Everyone, regardless of age, must obtain a driving permit.
Teens under 18 must complete 30 hours of classroom and be enrolled in a behind-the-wheel training course prior to taking the test. If under 18 years of age, the permit holder can only drive with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat with them.
Anyone over 18 is able to go and take the permit test at any of the test centers. If 18 or older, the supervising driver must be 18 or older.
Identification required obtain a permit:
Primary
- Certified copy of your birth certificate
- Valid unexpired passport
- Valid Green Card
- U.S. Citizen ID Card
- Certificate of Naturalization
- (Please see MN Driver’s manual, page 4, for complete list.)
Secondary:
- Non-metal, non-laminated social security card
- Canadian social insurance card
- School picture ID
- (Please see MN Driver’s manual, page 4-5, for complete list.)
You will need one primary and one secondary form of identification. Please keep in mind, however, that the state now requires the social security number on all applications.
Road test
To take the road test you MUST meet the following requirements:
- Be 16 years of age or older
- Have held a permit for 6 months
- (3 months if over age 19)
- Completed 6 hours of behind-the-wheel (if under 18)
- Teens must have a white card issued by a licensed driving school.
- Submit supervised driving log
Parent Supervised Driving Log
Option 1:
- Complete Supplemental Parent Class (90 minutes)
- Submit Driving log of at least 40 hours, 15 hours of which are night time hours
Option 2:
- Submit driving log of at least 50 hours, 15 hours of which are night time hours
Teens must hold their permit for a minimum of 6 months. Permits are good for a period of two years. Upon turning 16, they are able to take the road test; and upon passing, they are issued a provisional license. The provisional license is good for a period of two years. If you are 19 or older, you must hold the permit for three months before you are able to take the road test.
The road test consists of:
• Pre-trip demonstration
• 90 degree backing
• Intersection speed
• Starting the car
• Uphill parking
• Intersection observation
• Right turns
• Downhill parking
• Right of ways – pedestrians
• Left turns
• Stop signs
• Marked crosswalks
• Parallel parking
• Yield signs
• Unmarked crosswalks
• Blind spots
• Lane changing
• Accelerator use
• Hand position while driving
• Backing up
• Final park
• Right of ways – vehicles
• Lane position
• General parking
• Brake use
• Perceived risk
• Marked roads
• One-way streets
• Traffic lights
• Unmarked roads