MN Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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 is driving below a posted minimum speed limit illegal under normal conditions?

   1. Whenever the driver is traveling below that posted minimum
   2. Only when a police officer is directing traffic
   3. Only on roads with a 55 mph maximum
   4. Never, because minimum limits are advisory
   Show answer

   Whenever the driver is traveling below that posted minimum. The manual says it is illegal to drive slower than a posted minimum speed under normal conditions. The choice “Whenever the driver is traveling below that posted minimum” captures both parts: the road must display a minimum and conditions must be ordinary. The choice “Only when a police officer is directing traffic” wrongly makes an officer's presence necessary. The third invents a connection to a particular maximum speed, while the fourth turns a legal limit into a suggestion. Weather, traffic, or road conditions may change how safely you can travel, so evaluate those conditions before treating a slow speed as a violation. Watch for minimum-limit signs on controlled-access roads.

2. 2. Under Minnesota law as revised in 2025, what is the license revocation period for refusing a required chemical test when the driver has no qualified prior impaired driving incidents in the past 20 years?

   1. A 30-day suspension
   2. Not less than one year
   3. A warning with no effect on driving privileges
   4. Exactly six years
   Show answer

   Not less than one year. Minnesota moved its implied consent revocation periods into section 171.178 in 2025. A driver who refuses the test and has no qualified prior impaired driving incidents within the past 20 years loses the license for not less than one year. With one or more qualified prior incidents, full privileges return only after the driver uses an ignition interlock device for a set period, which can run two, six, or ten years depending on the record. Test refusal can also be charged as a crime. The 30-day figure belongs to the underage no-tolerance suspension.

3. 3. What action does this STOP sign require?

   
   1. Come to a complete stop, then wait for right-of-way traffic and pedestrians to clear
   2. Reduce speed and continue whenever the lane looks open
   3. Stop only if another vehicle is approaching
   4. Yield without stopping when the sign is at an intersection
   Show answer

   Come to a complete stop, then wait for right-of-way traffic and pedestrians to clear. A Minnesota STOP sign requires a complete stop and continued waiting until pedestrians and vehicles with the right of way have cleared the intersection. The choice “Reduce speed and continue whenever the lane looks open” treats the sign like a yield sign and removes the mandatory stop. The choice “Stop only if another vehicle is approaching” adds a condition that the sign does not contain, while the choice “Yield without stopping when the sign is at an intersection” replaces the stop with a yield. Stop at the marked line when one exists, otherwise stop before the crosswalk or intersection as required by the roadway layout. Then scan all directions before moving cautiously.

4. 4. On a road with two lanes in your direction, where should you move when a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights is ahead?

   
   1. Into the lane closest to the emergency vehicle to pass quickly
   2. To the shoulder beside the stopped vehicle
   3. To the lane farthest away from the stopped vehicle when safe
   4. Across the centerline regardless of opposing traffic
   Show answer

   To the lane farthest away from the stopped vehicle when safe. When a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights is on or next to a road with two lanes in the same direction, Minnesota's Move Over Law calls for moving to the lane farthest away when it is safe. The shoulder beside the vehicle provides less separation, and the choice “Into the lane closest to the emergency vehicle to pass quickly” moves toward the danger. Crossing the centerline without regard for opposing traffic is not a safe interpretation of the rule. Signal early, check mirrors and blind spots, then make the lane change only when it can be completed without creating a new conflict.

5. 5. What do Minnesota sign shapes and colors help a driver do before reading a sign up close?

   
   1. Know that the sign applies only during construction
   2. Identify the exact fine for violating the sign
   3. Determine the distance to the nearest service station
   4. Get a general idea of what the sign means
   Show answer

   Get a general idea of what the sign means. Minnesota codes sign shapes and colors so drivers can get a general idea of a sign's meaning before reading its wording up close. The visual system is an early recognition aid, not a substitute for the symbol, message, or roadway conditions. The choices about fines, service-station distance, and construction timing add information that this passage does not assign to every sign. Use the outline and color to form an initial expectation, then confirm the instruction by reading the sign and checking lane markings or signals. The cue is quick classification first, detailed interpretation second.

6. 6. If the vehicle behind you is following too closely, what response does the manual recommend?

   1. Speed up until you are beyond its headlights
   2. Brake sharply to force it to increase space
   3. Slow down slightly and allow that vehicle to pass
   4. Move into the oncoming lane to block the driver
   Show answer

   Slow down slightly and allow that vehicle to pass. A tailgater creates a stressful situation, but retaliation can turn it into a crash. Minnesota recommends slowing slightly and allowing the following vehicle to pass. That gives the impatient driver an opportunity to move ahead while reducing the chance that your own vehicle will be struck if traffic changes. Sharp braking is dangerous, and racing away or blocking the lane escalates the encounter. Keep your attention on the road ahead, preserve control, and let the other driver create distance by going around when conditions permit.

7. 7. A green light is showing, but a pedestrian is crossing in front of your vehicle. What must you do?

