Minnesota Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The Minnesota rules and numbers to know for the DVS knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Minnesota driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The Minnesota test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- Not published by the DVS
- To pass
- 80% correct
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the Minnesota knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 15 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 6 months (under 18, with no moving/alcohol violations); no hold period published for 18+
- Alcohol limit under 21
- Zero tolerance (any measurable amount)
Minnesota rules and numbers
From the official Minnesota handbook (June 2026); PDF page numbers in brackets.
Road signs
Rules of the road
- Provisional license, first 6 months: one passenger under 20 unless a parent rides. [p.18]
- Provisional license, first 6 months: no driving midnight to 5 a.m. (some exceptions). [p.17]
- Alleys: 10 mph unless signs say otherwise. [p.29]
- Urban or town roads: 30 mph unless posted otherwise. [p.29]
- Two-lane highway posted 55+: may go 10 mph over only while passing. [p.37]
- Over 100 mph: license revoked for at least 6 months. [p.30]
- Speeding in a work zone: $300 added to the regular ticket. [p.57]
- Right lane: yield to transit buses merging from a stop or shoulder. [p.46]
- No parking within 30 feet of a stop sign, signal or flashing light. [p.38]
- No parking within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a crossing. [p.38]
- Parallel parking: wheels no more than 12 inches from the curb. [p.38]
- Finish a pass before you are within 100 feet of oncoming traffic. [p.37]
- No passing on a curve or hill without 700 feet of clear view ahead. [p.37]
- No passing within 100 ft of an intersection, underpass, tunnel or rail crossing. [p.37]
- No U-turn on curves or near hilltops unless visible from 1,000 feet. [p.36]
- School bus yellow lights: 300 ft before a stop over 35 mph, 100 ft at 35 or less. [p.44]
- School bus with red lights: stop at least 20 feet away until the lights stop. [p.45]
- Divided roadway: no need to stop for a school bus across the divider. [p.45]
- Stay at least 500 feet behind a fire truck on an emergency run. [p.47]
- Emergency vehicle on a one-way road: pull to the nearest side and stop. [p.47]
- You may cross the center line to pass a bicyclist in a no-passing zone if safe. [p.51]
- Lane splitting: motorcycle at 25 mph max and no more than 15 mph over traffic. [p.53]
- Active crossing signals: stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail or gate. [p.56]
Safe driving & emergencies
- All drivers: no texting, reading messages or internet use while driving. [p.82]
- Permit or provisional drivers under 18: no phone use, even hands-free, except 911. [p.82]
- Passing a bicyclist: leave at least 3 feet. [p.51]
- Low beams within 200 ft when following, 1,000 ft of an oncoming vehicle. [p.76]
- Freeway breakdown: set flares 100-500 feet behind your vehicle. [p.80]
- Stranded in winter: run the engine about 10 minutes each hour, window cracked. [p.85]
- Brake pedal to the floor: pump it, then ease on the parking brake. [p.87]
- Towing a camper or trailer: keep at least 500 feet of following distance. [p.82]
- Load 4+ ft past the rear: 16-inch square flag; red light at night. [p.82]
Alcohol & drugs
- Under 21: illegal to drive with any detectable alcohol (no tolerance rule). [p.98]
Rules learners miss most
The rules behind the most-missed questions on our practice tests. Some details, such as parking distances, can differ by state - your handbook has the final word.
- At 60 mph a car travels about 88 feet per second.
- Measure following distance in seconds, counted from a fixed roadside object.
- Most states: no parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
- A yellow curb signals a stopping or parking limit - check signs and local rules.
- Uncontrolled T-intersection: the terminating road yields to the through road.
- Uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from the curb; downhill: toward it.
- Most states: no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant (a few use 10 feet).
- KEEP RIGHT: pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction.
- Point of no return: past it you cannot stop safely on yellow, so proceed.
- Zipper merge: use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate.
- In heavy rain use low beams, slow down and increase following distance.
- Parallel park close to and parallel with the curb, within your state's limit.
- Yellow pennant on the left side of the road: a no-passing zone begins.
- Car with skid marks: the road is slippery when wet.
- Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs.
- 4-way stop tie: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- ABS keeps wheels from locking in hard braking so you can still steer.
- A round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
- Merging onto a highway: yield to traffic already on the highway.
- An upward-pointing pentagon marks a school zone or school crossing.
- Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red - stop if you can do so safely.
- Basic speed law: never drive faster than is safe for conditions, even under the limit.
- Use high beams on open roads; dim them for oncoming or followed vehicles.
- Arrows pointing up and down warn of two-way traffic ahead.
- Orange diamond signs warn of construction and work zones.
- Adult (21+) BAC limit is 0.08% in most states.
- Implied consent: by driving you agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI.
Now test yourself
Reading rules is a start; answering questions is what makes them stick.