Driving Tests

Minnesota Provisional License Rules: Night Driving, Passengers and Phones

informational·how to guide·Published August 2, 2026

What can you do with a Minnesota provisional license, and when do the limits end?

For the first six months, a Minnesota provisional license holder may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m., except in four cases, and may carry only one passenger under 20 who is not immediate family. In the next six months, the limit is three. Phone use is banned, even hands-free. The limits end with a full license: at 18, or after 12 months that meet the record rules.

Where these Minnesota rules come from

The limits come from Minnesota Statutes section 171.055, the provisional license law. The steps to apply and to get the full license come from the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) page for new drivers under 18. Penalty words, phone guidance and parent advice come from the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety teen driving FAQ and its teen driver laws and hands-free pages. Other details come from the Minnesota Driver's Manual, the DVS fee list and supervised driving log, and Minnesota Statutes sections 171.04 and 171.0701. 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 provisional license limits by period

Minnesota provisional license limits by period
Period	Midnight to 5 a.m.	Passengers under 20 who are not immediate family	Phone and seat belts
First six months	No driving, except in four cases	One, unless a parent or guardian rides with you	No phone use while the vehicle moves, even hands-free; seat belts or proper restraints for everyone
Second six months	No limit	Three, unless a parent or guardian rides with you	No phone use while the vehicle moves, even hands-free; seat belts or proper restraints for everyone

When a provisional driver may drive between midnight and 5 a.m.

You have had your provisional license for more than six months

The midnight to 5 a.m. limit no longer applies.

You drive between home and work, or you drive as part of your job

You may drive at these hours in the first six months.

You drive between home and a school event, and the school does not provide transportation

You may drive to or from the event in the first six months.

A licensed driver who is at least 25 years old rides with you

You may drive in the first six months. This free practice question about midnight driving tests this case.

None of these cases fits and you are in your first six months

Do not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. DPS calls a violation of the night limit a misdemeanor.

Passenger limits on a Minnesota provisional license

The limit counts only passengers under 20 who are not members of your immediate family. In the first six months, you may carry one such passenger. In the second six months, you may carry three. Immediate family members under 20 do not count, and a passenger who is 20 or older does not count. The limit does not apply when a parent or guardian rides with you. DPS calls a violation of the passenger limit a misdemeanor.

Phone rules for Minnesota provisional license holders

A provisional license holder may not talk on or operate a cell phone while the vehicle is in motion, whether handheld or hands-free. The law gives one defense: you used the phone only to get emergency help to stop a crime, or because you reasonably believed a life or safety was in danger. A phone violation is a petty misdemeanor. DPS guidance lets teens use a phone as a GPS in hands-free or voice mode if they set the destination before they drive. They may never hold the phone.

How to get a Minnesota provisional license

1
Be at least 16 and finish driver education
You must be 16 or older and have finished your driver education course.
2
Hold your instruction permit for six months
The law says six months before you apply, and DVS counts 180 days. You must have no alcohol, drug or moving violation convictions in that time.
3
Complete the supervised driving log
A licensed driver who is at least 21 supervises your practice, and your primary driving supervisor signs the log. You need 50 hours, with 15 at night. If that supervisor completes the supplemental parent class (at least 90 minutes), you need 40 hours, with 15 at night. The guide to the Minnesota driving log and parent class explains both options.
4
Pass the road test
You must pass a road test before you can get a provisional license.
5
Apply with a parent or guardian
A parent or guardian approves your application and comes with you to apply.

Convictions that delay your full Minnesota license

Some convictions during the provisional period delay your full license: an alcohol or controlled-substance violation, a crash-related moving violation, or more than one other moving violation. You must then wait 12 consecutive months from the conviction, or until you turn 18, whichever comes first. A parking, equipment or warning citation is not a moving violation. The guide to Minnesota teen driver penalties and Vanessa's Law covers revocations.

How to move from a provisional license to a full Class D license

1
Reach 18, or hold the provisional license for 12 months
Under 18, you need 12 consecutive months on the provisional license with no alcohol or controlled-substance conviction, no crash-related moving violation and not more than one other moving violation.
2
Get 10 hours of supervised driving certified
Under 18, the parent or guardian who approves your application certifies that you drove at least 10 hours with a licensed driver who is 21 or older during the provisional period.
3
Apply for the full license
If you are under 18, bring your parent or legal guardian. The full license has no provisional limits, is marked "Under 21" and expires on your 21st birthday. This free practice question on moving to a full license tests the rule.

Stricter limits that DPS suggests for parents

Set a night limit that starts at 9 or 10 p.m. More than half of fatal night crashes with 16-year-olds happen before midnight.
Allow no teen passengers for the first six months, then no more than one for the second six months.

Key takeaways

For the first six months, no driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless you drive for work, between home and work, between home and a school event with no school transport, or with a licensed driver 25 or older.
You may carry one passenger under 20 who is not immediate family for six months, then three. A parent or guardian in the car removes the limit.
No phone use while the vehicle moves, even hands-free, and seat belts for everyone.
An alcohol, drug or crash-related conviction, or a second moving violation, delays the full license for 12 months or until you turn 18.
Next step: practice the rules on the free Minnesota Class D practice test.

Minnesota provisional license: common questions

Can I drive kids I babysit on a provisional license?

Only within the passenger limit. The exception covers only passengers under 20 who are members of your immediate family, so children you babysit for another family count. In the first six months you may carry one of them, and in the second six months three, unless a parent or guardian rides with you.

Can I listen to music from my phone on a provisional license?

Yes, if you use hands-free or voice-activated mode, according to DPS guidance for teens under 18. Scrolling through playlists or channels by hand is not allowed. You still may not make or answer calls while you drive, even hands-free, except to call 911 in an emergency.

Why does Minnesota have provisional license limits for teens?

DPS says teen drivers are more likely to crash because of inexperience, distractions, night driving, speeding and not wearing seat belts. The provisional limits cut teen passengers and night driving in the first year, while new drivers build their skills. A national study found a 30 percent lower rate of fatal crashes for 15- to 17-year-olds in states with good graduated license laws.

How long is a Minnesota provisional license valid?

It is valid for two years from the date you apply. You do not need to wait that long for a full license. Under 18, you can upgrade after 12 consecutive months that meet the record rules. At 18, you can upgrade without the 12 months.

Can my 20-year-old friend ride with me on a provisional license?

Yes. The passenger limits count only passengers under 20, so a friend who is 20 or older does not count. In your first six months, the friend does not make a drive between midnight and 5 a.m. legal unless the friend is a licensed driver who is at least 25.