Free Minnesota DVS Permit Practice Test 2026
Get ready to pass your Minnesota DVS written test on the first try. Our free Minnesota permit practice tests are based directly on the official Minnesota Driver's Handbook and contain the same types of questions you will see on test day. Each test covers traffic laws, road signs, right-of-way rules, safe driving techniques, and Minnesota-specific regulations. You need 80% correct to pass, so preparation is essential. Start practicing today - unlimited attempts, instant feedback, detailed explanations.
Take the Minnesota DVS Permit Practice Test Now
25 questions drawn from the Minnesota driver handbook, 80% to pass, with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up - press Start when you are ready. More Minnesota tests are listed below.
Minnesota DVS Practice Test 1
Questions are shuffled every time and drawn from the Minnesota driver handbook. Nothing starts - and no clock runs - until you press the button.
- 25 questions
- 80% to pass (20 correct)
- About 15 minutes
- Explanation after every answer
Ways to practice
Learn with practice tests and flashcards, then take the mock test when you think you are ready.
Also try: the Minnesota cheat sheet of rules and numbers, the hardest questions people miss most, or make your own test on the topics you find hard.
Minnesota Permit Practice Tests
201 unique questions in the Minnesota bank (38 Minnesota-specific) - practice until you are confident
More Minnesota Practice Tests
Official Minnesota Driver's Handbook
The DVS writes every real exam question from this manual - read it alongside your practice tests.
Minnesota Permit Practice Test PDF (2026)
Free printable version: 100+ Minnesota questions with an answer key and explanations, plus the DVS test facts on the cover. Or print a 40-question test. All state PDFs →
Minnesota Class D Instruction Permit Test: Quick Facts
Verified against Driver and Vehicle Services publications - last reviewed October 2026.
| Official permit name | Class D Instruction Permit |
|---|---|
| Questions on the test | Not published by the DVS |
| Passing score | 80% correct |
| Wrong answers allowed | Depends on test length (not published) |
| Minimum age | 15 years old |
| Under-21 alcohol limit | Zero tolerance - any measurable amount |
| Permit / test fee | $29.50 (Class D instruction permit, valid 2 years; renewal $24.50); $10 state fee for a third or later knowledge test after two consecutive failures; third-party online proctors may charge up to $10 per test |
| If you fail | Only one knowledge test allowed per day (so earliest retake is the next day); $10 fee applies to the third and any subsequent attempt after two consecutive failures. No attempts limit published. |
| Online testing | Partially - online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Driver's education | Required for applicants under 18. |
| Supervised practice | 50 hours incl. 15 at night (40 hours incl. 15 at night if a parent/guardian completes the parent awareness class) - under 18 |
| Permit holding period | 6 months (under 18, with no moving/alcohol violations); no hold period published for 18+ |
| Testing agency | Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) |
Sample Minnesota Permit Test Questions
Three of the Minnesota-specific questions from our bank, with the answer and the rule behind it. The Minnesota bank behind the tests above holds 201 unique questions.
1. Minnesota law bans all drivers from:
- A. Texting or going online while driving (correct)
- B. Using any hands-free calling system
- C. Mounting a GPS low on the windshield
- D. Listening to the radio while driving
Why: Minnesota prohibits all drivers from writing, reading, or sending texts or accessing the internet while the vehicle is in motion or in traffic. Voice-activated or hands-free use is an exception.
2. In Minnesota, drivers under 18 with an instruction permit or provisional license may use a cell phone while driving:
- A. Only to call 911 in an emergency (correct)
- B. Only with a hands-free headset
- C. Only for GPS map directions
- D. Only for calls under one minute
Why: Minnesota prohibits drivers under 18 who hold an instruction permit or provisional license from using a cell phone, whether handheld or hands-free, except to call 911 in an emergency.
3. In Minnesota, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive after:
- A. Drinking any alcohol at all (correct)
- B. Drinking more than one beer
- C. Reaching a BAC of 0.05
- D. Reaching a BAC of 0.08
Why: Minnesota has zero tolerance - it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system.
Minnesota Permit Test Study Guide (2026)
A free Minnesota DVS written test study guide - updated for 2026, verified against the official Driver and Vehicle Services handbook.
Reviewed by Chad HenryAfter 25 years of teaching driver educationLast reviewed October 2026
Minnesota winters - snow, ice, and deep cold around Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the lakes country - put winter driving, skid recovery, road signs, and the move-over and seat-belt laws at the center of the DVS knowledge test. Built from the official Minnesota Driver's Manual, our Minnesota practice permit test prepares you for exactly what's asked.
What to Expect on the Minnesota Permit Test
The Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) requires every new driver to pass a written knowledge test before being issued a learner's permit. The DVS does not publish the number of questions; to pass you need 80% correct. You must be at least 15 years old to apply. Every question is drawn from the official Minnesota driver's handbook, so the topics on our practice tests match exactly what the DVS asks.
