A learners permit in Minnesota is required for all drivers looking to get their first license. This Minnesota drivers permit has two Levels: Level 1 and Level 2. The first level is required for anyone 18 years of age or younger.

To drive with this permit, you need to have someone 21 years of age or older in the front seat. The Level 2 permit allows you to drive unaccompanied, but it puts restrictions on how and when you can drive to ensure you do not get distracted.

In the following sections, you will learn all that you need to know about getting a DMV learners permit in Minnesota. Discover the cost of learner’s permits, the eligibility requirements you will need to fulfill and the tests you will need to take.

NOTE: Increase your chances of passing the DMV written exam by using our DMV practice tests to prepare.

Minnesota Learners Permit Eligibility Guidelines

In Minnesota, you must be at least 15 years of age in order to get your Phase 1 Instructional Permit. You also need to have taken a driver’s ed course, though you do not need to complete it before you apply.

If you are younger than 18 years of age, you will also need the signed consent of your guardian or parent. You will be given a knowledge exam and a vision exam at the DMV once your parent or guardian makes an appointment for you to apply.

To get a Phase 2 learning license in Minnesota, otherwise known as a provisional license, you must be at least 16 years of age. Additionally, you need to have passed a driver’s ed course and driven at least 50 hours with your Phase 1 Instructional Permit.

If you are younger than 18 years of age, a parent or guardian can consent to your application. Foster parents or transitional living program directors may also give consent. You will need to pass your road test before finishing your application.

In order to apply for either drivers learners permit, you need to be a resident of Minnesota who is legally allowed to be in the United States.

How to Apply for a Learners Permit in Minnesota

Getting a learners permit in Minnesota requires you to fill out an application and bring at least two additional documents. The application is not available online, meaning you will have to fill it out in person at your local DMV.

When determining where to get a learners permit, you will be able to choose from any DMV, or Department of Public Safety (DPS), location across the state. Before you head to your local DPS, here are the documents you will need to bring when you in order to apply:

• Proof of residency: A domestic birth certificate, passport, Tribal Identification Card, Permanent Resident Card or Temporary Resident Card.
• Proof of identity: A foreign birth certificate, ID issued by a governmental agency, school correspondence, marriage certificate or court order

You may use either two documents from the first list or one document from each list.

The above explains how to apply for a learners permit in Minnesota, but it does not cover REAL ID requirements. Minnesota does not offer REAL ID learners permits, which means your permit cannot be used for federal identification after September 2020. Instead of your permit, you will need to use a passport as a form of federal ID.

The Minnesota Drivers Permit Test

The Minnesota DMV permit test has three different parts: the vision section, the knowledge section and the road section.  To take the knowledge or vision drivers permit test in Minnesota, you do not need to set an appointment. Instead, you are allowed to walk into any of the DMV offices that offer tests. Not all DPS offices provide the learners permit test, so you will need to call beforehand to determine if local office does.

A Minnesota online drivers permit test is not provided by the state, but you will need to schedule your road test with your local DPS office. To do this, you may use the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s online portal. Alternatively, you may call 651-284-1000.

Here is what to bring to the permit tests:

• For the vision exam, you only need to bring glasses or contact lenses if you will need them to drive. You will also need to bring a form of ID.
• For the knowledge exam, you only need to bring a form of ID.
• For the road exam, you will need to bring proof of liability insurance, your permit and the vehicle you will be driving with.

A Minnesota DMV practice permit test is not provided by the DMV, meaning you will need to study for both the knowledge and road exams by reading the Driver’s Manual. If you choose to take a drivers permit practice test from a trusted third party provider, keep in mind that you will need to get at least 80 percent of the test’s questions correct. These questions will cover road rules and road signs.

Though a learners permit practice test is not available from the DMV, you can still practice for the road section of your test. The Minnesota Driver’s Manual covers all of the maneuvers you will need to perform, including yielding to other vehicles, using your turn signal and stopping. By studying all the relevant sections in the manual, you will be able to effectively prepare for your exam.

Minnesota Driving Permit Rules and Restrictions

Driving permit rules in Minnesota vary based on how old you are, as well as which permit level you hold. The Level 2 permit, also known as a provisional license, does not allow drivers to use a cell phone. Additionally, everyone who is in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt.

Level 1 restrictions include all of the above, plus drivers must always have a passenger who is at least 21 years of age and holds a valid Minnesota license.

There are no permit driving hours in Minnesota, but the state encourages parents to gradually introduce their children to driving privileges. This means having Level 2 permit holders start driving by themselves during the day, and then slowly exposing them to driving during the night.

Minnesota Learner Permit Fees

Unlike with driver’s licenses, the learner permit fee does not vary from one person to the next.

The Minnesota DMV permit price includes the cost of your first two knowledge tests and road tests. You can see the full price, below.

• Minnesota Level 1 and Level 2 permits – $13.25.

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