MN Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

Every question below comes from the Minnesota question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. When a vehicle is used to violate Minnesota’s school-bus stopping law, who may be penalized as the owner?

   1. The owner automatically receives five license points
   2. The owner or leaseholder may be guilty of a petty misdemeanor
   3. The owner is never involved if another person was driving
   4. The owner must surrender the vehicle permanently
   Show answer

   The owner or leaseholder may be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. Minnesota allows the owner or leaseholder to be guilty of a petty misdemeanor when the vehicle is used to violate the school-bus stopping statute. The owner can avoid that owner-based charge by proving another person was driving, in which case the driver is charged. The claim that an owner is never involved overlooks this specific responsibility, and the manual does not impose automatic five-point treatment or permanent forfeiture here. Keep records of who operates a vehicle and take school-bus violations seriously. The cue is ownership creates exposure, subject to proof about the actual driver.

2. 2. What does a green arrow allow a driver to do?

   1. Turn in any direction without checking the roadway
   2. Turn safely in the direction of the arrow, subject to people already in the intersection
   3. Treat the arrow exactly like a flashing yellow signal
   4. Wait until the arrow changes to red before moving
   Show answer

   Turn safely in the direction of the arrow, subject to people already in the intersection. A green arrow authorizes movement in the arrow’s direction and protects the turn from oncoming or crossing traffic. It does not erase the obligation to account for people or vehicles already in the intersection, and it does not authorize unrelated turns. The flashing-yellow choice applies a different signal rule and would improperly add a general caution requirement against the protected movement. Check the path before entering, then complete the indicated turn smoothly. The cue is direction plus protection: follow the arrow, while clearing the intersection remains part of safe execution.

3. 3. A traffic signal at an intersection is not functioning. How should you approach the intersection?

   1. Treat it like an uncontrolled intersection and proceed only after yielding as required
   2. Treat it like a stop sign and wait for a police officer
   3. Continue through without slowing because no signal is active
   4. Give priority only to vehicles on the larger roadway
   Show answer

   Treat it like an uncontrolled intersection and proceed only after yielding as required. Minnesota treats a failed signal as an uncontrolled intersection, so normal right-of-way rules govern your movement. That is different from the stop-sign response in the choice “Treat it like a stop sign and wait for a police officer”, which would impose a full stop on every approach even when the manual does not say to do that. Slow down, scan for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians, and yield according to who has priority. A dark signal is a reason to increase observation, not permission to drive through without checking. The useful cue is simple: signal failure changes the type of intersection, while it does not erase the duty to yield.

4. 4. What does the pennant-shaped sign mark on a two-way highway?

   
   1. A bicycle route with protected crossing priority
   2. The end of a no-passing zone
   3. The beginning of a no-passing zone
   4. A temporary lane for construction vehicles
   Show answer

   The beginning of a no-passing zone. The pennant on the left side of a two-way highway marks where a no-passing zone begins. It warns that passing ahead is illegal, so a driver should remain behind the vehicle ahead and wait for a legal opportunity farther along. The sign does not announce that restrictions have ended, create bicycle priority, or establish a construction lane. Its unusual shape and left-side placement are strong recognition cues. Do not cross a solid yellow line or pass simply because the opposing lane appears open.

5. 5. How should you position your vehicle after seeing this divided-highway warning?

   
   1. Drive left of the center island to keep the shortest route
   2. Stay to the right as the road divides
   3. Use either side because opposing traffic remains together
   4. Turn around before reaching the divider
   Show answer

   Stay to the right as the road divides. A divided-highway-begins warning means the roadway will separate around a center island or median. Stay to the right so your vehicle follows the proper side of the divided road. Driving left of the island can place you in opposing traffic, and the roadway is not offering free choice between directions. Turning around is neither required nor a safe response. As the divider approaches, reduce speed if needed, follow the lane arrows, and watch for the physical separation that confirms the intended path.

6. 6. What alcohol rule applies to a Minnesota driver under age 21 who operates a motor vehicle?

   1. The rule applies only when passengers are present
   2. Only 0.08 percent or more is illegal
   3. Alcohol is allowed if the driver stays below 0.04 percent
   4. Any detectable amount is illegal
   Show answer

   Any detectable amount is illegal. Minnesota's underage rule prohibits operating a motor vehicle with any detectable alcohol in the system. That is stricter than the 0.08 percent threshold often associated with ordinary DWI discussions, and it is not changed by the presence or absence of passengers. The 0.04 percent choice borrows the commercial-vehicle threshold and does not apply here. A second conviction also brings a longer suspension, so the safest operating cue for anyone under 21 is no detectable alcohol before driving.

7. 7. What cellphone use is allowed for a Minnesota driver under 18 with an instruction permit or provisional license?

