 classroom hours of driver education (or the first 15 hours of a concurrent course) and enroll in behind-the-wheel training. At 18 or older, you need no course. Everyone passes a vision screening and the written test and pays $29.50. The permit is valid for two years.

Where the Minnesota permit rules come from

Minnesota sets the permit rules in Minnesota Statutes section 171.05. The Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) pages for new drivers under 18 and new drivers 18 and older give the steps. The fees come from the DVS fee page. The Minnesota Driver’s Manual (June 2026), Minnesota Rule 7410.4540, the DVS driver education and restricted license pages, and the Office of Traffic Safety teen driving pages support the rest. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs) before you drive.

Minnesota instruction permit rules by age

Minnesota instruction permit rules by age
Rule	Under 18	Age 18	Age 19 or older
Driver education before the permit	30 classroom hours and enrollment in behind-the-wheel (or the first 15 classroom hours of a concurrent course)	None	None
Who must ride with you	Your parent or guardian, a certified driver education instructor, or another licensed driver 21 or older, in the seat beside you	A licensed driver 18 or older in the front passenger seat	A licensed driver 18 or older in the front passenger seat
Time on the permit before the road test	Six months (DVS counts 180 days)	Six months (180 days)	Three months (90 days)
Parent or guardian approval	Yes, on the application	No	No

How to get a Minnesota instruction permit

1
Finish driver education if you are under 18
Take 30 hours of classroom instruction and enroll in behind-the-wheel training. In a concurrent course (classroom and driving together), finish the first 15 classroom hours. The course gives you a Blue Card or a Pink Card, and you bring it to the written test.
2
Book the written test
Class D written tests are by appointment only. Complete the online pre-application no more than 30 days before your appointment.
3
Pass the written test
Bring your identification documents. You need 80 percent to pass, and you can take one written test per day. The Minnesota knowledge test guide explains the test languages and how to study.
4
Apply at a DVS exam station or driver’s license agent
Pass the vision screening: 20/40 vision, with glasses or contacts if you wear them, and 105 degrees of side vision. Under 18, a parent or guardian approves your application. Pay the $29.50 permit fee.

How long is a Minnesota permit valid, and what does it cost?

The permit is valid for two years from the date you apply. It costs $29.50, and a renewal costs $24.50. Your first two written tests are free at a DVS exam station if you have not already tested with a proctor. After two failed tests, each new written test costs $10. Book the road test before the permit runs out, because you must show a valid permit to the examiner.

Who can supervise you on a Minnesota permit?

Under 18, the law names your parent or guardian, a certified driver education instructor, or another licensed driver 21 or older. At 18 or older, the supervisor is a licensed driver 18 or older. You never drive alone on a permit. Try the free practice question about who may supervise a 16-year-old on a permit.

Rules for every permit drive

Carry your permit. It is illegal to practice driving without a valid permit.
You and every passenger wear a seat belt or the right child restraint.
Your supervisor sits in the front passenger seat for the whole drive.

Can you use a phone on a Minnesota permit?

Under 18, no. The law bars a permit holder under 18 from using a phone while the vehicle moves, handheld or hands-free. A violation is a petty misdemeanor. The one exception is a 911 call in an emergency. At 18 or older, the DVS page for adult permit holders gives the same rule: do not use or talk on a phone while you drive, with or without a hands-free device. Test yourself with the free question about a permit driver and a friend’s call.

How long you must hold the permit

You are under 18 or you are 18

Hold the permit for six months (DVS counts 180 days) before the road test. Under 18, you also need six months with no moving violation or alcohol or drug conviction before the road test.

You turn 19 before your 180 days end

The 19-year-old rule applies. You can take the road test after 90 days on the permit.

You are 19 or older

Hold the permit for three months (90 days) before the road test.

You practiced on a permit from another state

That time counts. At 18 or older, bring the out-of-state permit or a certified driving record. Under 18, bring a certified driving record from that state and proof of 30 classroom hours and six behind-the-wheel hours.

What happens if a teen breaks the permit rules?

A permit holder under 18 must keep a driving record with no moving violation convictions and no alcohol or drug convictions. If a permit holder drives against the law, the state can suspend, cancel or revoke the permit. A teen without a license who is convicted of a crash-related moving violation or an alcohol or drug violation cannot get a permit until age 18 (Vanessa’s Law).

What comes after the permit?

Under 18, you log 50 supervised hours, 15 of them at night, before the road test. If a parent or guardian completes the parent class, you need 40 hours, 15 of them at night. The guide to the Minnesota supervised driving log and parent class shows how to keep the log. At 16 or older, you pass the road test to get a provisional license. At 18 or older, after 90 or 180 days, you take the road test and apply for a full license.

Key takeaways

You can get a Minnesota instruction permit at 15. Under 18, finish 30 classroom hours and enroll in behind-the-wheel first. At 18 or older, no course is needed.
The permit costs $29.50 and is valid for two years. Everyone passes a vision screening and the written test (80 percent).
Under 18, your parent or guardian, a certified instructor or a licensed driver 21 or older sits beside you, and you may not use a phone, even hands-free. At 18 or older, the supervisor is a licensed driver 18 or older.
Hold the permit six months (180 days) if you are under 19, or three months (90 days) at 19 or older.
Next step: practice for the written test on the free Minnesota Class D practice test.

Minnesota permit rules: common questions

Is a learner’s permit the same as an instruction permit in Minnesota?

Yes. The official name is instruction permit, and many people say learner’s permit. It is the first step of the Minnesota graduated driver’s licensing system. With it, you can practice driving only when a licensed supervisor sits beside you, and you must carry the permit on every drive.

Can a 15-year-old get a permit in Minnesota?

Yes. Age 15 is the minimum, because Minnesota law does not allow a person under 15 to drive. A 15-year-old needs classroom driver education, enrollment in behind-the-wheel training and a parent or guardian who approves the application. At 15, a teen may also qualify for a restricted farm work or medical license after a driver education course and a road test.

What if my parent cannot come with me to apply for my permit?

Under 18, a parent or guardian must approve your application. If they cannot come to the office, DVS accepts their notarized signature on the application. A court-appointed guardian, a county-appointed foster parent or the director of your transitional living program can also approve it. A guardian brings proof of guardianship.

Can I renew an expired Minnesota permit without the written test?

Yes, if the permit has been expired for less than one year. Renew it before it has been expired for one year or more, and you do not take the written test again. The renewal fee is $24.50. If your permit is lost or expired, the new permit is valid for two years from the day you apply.