DMV Minnesota · Fees, age, and practice test
Minnesota Permit Test: Cost, Age, and DMV Facts
Start the free Minnesota practice testSourced procedural facts for Minnesota DMV, plus a free 500-question practice test with real sign images and audio.
Free Minnesota DMV practice test with 500 practice questions written from the official Minnesota Driver's Manual, each with an explanation and a handbook page citation. No signup and no ads. You need 80% to pass the Minnesota permit knowledge test; the official Minnesota sources we checked do not state a fixed question count. Page updated 2026-10-22.
Also here: flashcards for the whole bank, a one-page cheat sheet, handbook lessons, chapter by chapter, and audio read-aloud for questions.
How many questions are on the Minnesota permit test?
You need 80% to pass the Minnesota permit knowledge test; the official Minnesota sources we checked do not state a fixed question count.
See the official source · Checked 2026-10-18 against the official text on file.
How much does the Minnesota permit test cost?
No DVS written-test charge for the first two attempts; $10 for the third and later attempts after two failures.
- Learner permit / application fee: $29.50 for an original two-year Class D instruction permit.
- Initial driver license fee: $46 for a Class D license; $32.50 for a provisional license.
Source: Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services · Fee source checked 2026-10-05. Our 500-question Minnesota practice test is free and separate from these DMV fees.
Is the Minnesota permit test hard?
The measurable bar is the 80% pass mark. Minnesota does not publish a question count in the sources we checked, so we cannot say how many misses are allowed.
Every question comes from the Minnesota Driver's Manual, so reading it and practicing until you pass consistently is the most direct preparation.
What do I need to bring to the Minnesota DMV for a permit?
The official Minnesota checklist for a permit has 10 items, covering application, identity, Social Security number, parent or guardian, driver education, fees and vision test.
Who this list covers: First-time standard Class D instruction permits, ages 15 and older, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Excludes REAL ID, enhanced credentials, transfers and road tests.
- Completed application with your current residential address
- Two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary
- Certified documents linking all legal name changes
- Your SSN, or the no-SSN attestation on the application
- Under 18: An authorized adult’s approval of the permit application
- Under 18: Driver-education enrollment certificate for applicants under 18
- Payment for the instruction-permit application
- Be ready for the vision screening and written test
- Qualified English translation and attestation for non-English documents
- Any physician statement required for a medical condition
Source: official Minnesota document list · Checked 2026-10-05. Conditions and exceptions for each item are on the full printable checklist, with a source for every item.
Practice the Minnesota permit test now
500 questions written from the official Minnesota driver manual. Free, no signup, with an explanation and the manual quote for every answer.
Your 3-stage Minnesota study path
- Stage 1: Study the sheets. Read the Minnesota cheat sheet for signs, numbers, and must-know rules.
- Stage 2: Drill topics. Run the free Minnesota practice test with instant explanations until weak topics turn green.
- Stage 3: Practice the whole bank. Practice with explanations for every answer.
Minnesota verified practice bank · 500 questions · Page updated 2026-10-22
Before your Minnesota knowledge test
Cost details
- The permit fee is separate from later license issuance. A provisional license costs $32.50. Official cost source
Before you apply
These notes cover selected application steps. Check the linked official instructions for the full requirements for your situation.
- Schedule a Class D written test and complete the online pre-application within 30 days before the appointment. Official application instructions
- Bring accepted identification and know your Social Security number if eligible; minors need application approval. Official application instructions
Cost and application notes checked .
Quick facts
Minimum permit age
15 years old to obtain an instruction permit; driver education required under 18
Permit fee
$29.50 for an original two-year Class D instruction permit.
Initial license fee
$46 for a Class D license; $32.50 for a provisional license.
Passing score
80 percent; you may take only one written test per day
Retake fee
$10 for the third and each subsequent written test after failing the first two.
Supervised driving before road test
50 supervised hours, including 15 nighttime hours, or 40 supervised hours including 15 nighttime hours if a parent class is completed
What to bring
Two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary document, for a Standard license or ID
Find an office / appointment
Find DVS offices, exam stations, and deputy registrar partners via the DPS locations page.
REAL ID status
REAL ID available; federal enforcement began in 2025. See the DVS document checklists for what to bring.
Motorcycle license
Tied to holding a valid MN driver's license; under 18 must complete an approved motorcycle safety course, and the permit requires a knowledge test.
Commercial license (CDL)
Requires a Class D license, Entry-Level Driver Training, and a CLP before CDL road testing.
Official source: Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services
Things like renewing registration, REAL ID, or a change of address are outside what this page covers -- go straight to the official Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) site.
Minnesota DMV fees at a glance
| Fee | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit fee | $29.50 for an original two-year Class D instruction permit. | source |
| Initial license fee | $46 for a Class D license; $32.50 for a provisional license. | source |
| Retake fee | $10 for the third and each subsequent written test after failing the first two. | source |
Studying for it? Take the free Minnesota DMV practice test (500 questions, instant explanations, no signup).
What a Minnesota driver license covers
Initial license fee: $46 for a Class D license; $32.50 for a provisional license. (official source)
REAL ID status: REAL ID available; federal enforcement began in 2025. See the DVS document checklists for what to bring. (official source)
The gold star marks a REAL ID compliant card. Many states hand you a paper interim license the day you pass and mail the physical card later; the interim paper generally works for driving but not for TSA airport ID. Check the official Minnesota DMV site for exact card timelines.
Getting a license in Minnesota
Getting your first permit
In Minnesota, the minimum permit age is 15 years old to obtain an instruction permit; driver education required under 18. When you apply for a permit or license, bring: two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary document, for a Standard license or ID. Find DVS offices, exam stations, and deputy registrar partners via the DPS locations page.
Fees, retakes, and practice hours
Before the road test, the state requires 50 supervised hours, including 15 nighttime hours, or 40 supervised hours including 15 nighttime hours if a parent class is completed.
REAL ID, motorcycle, and CDL
REAL ID available; federal enforcement began in 2025. See the DVS document checklists for what to bring. For a motorcycle license: tied to holding a valid MN driver's license; under 18 must complete an approved motorcycle safety course, and the permit requires a knowledge test. For a commercial license (CDL): requires a Class D license, Entry-Level Driver Training, and a CLP before CDL road testing.
The Minnesota bank has 500 questions across 9 topics
Test day: what to bring and where to go: a printable Minnesota checklist of the documents for the permit test, plus the official office finder and appointment links.
Study the handbook, chapter by chapter: 22 free lessons that boil the Minnesota driver manual down to the rules and exact numbers on the test, each quoted with its page.
The Minnesota questions learners miss most: ranked from anonymous first-attempt answers on this site, each with the correct answer and its handbook lesson.
One Minnesota permit test question a day
A free email each morning with one real practice question, the answer at the bottom, and the manual page it comes from. Confirm by email first; unsubscribe in one click.