Question 1

How many questions are on Minnesota's permit knowledge test, and what's the passing score?

Accepted Answer

40 questions, with at least 32 correct (80%) to pass — Minnesota's permit knowledge test has 40 questions, and an applicant needs at least 32 correct (80%) to pass.

Question 2

How many free attempts does a Minnesota applicant get on the written knowledge test?

Accepted Answer

The first two attempts are free; each attempt after costs $10 — Minnesota's first two written test attempts are free; each attempt after that costs $10.

Question 3

What is the minimum age to apply for a Minnesota instruction permit?

Accepted Answer

15 years old — Minnesota allows a teen to apply for an instruction permit starting at age 15.

Question 4

What must a Minnesota instruction permit applicant complete before applying?

Accepted Answer

30 hours of classroom instruction, enrolled in behind-the-wheel — A Minnesota instruction permit applicant must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction and be enrolled in behind-the-wheel instruction.

Question 5

How long must a Minnesota instruction permit holder wait, with a clean record, before a provisional license?

Accepted Answer

6 months — A Minnesota instruction permit holder must hold the permit for 6 months with no moving-violation or alcohol/controlled-substance convictions before a provisional license.

Question 6

How many hours of supervised driving does Minnesota normally require for a teen under 18, and how many at night?

Accepted Answer

50 hours, including 15 at night — Minnesota normally requires at least 50 hours of supervised driving for a teen under 18, including 15 hours at night.

Question 7

How can a Minnesota teen's required supervised-driving hours be reduced from 50 to 40?

Accepted Answer

If the parent or guardian completes a 90-minute parent awareness class — If a parent or guardian completes Minnesota's 90-minute parent awareness class, the required supervised-driving hours drop from 50 to 40.

Question 8

What passenger restriction applies during a Minnesota provisional driver's first 6 months?

Accepted Answer

Only one passenger under 20, unless a parent/guardian is along — For the first 6 months of a Minnesota provisional license, only one passenger under 20 is permitted, unless a parent or guardian is also in the vehicle.

Question 9

How does the Minnesota provisional license's passenger limit change after the first 6 months?

Accepted Answer

It increases to three passengers under 20 without a supervisor — After the first 6 months, a Minnesota provisional license holder may carry up to three passengers under 20, unless a parent or guardian is also in the vehicle.

Question 10

What is Minnesota's nighttime curfew for a provisional driver during the first 6 months, and when does it lift?

Accepted Answer

No driving midnight-5 a.m. for the first 6 months, lifting entirely afterward — A Minnesota provisional driver can't drive between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first 6 months; the restriction lifts entirely once those 6 months are complete.

Question 11

How long must a Minnesota provisional license holder wait, with a clean record, before a full license?

Accepted Answer

12 consecutive months — A Minnesota provisional license holder must hold the license for at least 12 consecutive months, with no alcohol/controlled-substance or crash-related violations and no more than one non-crash moving violation, before a full license.

Question 12

What BAC threshold triggers Minnesota's zero-tolerance law for a driver under 21?

Accepted Answer

0.00% — any detectable amount of alcohol at all — Minnesota's zero-tolerance law flags any detectable amount of alcohol at all — a true 0.00% threshold — for a driver under 21.

Question 13

What penalty applies for a first zero-tolerance violation in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

A 30-day license withdrawal — A first Minnesota zero-tolerance violation brings a 30-day license withdrawal; a second violation brings a 180-day withdrawal.

Question 14

Can a Minnesota driver under 18 use a hands-free device for a phone call while driving?

Accepted Answer

No, except for GPS directions or music, no phone use at all — A Minnesota driver under 18 can't use a phone in any mode, even hands-free, except to get GPS directions or listen to music — unlike adult drivers, who may use hands-free calling under the state's general hands-free law.

Question 15

What is Minnesota's official driver handbook called?

Accepted Answer

The Minnesota Driver's Manual — Minnesota's official handbook is the Minnesota Driver's Manual, published by the Department of Public Safety.

Question 16

Without signs or signals, who has the right-of-way at a Minnesota intersection?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle approaching from the right — At an uncontrolled intersection, a Minnesota driver yields to the vehicle approaching from the right.

Question 17

What does a flashing yellow traffic signal mean in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Slow down and proceed with caution; no full stop is required — A flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution, unlike a flashing red, which requires a full stop.

Question 18

When is a right turn on red generally allowed in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

After a complete stop and yielding, unless posted otherwise — A right turn on red is generally legal in Minnesota after a complete stop and yielding to cross traffic and pedestrians, unless signage says otherwise.

Question 19

What does a double solid yellow line mean for passing in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Passing is prohibited for traffic traveling in either direction — A double solid yellow line prohibits passing for vehicles traveling in either direction.

Question 20

What following distance should a Minnesota driver keep in good conditions?

Accepted Answer

At least a 3-second gap — A 3-second following gap in good conditions gives a Minnesota driver enough time to react if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly.

Question 21

Does a Minnesota crosswalk need to be painted to be legally recognized?

Accepted Answer

No — every intersection is a legal crosswalk whether marked or not — Every intersection is a legal crosswalk in Minnesota, marked or not, and pedestrians there have the right-of-way.

Question 22

What should a Minnesota driver do at a railroad crossing with no gates or lights?

Accepted Answer

Slow down, look both ways, and listen before crossing — Even without gates or warning lights, a driver should slow down, look both directions, and listen for an approaching train before crossing.

Question 23

What must Minnesota drivers do when approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights on an undivided road?

Accepted Answer

Stop in both directions until the lights stop flashing — Minnesota requires traffic in both directions on an undivided road to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, and to remain stopped until the lights stop flashing.

Question 24

Who must wear a seatbelt in a moving vehicle under Minnesota law?

Accepted Answer

The driver and every passenger, in any seating position — Minnesota law requires the driver and all passengers, in every seating position, to wear a seatbelt.

Question 25

What does Minnesota's basic speed law require regardless of the posted limit?

Accepted Answer

A safe speed for current conditions, even if that's below the posted limit — Minnesota's basic speed law requires a safe speed for current conditions, which can mean driving below the posted limit even when it's technically legal to go faster.

Minnesota Permit Test Sample Questions

Licensing Provisional Rules

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