Summary of Minnesota (MN) DVS Driver Manual 2026

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division issues Class D noncommercial driver licenses, REAL ID compliant credentials, and Enhanced Driver Licenses (EDL). New Minnesota residents holding an out-of-state license must apply for a Minnesota driver license within 60 days of establishing residency, and all licensed drivers must notify DVS within 30 days of an address or legal name change.

Under Minnesota's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, teens at age 15 may obtain an Instruction Permit after enrolling in driver education and passing vision (minimum 20/40 acuity) and written knowledge exams (40 multiple-choice questions with an 80 percent / 32 correct pass mark). Permit holders must hold the permit for at least six months and log 50 hours of supervised driving practice (including 15 hours at night, or 40 hours if a parent completes an approved parent class). Teens advance to a Provisional License at age 16 subject to a night curfew (12:00 a.m. midnight to 5:00 a.m. for the first 6 months) and passenger restrictions (no more than 1 non-family passenger under 20 for the first 6 months); full Class D licensing is granted at age 18. Operating a handheld wireless communication device while driving is strictly illegal under Minnesota's hands-free cell phone law, carrying fines ranging from $120 to $300.

Drivers must maintain essential vehicle safety equipment, including working brakes, headlights, taillights, turn signals, mirrors, horn, and clean windshields with unexpired wipers.

Under Minnesota's Mandatory Seat Belt Law, all occupants must wear safety belts. Minnesota's Child Passenger Safety Law mandates that all children under 8 years of age (or under 4 feet 9 inches tall) must be properly secured in an approved child safety restraint system or booster seat. Rear-facing seats are required for infants up to age 2.

Minnesota's basic speed law mandates driving at a reasonable and prudent speed for existing weather, visibility, and traffic conditions regardless of posted limits. Statutory speed limits across Minnesota include 10 mph in alleys, 30 mph in urban residential or business districts, 55 mph on rural highways, and 65 to 70 mph on interstate highways. Turn signals must be activated continuously at least 100 feet prior to turning.

Yield right-of-way to emergency vehicles, pedestrians in crosswalks, and circulating traffic when entering roundabouts. Stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm on all undivided roads. When parking along public streets, park parallel within 12 inches of the curb; parking is prohibited within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk, 30 feet of a stop sign or signal, or 50 feet of a railroad crossing.

Motorists must safely share highways with pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, commercial trucks, and emergency vehicles. Yield right-of-way to pedestrians crossing at crosswalks, and leave at least three feet of clearance when passing bicyclists.

Commercial trucks have massive blind spots called 'No-Zones' extending 20 feet in front of the cab and 200 feet behind the trailer. Under Minnesota's Ted Foss Move Over Law, when approaching stationary emergency, highway maintenance, or tow vehicles displaying flashing lights, drivers must change lanes into an adjacent lane or slow down to a safe, reduced speed.

Traffic control devices communicate mandatory legal directives across Minnesota roadways. Octagon red signs mandate full stops, downward triangles indicate yield, pennant signs placed on the left side of the highway mark no-passing zones, and diamond signs warn of road hazards. Work zone warning signs feature orange backgrounds, and traffic fines are doubled in active construction zones.

Flashing red traffic signals function as a stop sign, while a flashing yellow arrow permits turns after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Double solid yellow pavement lines prohibit passing in both directions, broken white lines separate lanes moving in the same direction, and shared center left-turn lanes are reserved strictly for left turns.

Defensive driving requires maintaining a visual space cushion of at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead, increasing the distance during night or winter driving. Headlights must be illuminated from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, during fog, rain, or snow, and whenever wipers are in continuous use; high-beam headlights must be dimmed within 1,000 feet of oncoming vehicles and 200 feet when following.

Vehicle emergencies require calm, controlled responses: if a skid occurs, ease off the gas pedal and steer into the direction of the skid without locking brakes; if hydroplaning occurs at 35 mph or higher, ease off the gas pedal without braking.

Driving privileges in Minnesota are subject to suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification for severe traffic convictions, safety violations, or unpaid citations.

Under Vanessa's Law, unlicensed teen drivers under 18 who commit alcohol-related driving violations or crash-related moving violations cannot obtain an instruction permit or driver license until turning 18 years of age (and must fulfill strict reinstatement requirements including paying fees and retaking tests). Crashes resulting in injury, death, or total property damage of $1,000 or more must be reported to DVS within 10 days, and motor vehicles must carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for total bodily injury per crash, and $10,000 for property damage (30/60/10).

Driving Under the Influence (DUI / DWI) of alcohol, cannabis, or controlled substances is a major crime in Minnesota carrying severe criminal penalties, mandatory license revocations, vehicle plate impoundment, and ignition interlock device (IID) requirements. The legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08 percent or higher for drivers 21 and older, 0.00 percent (zero tolerance / Not a Drop law) for drivers under 21, and 0.04 percent for CDL holders.

Under Minnesota's Implied Consent Law, chemical test refusal is a crime resulting in an automatic one-year driver license revocation and mandatory plate impoundment for repeat or high-BAC offenders.