MN Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. At what alcohol concentration does a Minnesota ignition interlock device prevent the vehicle from starting?

   1. 0.08 percent or above
   2. 0.04 percent or above
   3. 0.02 percent or above
   4. Any amount above zero
   Show answer

   0.02 percent or above. The ignition interlock is connected to the vehicle's starter, and the driver must blow into it to start the car. If it detects an alcohol concentration at or above 0.02 percent, it prevents the vehicle from starting. Point zero eight is the DWI arrest level and 0.04 the commercial level, both higher than the device's cutoff. Any amount above zero is stricter than the stated setting.

   Study this in the handbook: How alcohol affects you and the DWI law

2. 2. About how fast does the body eliminate alcohol, according to the Minnesota manual?

   1. About three drinks per hour
   2. About one drink per hour
   3. Faster after coffee or a cold shower
   4. About one drink every 15 minutes
   Show answer

   About one drink per hour. The only way to reduce alcohol concentration is to wait. The manual says alcohol is generally eliminated at about one drink per hour, with the liver removing 95 percent by oxidation and the rest leaving through breathing, sweating and urination. Coffee, exercise and cold showers do not speed up oxidation. Three drinks per hour and one every 15 minutes both overstate how fast the body works.

   Study this in the handbook: How alcohol affects you and the DWI law

3. 3. A Minnesota driver gave false information on a license application. How long is the license canceled?

   1. Permanently
   2. 30 days, whichever comes first
   3. 60 days or until the correct information is provided, whichever is longer
   4. Until age 21
   Show answer

   60 days or until the correct information is provided, whichever is longer. Cancellation applies when a driver has no legal right to the license. If you give false or misleading information on the application, the license is canceled for 60 days or until the correct information is provided, whichever is longer. It is not permanent by default. Thirty days whichever comes first reverses both the number and the logic. Age 21 has no role here.

4. 4. When may a driver exceed a 55 mph posted limit by up to 10 mph under Minnesota's speed rule?

   1. While lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway
   2. Whenever the road is empty
   3. When merging onto any freeway
   4. Whenever the driver is late
   Show answer

   While lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway. Minnesota permits the 10 mph increase only while lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway whose speed limit is 55 mph or higher. An empty road, a freeway merge, or a driver's schedule does not satisfy those conditions. The allowance is narrow and does not turn the posted limit into a general target above the sign. Confirm the highway has two lanes and that the pass itself is lawful before applying this exception.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the basic speed law

5. 5. When making a turn in Minnesota, how far before turning should you activate your signal?

   1. At least 10 feet before turning
   2. Only after entering the intersection
   3. At least 100 feet before turning
   4. Only when another driver is nearby
   Show answer

   At least 100 feet before turning. The manual sets a clear advance warning for turns: activate the signal at least 100 feet before turning, then keep signaling until the turn or lane change is complete. Waiting until the intersection or until another driver appears removes useful time for pedestrians and traffic to respond. Ten feet is far shorter than the stated distance and does not give the same warning. Signaling is not optional just because the road looks empty. A practical cue is to begin the signal before the final approach, then cancel it only after the maneuver has finished.

   Study this in the handbook: Signaling, turns, roundabouts and U turns

6. 6. Which format does Minnesota use for questions on the Class D written test?

   1. Essay responses and oral interviews
   2. Multiple choice and true-or-false
   3. Driving demonstrations only
   4. 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 manual adds that the test may be taken on paper or on a computer, which changes how it is delivered but not the question formats. Study each rule closely enough to recognize both a selected answer and a true or false statement.

   Study this in the handbook: The written test, vision screening and road test

7. 7. How should you use cruise control when the road surface is slippery?

   1. Leave cruise control off
   2. Set it below the posted limit
   3. Use it only in a straight lane
   4. Set it to match the vehicle ahead
   Show answer

   Leave cruise control off. The winter driving instructions say to avoid cruise control on slippery roads. Selecting a lower setting does not remove that advice, and neither a straight road nor another vehicle’s pace changes it. Adjust your speed to the surface conditions yourself. The same winter list tells you to get the feel of the road by trying your brakes while driving slowly, so treat a slippery surface as a reason to keep control in your own hands and leave cruise control off.