Topics Covered on the MN Written Test
- Traffic Laws (Rules of the Road): State-specific rules of the road, including right-of-way, lane changing, and intersection rules
- Road Signs: Recognition and meaning of all standard road signs - warning, regulatory, and informational
- Speed Limits: Default speed limits, school zones, work zones, and highway speeds
- Safe Driving: Following distance, blind spots, defensive driving, and weather conditions
- Alcohol & Drugs: DUI laws, BAC limits, and consequences of impaired driving
- Parking Rules: Legal and illegal parking situations, curb colors, and distances
How to Prepare for the Minnesota Permit Test
The strongest preparation pairs a read-through of the official Minnesota Driver's Handbook with repeated practice tests that surface your weak spots. The DVS writes its test from that handbook, so the rules you practise here are the rules you will be asked about. A sensible target: score at least 80% on several fresh practice tests in a row - and read the explanation on every miss - before you book your appointment.
Official Minnesota DVS Information
For official test requirements, locations, and fees, visit the Driver and Vehicle Services website. You can also read the official Minnesota driver's handbook free of charge - every question on our practice tests traces back to it.
Minnesota Permit Test - Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Minnesota DVS written test?
The DVS does not publish how many questions are on the Minnesota knowledge test. To pass you need 80% correct.
What is the phone rule for new drivers in Minnesota?
All drivers: no texting, reading messages or internet use while driving. Minnesota prohibits all drivers from writing, reading, or sending texts or accessing the internet while the vehicle is in motion or in traffic. Voice-activated or hands-free use is an exception. (PDF p.82, 'Illegal driver behaviors in Minnesota')
When are new drivers in Minnesota not allowed to drive?
Provisional license, first 6 months: no driving midnight to 5 a.m. (some exceptions). For the first six months, Minnesota provisional drivers may not be on the road between midnight and 5 a.m., except in specific circumstances. (PDF p.17, provisional license 'Nighttime limitations')
How many passengers can a new driver in Minnesota carry?
Provisional license, first 6 months: one passenger under 20 unless a parent rides. During the first 6 months, Minnesota provisional drivers may carry no more than one passenger under 20 unless a parent or guardian is in the vehicle. (PDF p.18, provisional license 'Passenger limitations')
What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21 in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a zero-tolerance rule: a driver under 21 may not drive with any measurable amount of alcohol. The general 0.08% limit applies only to adults 21 and over.
How many questions can you miss on the Minnesota permit test?
You need at least 80% correct. The DVS does not publish the number of questions on the test, so the number you can miss depends on the test you get - on our 40-question simulator that is 8.
What is the Minnesota learner's permit officially called?
Minnesota issues the Class D Instruction Permit. It is the first stage of the state's licensing process for new drivers.
How much does the Minnesota permit cost?
The published fee is $29.50 (Class D instruction permit, valid 2 years; renewal $24.50); $10 state fee for a third or later knowledge test after two consecutive failures; third-party online proctors may charge up to $10 per test. Fees change from time to time, so confirm the current amount on the Driver and Vehicle Services website before your visit.
What happens if I fail the Minnesota permit test?
If you fail, Minnesota lets you retake the knowledge test. Only one knowledge test allowed per day (so earliest retake is the next day); $10 fee applies to the third and any subsequent attempt after two consecutive failures. No attempts limit published. Use the practice tests above to find the topics you missed before you try again.
Can I take the Minnesota permit test online?
Partially - online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site).
Is driver's education required for a Minnesota permit?
Required for applicants under 18.
How long do I have to hold my Minnesota permit?
Minimum holding period: 6 months (under 18, with no moving/alcohol violations); no hold period published for 18+. Required supervised practice: 50 hours incl. 15 at night (40 hours incl. 15 at night if a parent/guardian completes the parent awareness class) - under 18.
Sources & Methodology
Every Minnesota question on this page is written from the official Minnesota driver handbook, and the facts in the table above are checked against Driver and Vehicle Services publications. Last reviewed: October 2026. Every question shows its own source under the explanation; all corrections are listed in our corrections log.
Chad Henry – Reviewer
After 25 years of teaching driver education
Chad Henry has taught driver education for 25 years and reviews every state's practice questions, quick facts and study guides against the official driver handbook and agency publications before they are published.
Last reviewed: October 2026
- https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/dvs/dvs-class-d-drivers-manual-english.pdf
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/class-d-regular-dl/class-d-dl-new-driver-under-age-18
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/dl-and-id-card-fees
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/class-d-regular-dl/group-class-d-knowledge-testing
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/business/driver-educators/third-party-online-knowledge-testing
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/7410.4760/
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/171.05
Study Guides to Help You Pass
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Practice Permit Tests in Other States
Studying in more than one state, or planning a move from Minnesota? Jump straight to another state's free DVS-style practice tests below, or browse all 50 states.
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