   1. Handheld calls whenever traffic is stopped
   2. A call to 911 in an emergency
   3. Hands-free calls for any reason while moving
   4. Texting when the phone is mounted
   Show answer

   A call to 911 in an emergency. Drivers under 18 with an instruction permit or provisional license may not use a cell phone, handheld or hands-free, except to call 911 in an emergency. The choice “Handheld calls whenever traffic is stopped” ignores the age and license restriction and also treats stopped traffic as permission. The choice “Hands-free calls for any reason while moving” is specifically rejected because hands-free use is included in the prohibition. Mounting a phone does not authorize texting, so the option “Texting when the phone is mounted” remains illegal. The practical cue is to reserve the phone for an emergency 911 call and handle ordinary communication before the trip begins.

8. 8. What does this YIELD sign direct you to do?

   
   1. Enter first because the sign protects your lane
   2. Stop for a fixed five seconds before moving
   3. Slow down or stop if necessary and give right of way to vehicles and pedestrians
   4. Ignore pedestrians if no traffic signal is visible
   Show answer

   Slow down or stop if necessary and give right of way to vehicles and pedestrians. The YIELD sign directs a driver to slow down or stop if necessary, then give the right of way to all other vehicles and pedestrians until it is safe to proceed. The choice “Stop for a fixed five seconds before moving” invents a timed stop, while the third reverses the sign's priority. The fourth wrongly removes pedestrians from the rule when there is no signal. Approach with enough speed control to stop smoothly, check the crossing path and traffic stream, and continue only after the road users who have priority are clear. Yielding is a decision based on safety, not a countdown.

9. 9. What does a steady downward green arrow over a reversible lane tell you?

   1. You must leave that lane immediately
   2. The lane is reserved for emergency vehicles
   3. You may drive in the lane below it
   4. Traffic may use the lane only to pass
   Show answer

   You may drive in the lane below it. A steady downward green arrow authorizes travel in the lane directly beneath the signal. It is a lane-use instruction, not a direction to turn or a special passing permission. A yellow X signals that the lane is changing and drivers should prepare to move, while a red X means the lane cannot be occupied. Watch the overhead display as conditions change, especially where lanes reverse direction during busy periods. The practical cue is simple: green arrow means the lane is available; the color and symbol govern access before any pavement marking does.

10. 10. What does an orange traffic sign usually indicate in Minnesota?

    1. A recreational site or cultural attraction
    2. A construction or work zone condition
    3. A mandatory stop at a railroad crossing
    4. A route to food, fuel, or lodging
    Show answer

    A construction or work zone condition. Orange signs identify construction and work zone warnings. They can signal restricted lanes, detours, or other road work hazards, so drivers should slow down and follow the changed path. Brown signs point toward historic, cultural, or recreational locations, while blue signs describe motorist services. A railroad stop requirement is not the general meaning of orange. Watch for cones, drums, barriers, workers, and people giving directions near the orange sign. The sign color is an immediate cue that normal lane patterns or speeds may not continue through the area.

11. 11. When a school bus displays flashing red lights on a divided highway, which traffic is excepted from stopping?

    
    1. Traffic approaching behind the bus on the same roadway
    2. Traffic following the bus in its lane
    3. Traffic traveling in the opposite direction on the other side of the divider
    4. Every vehicle because the roadway is divided
    Show answer

    Traffic traveling in the opposite direction on the other side of the divider. The school-bus exception is narrow: on a divided highway, a driver traveling in the opposite direction is not required to stop for the bus on the other side of the divider. Vehicles behind the bus or approaching in its direction remain subject to the red-light stop requirement. Division of the roadway does not excuse every vehicle. Identify which side of the physical divider your vehicle occupies before deciding whether the exception applies.

12. 12. How far ahead must Minnesota high beam headlights make objects visible?

    1. At least 100 feet
    2. At least 1,000 feet
    3. At least 350 feet
    4. At least 50 feet
    Show answer

    At least 350 feet. All motor vehicles except motorcycles must have two white headlights that work on high and low beam; high beam headlights must make objects visible on the road at least 350 feet ahead. Replace damaged headlights, since a cracked lens lets in moisture and dust that reduce light and increase glare, and clean them as often as the windshield. Clear lenses help illuminate the road without scattering light toward other drivers.

13. 13. An emergency vehicle with flashing red lights and a siren approaches on a two-way road. What should you do?

    
    1. Pull to the right and stop
    2. Turn left and stop in the nearest travel lane
    3. Keep driving and let the emergency vehicle use the shoulder
    4. Stop immediately in the middle of the intersection
    Show answer

    Pull to the right and stop. On a two-way road, an approaching emergency vehicle using flashing red lights and a siren requires other drivers to pull to the right and stop. If the driver is already in an intersection, the driver should first proceed through it before stopping, so the intersection remains clear. Continuing at the same speed or stopping in the middle of the intersection can block the emergency response. The left-side choice moves toward the vehicle's expected path. The cue is lights plus siren: signal, move right safely, stop, and remain stopped until the emergency vehicles pass.

14. 14. Which stopped vehicles are covered by Minnesota's move-over rule when their warning lights are activated?