8. 8. How should a driver respond to a flashing red traffic light in Minnesota?

   1. Use it as permission to turn without checking
   2. Treat it as a yield sign without stopping
   3. Continue if the cross street appears empty
   4. Treat it as a stop sign
   Show answer

   Treat it as a stop sign. A flashing red traffic light must be treated as a stop sign. That means the driver stops and then applies the ordinary right-of-way rules before proceeding. A yield-only response skips the required stop, while an empty-looking cross street does not cancel the signal. The signal also does not grant an unchecked turn. Make a complete stop at the proper point, scan for traffic and pedestrians, and continue only when the intersection is clear under the applicable priority rule.

   Study this in the handbook: Stop rules, school buses and fleeing police

9. 9. 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.

   Study this in the handbook: Provisional license limits, Vanessa's Law and the under 21 license

10. 10. If the broken yellow line is on your side and the solid yellow line is opposite, when may you pass?

    
    1. After honking to warn the oncoming traffic
    2. Never, because any yellow line forbids passing
    3. After moving into the opposite lane to check for traffic
    4. When passing is otherwise safe and legal
    Show answer

    When passing is otherwise safe and legal. Mixed yellow lines give different instructions to the two directions. A broken line on your side permits passing when the maneuver is safe and legal, while the solid line facing the other direction prohibits that traffic from passing. You still need adequate sight distance, room, and no separate restriction before moving around another vehicle. Honking or edging into the opposite lane to look does not make passing legal. Identify which marking is beside your lane, and check mirrors and oncoming traffic first.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing up and parking

11. 11. A Minnesota driver illegally passes a school bus with its red lights flashing. Within how long may an officer with probable cause arrest the driver?

    1. Within four hours
    2. Only at the moment of the violation
    3. Within 30 days
    4. Within 24 hours
    Show answer

    Within four hours. Minnesota lets a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe you illegally passed a school bus arrest you within four hours of the violation, so an officer does not need to catch you on the spot. Thirty days and 24 hours are not the stated window. The penalty on conviction is a fine of at least $500 and loss of driving privileges. On a divided roadway, traffic across the divider does not need to stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Stop rules, school buses and fleeing police

12. 12. Under Minnesota's Vanessa's Law, an unlicensed teen is convicted of an alcohol-related driving violation. When can the teen get a permit or license?

    1. After a 30 day wait
    2. After six months
    3. Not until age 18
    4. Immediately, after paying a fine
    Show answer

    Not until age 18. Vanessa's Law covers teens who commit an impaired driving crime or a crash-related moving violation. If the teen was driving without a license, a conviction for a crash-related moving violation or an alcohol or controlled substance violation, including Not a Drop, means no license, instruction permit or provisional license until age 18. Thirty days and six months are far shorter than the rule. Paying a fine does not restore eligibility.

    Study this in the handbook: Provisional license limits, Vanessa's Law and the under 21 license

13. 13. To upgrade from a Minnesota provisional license before 18, how long must the provisional license have been held?

    1. 12 consecutive months with no alcohol, drug or crash-related convictions
    2. Six months with no convictions at all
    3. Two years
    4. 90 days
    Show answer

    12 consecutive months with no alcohol, drug or crash-related convictions. The under 21 Class D license requires being at least 18, or holding a provisional license for 12 consecutive months with no convictions for alcohol violations, controlled substance violations or crash-related moving violations. The driver also may not have more than one conviction for a moving violation that is not crash-related. Six months is the permit holding time. Two years is how long the provisional license stays valid, not the upgrade point. Ninety days is from Vanessa's Law.

    Study this in the handbook: Provisional license limits, Vanessa's Law and the under 21 license

14. 14. What should you clear off your vehicle before driving in winter?

    1. Nothing, if the defroster is turned on high
    2. Only the driver's side window and mirror
    3. Only the windshield, using the wipers
    4. Snow and ice from the hood, windows, and lights
    Show answer

    Snow and ice from the hood, windows, and lights. Before driving in winter, remove snow and ice from your vehicle's hood, windows, and lights. Clearing only the windshield or one window does not meet this instruction. Also make sure your windshield washer fluid contains antifreeze, and test your brakes while driving slowly to get the feel of the road. Avoid using cruise control on slippery roads. If your vehicle becomes stuck on ice or snow, try to free it by rocking it back and forth.

