The Minnesota Driver’s Manual is the official study guide published by the Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division, and it’s the single source for everything you need to pass the Class D knowledge test and drive legally in the state. It translates Chapter 169 of the state statutes into plain-English explanations of speed limits, right-of-way rules, signs and pavement markings, licensing steps, and the restrictions that apply to new drivers. DVS posts the current edition as a free PDF and updates it when traffic laws change.1Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Minnesota Driver’s Manual
How to Get a Copy
Read it on any phone, tablet, or computer without creating an account. Some deputy registrar offices also stock printed copies, though availability depends on local demand. The digital version is always more current than a printed booklet, so if you’re studying for the knowledge test, use the PDF.
Documents You Need to Apply
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 171 sets the paperwork requirements, and what you bring depends on the credential you want.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 171 – Drivers Licenses and Training Schools Every applicant needs at least one primary identity document (a certified U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport, for example) plus proof of a Social Security number. Originals or certified copies only. DVS will not accept photocopies.
For a REAL ID-compliant license you also need two different documents proving Minnesota residency. Utility bills, bank statements, insurance documents, and pay stubs are among the accepted options, but the acceptable age depends on the document type: utility bills can be up to 12 months old, while others must be dated within 90 days.3Minnesota Department of Public Safety. REAL ID Document Requirements Bring more than you think you need.
Applicants under 18 need a custodial parent or court-appointed guardian to sign the application, which makes that adult legally responsible for the minor’s driving. Teen applicants also must have completed the classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction from a state-approved driver education program before taking the road test.
REAL ID and the Enhanced Driver’s License
Federal REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025, with a transition period running through May 2027.4Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID After the transition, a standard (non-compliant) Minnesota license will no longer clear TSA airport security or get you into federal buildings. If you fly domestically and don’t carry a passport, getting a REAL ID now avoids the problem later.
Minnesota also issues an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) that doubles as a border-crossing document for land or sea re-entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and parts of the Caribbean. The EDL is not valid for international air travel and requires proof of U.S. citizenship on top of the standard documents.
Vision Screening
Before the knowledge test, DVS screens your vision. The standard is 20/40 acuity or better in one or both eyes, with corrective lenses allowed, plus a horizontal visual field of at least 105 degrees.5Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Rules 7410.2400 – Visual Standards Passing with glasses or contacts adds a restriction to your license requiring you to wear them when driving. If you can’t meet the standard at the counter, you’ll need an eye exam from a licensed physician or optometrist before DVS moves forward.
The Knowledge Test and the Road Test
The Class D knowledge test is 40 multiple-choice questions on a computer at a DVS exam station. You need 32 correct (80%) to pass. Every question comes from material in the manual, so a careful read-through is the best preparation. DVS also posts a practice test PDF that mirrors the format, though the questions on exam day will be different.6Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Minnesota Driver’s Manual Class D Practice Knowledge Test
After passing, you schedule a road exam. Before you leave the lot, the examiner checks that your vehicle’s headlights, brake lights, turn signals, horn, wipers, and hazards all work. A burned-out brake light will send you home. The driving portion tests parallel parking, backing in a straight line, intersection turns, lane changes, and general traffic navigation.
Once you pass, you finish the application, pay the fee, and get a temporary paper permit that’s valid until the plastic card arrives by mail, usually within about 10 business days. An adult must sign for the delivery.
License Fees
Fees depend on the credential and are paid at the exam station or deputy registrar office when you apply.7Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Driver’s License and ID Card Fees
- Class D, initial (regular): $46
- Class D, renewal: $41
- Class D, under age 21: $41 initial, with a reduced renewal rate
- Provisional driver’s license: $32.50
- Class A commercial, initial: $65
Traffic Rules the Test Covers
The foundational rule in Chapter 169 is straightforward: you can never drive faster than what’s safe for current conditions, no matter what the posted limit says.8Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 169.14 – Speed Restrictions On a clear summer day, the posted limit governs. In a January blizzard, a safe speed may be half of that.
Default speed limits by road type:
- Interstate highways outside urbanized areas: 70 mph
- Interstate highways within urbanized areas (population over 50,000): 65 mph
- Non-interstate expressways and freeways: 65 mph
- Other roads outside city limits: 55 mph
- Urban districts: 30 mph
- Residential roadways (where adopted locally): 25 mph
- Alleys: 10 mph
At uncontrolled intersections where two vehicles arrive at the same time, you yield to the vehicle on your right. Pedestrians in crosswalks always have the right of way. Turn signals must run continuously for at least 100 feet before you actually turn, with an exception for exiting roundabouts.9Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 169.19 – Turning, Starting, and Signaling The manual also walks through pavement markings (solid white restricts lane changes; double yellow means no passing either direction) and the three main sign categories: regulatory white rectangles, yellow diamond warnings, and green guide signs.
Provisional License Restrictions for Teens
Minnesota uses a graduated licensing system that phases new teen drivers into full privileges over 12 months. Breaking these rules is a petty misdemeanor.10Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 171.055 – Provisional License
First Six Months
Only one passenger under 20 who isn’t an immediate family member. No driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless you’re going to or from work, going to a school event that didn’t provide transportation, driving for employment purposes, or riding with a licensed driver who’s at least 25.
Months Seven Through Twelve
The passenger cap rises to three non-family passengers under 20. The nighttime curfew lifts. Throughout the full provisional period, using a cell phone while driving is prohibited even with a hands-free setup, with the only exception being a call for help in a genuine emergency.
Insurance You Must Carry
Minnesota is a no-fault state, so your own insurance pays your medical costs after a crash regardless of fault. Every registered vehicle must carry at least:11Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 65B.49 – Required Plan of Reparation Security
- Bodily injury: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
- Property damage: $10,000 per accident
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
The policy must also include basic economic loss benefits (personal injury protection) covering medical costs and lost wages regardless of fault. Driving without valid insurance leads to plate impoundment and fines, and minimum limits leave you personally liable for anything above them.
Impaired Driving and Implied Consent
The legal blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08 for drivers 21 and older, 0.04 for commercial vehicle operators, and any detectable amount can trigger consequences for a driver under 21.
By driving on a Minnesota road, you’ve already given implied consent to a chemical test (blood, breath, or urine) when an officer has probable cause to believe you’re impaired.12Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 169A.51 – Chemical Tests for Intoxication Testing can be required after a lawful arrest, after a crash involving property damage or injury, or after you refuse or fail a preliminary breath test at the roadside. Refusing the chemical test is a separate crime with its own penalties on top of any DWI charge. A first-time DWI can bring license revocation, vehicle forfeiture, and thousands in fines and fees before insurance rates ever come into play.
If You’re Riding Something Other Than a Car
The Class D manual covers passenger vehicles and small trucks. Other credentials use separate resources.
A motorcycle endorsement requires passing both a written knowledge test and a skills test, and DVS publishes a dedicated Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual for the written portion.13Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual You need a valid Class D license before you can get a motorcycle instruction permit, and riders under 18 must complete a state-approved motorcycle rider training course.
Commercial driver’s license applicants have more to do. Federal entry-level driver training (ELDT) rules require first-time Class A and Class B CDL applicants to complete training through a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test, and the same rule applies to anyone adding a school bus, passenger, or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time.14FMCSA. Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) CDL testing goes through DVS exam stations, but the study materials and standards go well beyond the Class D manual.