    1. Only private passenger vehicles with a flat tire
    2. Only police cars displaying blue lights
    3. Only ambulances on interstate shoulders
    4. Stalled vehicles and listed service, maintenance, utility, construction, postal, and recycling vehicles
    Show answer

    Stalled vehicles and listed service, maintenance, utility, construction, postal, and recycling vehicles. The move-over protection covers stalled or disabled vehicles as well as stopped service patrol, road maintenance, utility, construction, postal, and solid waste or recycling vehicles when their warning lights are activated. The other choices narrow the rule to police cars, ambulances, or private vehicles, leaving out the broader roadside group. When changing lanes is unsafe or there is only one lane in your direction, slow down and pass cautiously. Flashing warning lights should prompt both extra space and a careful scan for people working beside the roadway.

15. 15. When turning left, which approaching vehicles must a Minnesota driver yield to?

    
    1. Vehicles from the opposite direction that are in or close enough to the intersection to pose a crash risk
    2. Only vehicles already stopped in the intersection
    3. Only oncoming vehicles that are signaling left
    4. No vehicles, because the turning driver entered first
    Show answer

    Vehicles from the opposite direction that are in or close enough to the intersection to pose a crash risk. A left-turning driver must yield to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction when they are in the intersection or close enough to pose a risk of a crash. The rule is broader than waiting for an oncoming vehicle to stop, and it does not depend on that driver's turn signal. Entering first does not remove the duty to yield. Before crossing the opposing lane, judge both distance and speed, then wait whenever the approaching vehicle could create a collision risk.

16. 16. What should a driver do when approaching an animal-drawn vehicle on the roadway?

    1. Reduce speed and pass slowly
    2. Sound the horn continuously to make it move faster
    3. Pass closely before another vehicle arrives
    4. Maintain speed because the animal must yield
    Show answer

    Reduce speed and pass slowly. Animal-drawn vehicles can move slowly and may react unpredictably to nearby traffic. The Minnesota guidance is to reduce speed and pass slowly, giving the driver more time to recognize the vehicle and avoid startling the animal or crowding its path. Continuous horn use and close passing add pressure and risk. The animal-drawn vehicle does not disappear from the driver’s duty to share the road safely. Look for the slow-moving vehicle emblem, ease off the accelerator, and provide a calm, wide passage.

17. 17. You fail to slow down while passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights in Minnesota. What is added to the speeding fine?

    1. A surcharge of at least $300
    2. Double the fine
    3. Nothing extra
    4. A surcharge of at least $25
    Show answer

    A surcharge of at least $25. Minnesota requires you to slow down when approaching or passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing emergency lights, and a surcharge of at least $25 is added to the speeding fine for breaking this law. Three hundred dollars is the extra fine for speeding in a work zone. Doubling the fine is not the rule the manual states, and nothing extra ignores the surcharge. Also slow down for flag persons, pedestrians, barricades, flares and reflectors.

18. 18. A Minnesota driver's privileges were revoked for lack of insurance. Which step is part of reinstatement?

    1. Pay the $680 alcohol reinstatement fee
    2. Take a six hour behind-the-wheel course
    3. Wait until age 21
    4. Pay a $30 reinstatement fee and pass a written test
    Show answer

    Pay a $30 reinstatement fee and pass a written test. After an insurance revocation, the driver must pass a written test, pay a $30 reinstatement fee in addition to court fines, apply for a new license, and submit an insurance certificate from the insurer. The $680 fee belongs to alcohol-related revocations. The six hour behind-the-wheel course is part of Vanessa's Law reinstatement. Age 21 has nothing to do with this rule.

19. 19. A Minnesota driver is convicted a second time of texting while driving. What extra fine applies?

    1. $275 on top of the court fine
    2. $25 on top of the court fine
    3. $1,000 total
    4. No extra fine
    Show answer

    $275 on top of the court fine. Minnesota bans using a wireless device to compose, read or send electronic messages while driving, except for emergencies, reporting a crash or crime, or voice-activated or hands-free use. After two or more convictions, the driver must pay a $275 fine in addition to the court-specified fine. Twenty-five dollars is the emergency vehicle surcharge. A flat $1,000 is not the rule, and saying there is no extra fine ignores it.

20. 20. What maximum criminal penalty does the Minnesota manual list for felony DWI?

    1. One year in jail and a $3,000 fine
    2. Up to seven years in prison with five years of conditional release and a $14,000 fine
    3. 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine
    4. Up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine
    Show answer

    Up to seven years in prison with five years of conditional release and a $14,000 fine. Felony DWI can be charged for a fourth DWI in 10 years, a previous felony DWI, or criminal vehicular homicide while impaired. The penalties can include up to seven years in prison with a five-year conditional release and a $14,000 fine, and a fourth offense may bring license loss for four years. One year and $3,000 is the second and third offense level. Ninety days and $1,000 is the first offense. Ten years and a $20,000 fine is not a DWI penalty level listed in the manual.