Provisional license limits, Vanessa's Law and the under 21 license

Key points

1. For the first six months, no driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless with a licensed driver at least 25 or another listed exception applies.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “During the first six months, you must not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless you are: Accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years old.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 14

2. First six months: only one passenger under 20 unless a parent or guardian is along.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “During the first six months, you may have only one passenger under 20 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 15

3. Second six months: no more than three passengers under 20 unless a parent or guardian is along.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “During the second six months, you may have no more than three passengers under 20 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 15

4. Immediate family members under 20 may ride along in both periods.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “Note: You may have immediate family members under age 20 as passengers during both time periods.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 15

5. Under Vanessa's Law, an unlicensed teen convicted of a crash related or alcohol violation cannot get a license until 18.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “while you are driving without a license as a teenager, you cannot get a license, instruction permit or provisional license until you are 18.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 15

6. For an under 21 license, be 18 or hold a provisional license 12 months without alcohol, drug or crash related convictions.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “To get your under 21 Class D driver's license, you must be at least 18 years old or have held a provisional license for 12 consecutive months with no convictions for alcohol violations, controlled-substance violations or crash-related moving violations.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

7. Under 18, you must also certify at least 10 hours driven with a licensed supervisor 21 or older.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “If you are under 18, you must certify that you have driven for at least 10 hours under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

8. Upgrading from a clean provisional license earns a $3.50 credit toward the fee.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “If you upgrade from a provisional license with no violations on your record, you will receive a $3.50 credit toward the fee.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

9. An under 21 license expires on your 21st birthday, then every four years on your birthday.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “This license will expire on your 21st birthday and will then expire every four years on your birthday.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 16

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Minnesota practice test

1. 1. During the first six months of a Minnesota provisional license, how many passengers under 20 who are not immediate family members may ride without a parent or guardian accompanying the driver?

   1. Any number of passengers under age 20
   2. Two passengers under age 20
   3. Three passengers under age 20
   4. One passenger under age 20
   Show answer

   One passenger under age 20. For the first six months, a provisional license holder may have only one passenger under 20 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The choices “Two passengers under age 20” and “Three passengers under age 20” increase the number beyond the first-period limit and belong to neither the stated rule nor its exception. The choice “Any number of passengers under age 20” removes the passenger restriction entirely. Immediate family members under 20 are treated separately under the manual's note, so do not count them the same way as unrelated young passengers. Before starting the trip, identify who is riding and whether the required adult exception is present.

2. 2. During the second six months of a Minnesota provisional license, how many passengers under 20 who are not immediate family members may ride without a parent or guardian accompanying the driver?

   1. One
   2. Two
   3. No more than three
   4. No numerical limit
   Show answer

   No more than three. The second six-month period permits no more than three passengers under 20 unless a parent or guardian accompanies the provisional driver. The choice “One” is the tighter limit for the first six months. The choice “Two” understates the allowance, while the choice “No numerical limit” ignores the continuing restriction. The timing matters, so a driver cannot apply the second-period number immediately after receiving the license. Keep the license date in mind, count young passengers before departure, and remember that the manual separately allows immediate family members under 20 during both periods.

3. 3. What nighttime restriction applies during the first six months of a Minnesota provisional license?

   1. No driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an exception applies
   2. No driving from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in every circumstance
   3. No driving from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. only on weekends
   4. No driving after sunset until sunrise
   Show answer

   No driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an exception applies. During the first six months, a provisional driver must not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless one of the listed exceptions applies. Those exceptions include a licensed driver at least 25 years old, travel between home and work, certain school events, and employment. The choices “No driving from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in every circumstance” and “No driving from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. only on weekends” change the clock, while the choice “No driving after sunset until sunrise” replaces the fixed curfew with a daylight rule. Check the purpose of the trip and who is supervising before driving during the restricted hours. The important cue is the midnight to 5 a.m. window, not merely darkness outside.

Source: the Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 1: Your license to drive. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.