15. 15. What does a flashing yellow X above a lane allow?

    1. Right turns from the shared lane
    2. Straight travel in both directions
    3. Passing slower vehicles
    4. Left turns, with caution
    Show answer

    Left turns, with caution. The lane under a flashing yellow X may be used to turn left. Drivers making left turns from the opposite direction may use that same lane, so you must be cautious. It is not an open lane for straight travel or passing, and it does not designate a right-turn lane. Look at both the flashing indication and the movement you plan before entering the shared space.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, lane use signals and ramp meters

16. 16. What should you anticipate when this merging-traffic sign appears?

    
    1. Your lane is ending and you must stop immediately
    2. Vehicles may enter the roadway, so be prepared to allow them in
    3. New traffic will not have to merge because a lane is added
    4. Only motorcycles may enter from the side
    Show answer

    Vehicles may enter the roadway, so be prepared to allow them in. A merging-traffic warning means vehicles are entering the roadway on which you are traveling. Be alert, watch the adjacent entry area, and be prepared to adjust speed or position so another vehicle can merge safely. An ending lane is a separate warning, and an added-lane sign means new traffic has its own lane without an immediate merge. Nothing in this symbol reserves the entry for motorcycles. The useful cue is to check mirrors and the side area before the merge point, rather than reacting after a vehicle is beside you.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, school, construction and guide signs

17. 17. What does a Low Clearance Ahead sign tell you to do?

    1. Keep at least the distance shown from the vehicle ahead
    2. Lower your speed to the number shown
    3. Watch for a low-water crossing
    4. Do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height shown
    Show answer

    Do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height shown. A Low Clearance Ahead sign shows the height of an overpass or other structure ahead. Do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height on the sign, or it may become stuck. The number is a height, not a speed or following distance. Watch for this sign before overpasses and bridges, and slow down for the other warning signs, such as Narrow Bridge, that alert you to possible hazards ahead.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, school, construction and guide signs

18. 18. What general message does this yellow warning sign provide?

    
    1. It grants priority over all approaching traffic
    2. It alerts you to a possible hazard ahead
    3. It marks a service area where parking is required
    4. It gives the legal maximum speed for the road
    Show answer

    It alerts you to a possible hazard ahead. This is a warning sign, so its purpose is to alert the driver to a possible hazard ahead and prompt an appropriate response. It does not grant priority, require parking, or set a speed limit. Those functions belong to different sign categories and shapes. The safest response is to identify what the symbol represents, begin looking farther ahead, and adjust speed or position before the hazard is reached. A warning sign should change attention and preparation, even when no immediate action is yet required.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors, shapes and regulatory signs

19. 19. If a Minnesota driver does not have insurance information at a crash scene, when must it be provided?

    1. Within 30 days
    2. Within 72 hours
    3. Immediately or never
    4. Within one year
    Show answer

    Within 72 hours. At a crash you give the investigating officer your insurance carrier and agent, and if you do not have the information with you, you must provide it within 72 hours. A crash with property damage only does not require notifying law enforcement, but a disabled vehicle should be towed promptly. Owners of vehicles driven on public roads must carry no fault and liability insurance.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats, airbags and window rules

20. 20. Your gas pedal sticks, and hooking your toe under it to raise it does not free it. What should you do next?

    1. Press the accelerator repeatedly until it releases
    2. Turn the key off while traveling in the lane
    3. Apply the brakes, shift into neutral, and steer toward the shoulder
    4. Pull the parking brake sharply before steering
    Show answer

    Apply the brakes, shift into neutral, and steer toward the shoulder. The manual says a stuck gas pedal may be freed by hooking your toe under the pedal and raising it. If that does not work, apply the brakes and shift into neutral to disengage the engine, then choose a safe path and steer to the shoulder. Pressing the accelerator repeatedly does not solve the jam, and the manual does not list turning the key off in the travel lane or a sharp parking brake pull as the response. If the shoulder is not paved, switch on hazard lights and keep steering straight until you can pull over safely.

    Study this in the handbook: Blowouts, brake failure and other vehicle emergencies