Key points
The written test has multiple choice and true or false questions on Minnesota traffic laws and road signs.
Source: Handbook p. 10
“The written test includes multiple choice and true-or-false questions that assess your knowledge of Minnesota traffic laws and road signs.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 10You may take only one written test per day and must score 80 percent to pass.
Source: Handbook p. 10
“You may take only one written test per day and must score 80 percent to pass.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 10If you fail two written tests in a row, the third and later tests cost $10.
Source: Handbook p. 10
“If you fail two consecutive written tests, a $10 fee is charged for the third and any subsequent tests.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 10Your vision must be at least 20/40, with peripheral vision of at least 105 degrees.
Source: Handbook p. 10
“Your normal or corrected vision must be at least 20/40, and your peripheral vision must be at least 105 degrees.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 10The road test has three parts: a safety equipment demonstration, vehicle control skills and a driving test.
Source: Handbook p. 10
“The road test includes three parts: demonstrating your vehicle's safety equipment, showing your vehicle control skills and performing a driving test.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 10The road test includes a 90 degree backing maneuver into a space like a 10 foot wide driveway.
Source: Handbook p. 12
“Ability to perform the 90-degree backing skill maneuver, which simulates backing into a 10-foot-wide driveway or parking space.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 12Disobeying a traffic law fails the road test immediately.
Source: Handbook p. 12
“These actions will cause you to fail the road test immediately: Disobeying a traffic law.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 12After two failed road tests, each retest costs $20. After four, you need 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction.
Source: Handbook p. 12
“If you fail the road test two times, a retest fee of $20 will be charged for each subsequent test. If you fail the road test four times, you must complete at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 12New residents have 60 days (30 for commercial drivers) to get a Minnesota license or permit.
Source: Handbook p. 6
“You have 60 days (30 days for commercial drivers) once you become a Minnesota resident to get your Minnesota license or permit.”
Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 80 percent | passing score on the written test | Handbook p. 10 |
| $10 after 2 failures | fee for the third and later written tests | Handbook p. 10 |
| 20/40, 105 degrees | minimum vision and peripheral vision | Handbook p. 10 |
| 90 degrees, 10 feet | backing maneuver into a space this wide | Handbook p. 12 |
| $20 after 2 failures; 6 hours after 4 | road test retest fee, and training needed after four failures | Handbook p. 12 |
| 60 days (30 commercial) | time for new residents to get a Minnesota license | Handbook p. 6 |
3 questions from the Minnesota practice test
1. What score must an applicant earn to pass Minnesota's Class D written test?
- 70 percent
- 75 percent
- 80 percent
- 90 percent
Show answer
80 percent. The Class D written test requires a score of 80 percent to pass. The 70 and 75 percent choices set the bar too low, while 90 percent demands more than the manual specifies. This score requirement is separate from the test format, identification check, and daily testing limit. Prepare for both traffic laws and road signs, then use 80 percent as the number to remember when evaluating the result.
2. Which format does Minnesota use for questions on the Class D written test?
- Essay responses and oral interviews
- Multiple choice and true-or-false
- Driving demonstrations only
- Fill-in-the-blank questions only
Show answer
Multiple choice and true-or-false. Minnesota describes the Class D written test as using multiple choice and true-or-false questions. It assesses knowledge of Minnesota traffic laws and road signs, so it is not an essay, oral-interview, or driving-demonstration-only assessment. The paper or computer option changes how the test is delivered, not the question formats identified here. Study each rule closely enough to recognize both a selected answer and a true or false statement.
3. What vision must a Minnesota applicant have?
- 20/20 in both eyes
- At least 20/40 corrected or uncorrected, with at least 105 degrees of peripheral vision
- 20/70 with 90 degrees
- Any vision with glasses
Show answer
At least 20/40 corrected or uncorrected, with at least 105 degrees of peripheral vision. Your normal or corrected vision must be at least 20/40 and your peripheral vision must be at least 105 degrees. If your peripheral vision is less than 105 degrees or you fail the screening, you will be asked to see an eye doctor and return the report to the Driver Evaluation Unit. The screening is not a medical exam; it only checks the minimum standards.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free Minnesota practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
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.