   1. Yield to the pedestrian before proceeding
   2. Proceed because the green light always overrides the crossing
   3. Sound the horn until the pedestrian leaves the crosswalk
   4. Drive around the pedestrian in the opposing lane
   Show answer

   Yield to the pedestrian before proceeding. A green light permits movement only when the intersection is clear. A pedestrian already crossing in front of the vehicle has priority in that conflict, so the driver must wait and yield before proceeding. The signal does not erase the duty to check the intersection. Sounding the horn is not a substitute for giving way, and entering the opposing lane to go around a person creates an additional hazard. The practical cue is the occupied path ahead: pause, allow the pedestrian to clear, and then continue after checking the rest of the intersection.

8. 8. How long must a Minnesota applicant age 19 or older hold an instruction permit before the road test?

   1. One year
   2. At least three months, compared with six months for younger applicants
   3. No permit is required at 19
   4. Two weeks
   Show answer

   At least three months, compared with six months for younger applicants. After the required six months of practice driving, or three months if you are 19 years old or older, you may take the road test. Applicants 18 and older must be supervised by a driver aged 18 or older while on the permit, and everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt or child restraint. Road test scheduling is covered in Chapter 9 of the manual.

9. 9. When towing a trailer or camper in wet or windy weather, how should the driver adjust speed?

   1. Use cruise control so the trailer follows smoothly
   2. Drive faster to keep the trailer stable
   3. Maintain the posted limit regardless of weather
   4. Slow down more than usual for those conditions
   Show answer

   Slow down more than usual for those conditions. Extra weight changes how a vehicle responds to wind and rain, and a trailer can make steering and stopping more difficult. The manual therefore calls for slowing down more than a driver normally would in the same weather. Speeding up increases the forces acting on the combination and leaves less recovery time. The posted limit is not a target when conditions make control harder, and cruise control can interfere with deliberate speed adjustments. Reduce pace early, keep both vehicles aligned, and leave additional room for correction.

10. 10. What action follows a flashing red signal?

    1. Treat it as a stop sign, then proceed when the intersection is clear
    2. Treat it as a yield sign without stopping
    3. Wait until the signal becomes a steady green light
    4. Continue through because flashing signals do not control vehicles
    Show answer

    Treat it as a stop sign, then proceed when the intersection is clear. A flashing red light has the same stopping requirement as a stop sign. The driver must make a complete stop, yield to vehicles and pedestrians that arrived first, and proceed only when the intersection is clear. A yield-only response skips the required stop, while waiting for a steady green treats the signal as though it were a normal red light and may unnecessarily hold traffic. Ignoring the signal is unsafe and unlawful. The cue is flashing red: stop, establish who has priority, check the whole intersection, and then move when safe.

11. 11. Where should a driver stop for a stop sign when a stop line and crosswalk are present?

    1. In the center of the intersection to improve visibility
    2. After the crosswalk so the front bumper reaches the intersection
    3. Only beside the sign, even if that is beyond the intersection
    4. At the stop line, before the crosswalk, or before entering the intersection
    Show answer

    At the stop line, before the crosswalk, or before entering the intersection. The stop must occur before the vehicle enters the conflict area. Minnesota identifies the stop line, the area before the crosswalk, or the point before entering the intersection as the stopping locations. Stopping after the crosswalk can interfere with pedestrians, and stopping in the intersection blocks other movements. The sign itself does not require a driver to stop beside its post if the marked stopping point is elsewhere. The cue is the order of the markings: stop first, scan for people and traffic, then proceed only after the intersection is clear enough.

12. 12. What proof is required for a veteran designation on a Minnesota license?

    1. A letter from a commanding officer
    2. Any military ID
    3. Proof of at least 181 days of active service with an Honorable or General under Honorable conditions discharge
    4. Proof of reserve enlistment only
    Show answer

    Proof of at least 181 days of active service with an Honorable or General under Honorable conditions discharge. To add the veteran designation you must be separated from the military and provide proof of veteran status showing at least 181 total days of active military service and either an Honorable or General under Honorable conditions discharge. National Guard and Reserve retirees and veterans of the Secret War in Laos have separate qualifying rules. The designation appears on the card.

13. 13. How old must the supervising driver be for a Minnesota instruction permit holder who is under 18?

    1. 18 or older
    2. 25 or older
    3. 16 or older
    4. 21 or older
    Show answer

    21 or older. A Minnesota permit holder under 18 must be supervised by a driver aged 21 or older, and everyone in the vehicle must be buckled. Eighteen is the minimum supervisor age for a permit holder who is 18 or older, so it is the easy mix-up. Twenty-five is the age of the licensed driver who can ride along during a provisional driver's first six months at night. Sixteen is not a supervisor age. Permit holders under 18 also may not use a phone at all, even hands-free.

14. 14. A commercial driver has a detectable alcohol concentration below 0.04 percent. What Minnesota consequence is specified?

    1. The driver receives only a warning with no restriction
    2. The driver may continue after drinking coffee
    3. The driver is placed out of service for 24 hours
    4. The driver permanently loses every driving credential
    Show answer

    The driver is placed out of service for 24 hours. Minnesota places a commercial driver out of service for 24 hours when the alcohol concentration is below 0.04 percent but still detectable. Being below 0.04 does not make detectable alcohol irrelevant, so the warning-only choice is unsafe. Coffee cannot remove the restriction, and the manual's passage describes a 24-hour out-of-service period rather than automatic permanent loss of every credential. The practical cue is commercial vehicle plus any detectable alcohol: stop operating and observe the stated duration.

15. 15. What change in roadway operation does the opposing-arrow sign announce?

    
    1. Passing is permitted in both directions
    2. A divided highway is beginning immediately
    3. You are leaving a one-way road and entering a two-way road
    4. The lane becomes a center turn lane only
    Show answer

    You are leaving a one-way road and entering a two-way road. The opposing arrows warn that traffic will no longer be confined to one direction. The driver is leaving a one-way road and entering a two-way road, so staying to the right becomes especially important. The sign does not authorize passing, announce a divided highway, or convert the lane into a center turn lane. Check for oncoming traffic, keep right of the center line, and watch for additional markings that regulate passing or turning. The key cue is the change from one directional flow to opposing traffic.

16. 16. What do white dashes between lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction mean?

    1. The lane is reserved for emergency vehicles only
    2. The lanes carry traffic in opposite directions
    3. Lane changes are prohibited until the next intersection
    4. A lane change is permitted where the marking is present
    Show answer

    A lane change is permitted where the marking is present. White lines separate lanes moving in the same direction, and white dashes indicate that a driver may change lanes at that location. The permission still depends on a safe gap, a signal, and a check for vehicles in the blind spot. The opposing-direction choice describes the function of yellow lines, while a prohibition would be associated with a solid or double solid white line. The emergency-only choice adds a restriction not conveyed by ordinary white dashes. The cue is the combination of color and pattern: white means same direction, and dashes mark a possible lane change.

17. 17. If your headlights suddenly go out on a dark road, which action is recommended first?

    1. Stop in the traffic lane and turn off every electrical system
    2. Use the parking lights, hazard warning lights, or turn signals and guide the vehicle off the road
    3. Accelerate until another vehicle illuminates the roadway
    4. Open the hood immediately while the vehicle is moving
    Show answer

    Use the parking lights, hazard warning lights, or turn signals and guide the vehicle off the road. A sudden loss of headlights does not mean you should remain exposed in a travel lane. Try the parking lights, hazard warning lights, or turn signals, since one may still provide enough illumination to guide you away from danger. On a dark, deserted road, reduce speed and keep the vehicle on the pavement until moving safely onto the shoulder. The choice to accelerate is hazardous because it shortens reaction time in darkness. Think of the remaining lights as a temporary guide, then reach a safe stopping place rather than attempting to continue normally.

18. 18. How many supervised driving hours must a Minnesota teen log if a parent completes the parent class?

    1. At least 40 hours including 15 nighttime hours; 50 hours without the parent class
    2. 10 hours
    3. 100 hours
    4. 20 hours with no night driving
    Show answer

    At least 40 hours including 15 nighttime hours; 50 hours without the parent class. Parents or guardians have two options: complete a parent class from a Minnesota approved driver education program and submit a log showing at least 40 hours of supervised driving including 15 nighttime hours, or skip the class and have the teen log at least 50 hours. After six months of practice, or three months at age 19 or older, the teen may take the road test.

19. 19. What does a solid yellow line on your side of the center line require?

    
    1. You may pass whenever the road ahead looks clear
    2. You must not pass across that line
    3. You may use the line as a temporary parking boundary
    4. Only trucks are prohibited from crossing it
    Show answer

    You must not pass across that line. A solid yellow line separates opposing traffic and prohibits passing from the side where it appears. The choice “You may pass whenever the road ahead looks clear” is tempting because a clear view can make passing seem safe, but visibility does not override a no-passing marking. Yellow dashes have a different meaning, so do not confuse a broken line with the solid one beside your lane. Check the pavement before beginning a pass, especially on a two-lane road where crossing the center line places you among oncoming vehicles. The practical cue is solid yellow means stay behind, while yellow dashes may permit passing.

20. 20. A pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk as you approach. What is the required response?

    
    1. Continue if your vehicle reaches the crosswalk first
    2. Stop and wait until the pedestrian has passed your lane
    3. Sound the horn and pass before the pedestrian moves farther
    4. Stop only when the crosswalk has a flashing beacon
    Show answer

    Stop and wait until the pedestrian has passed your lane. Minnesota requires a driver to stop for a pedestrian in either a marked or unmarked crosswalk and remain stopped until the person has passed the vehicle's lane. The choice “Continue if your vehicle reaches the crosswalk first” changes the rule into a race for space, but a driver's arrival first does not cancel the pedestrian's protection. The choice “Sound the horn and pass before the pedestrian moves farther” treats the horn as permission to proceed, which it is not. The choice “Stop only when the crosswalk has a flashing beacon” incorrectly limits the duty to crosswalks with special equipment. A useful cue is to look at the pedestrian's lane, stop before blocking the crossing, and wait until that lane is clear.