Minnesota Drivers Education
Like many other states, Minnesota has implemented a graduated licensing system.
The graduated driver's license law (GDL) compliments the existing driver's license program by introducing a provisional license stage for young drivers. It is a multi-tiered program, designed to ease young novice drivers into the driving environment.
The Graduated Driver's License law provides for three phases of licensing for persons under 18 years of age. (See below.)
- A person who fails the driving test four times must complete a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with a licensed instructor before taking the road test again. (A valid instruction permit is required.)
- An applicant who is age 18 and who has not been previously licensed, must hold an instruction permit for six months before taking a road test. Applicants who are 19 or older must hold an instruction permit for three months before taking a road test.
- There is a $3.50 credit toward the fee for a full license for a provisional license holder who has no violations on his/her driving record.
Phase I - Instruction Permit
Applicant Qualifications
- Must be at least 15 years of age.
- Must have completed 30 hours of classroom instruction and be enrolled in behind-the-wheel instruction.
- Must pass vision and written tests, complete application, and pay the required fee.
- Parent or legal guardian's signature and certification required on application.
Conditions
- Permit holder may drive under the supervision of a certified driving instructor, parent or guardian, or other licensed driver 21 years of age or older.
- Every occupant under 18 years of age must wear a seat belt or use a child restraint system.
- You may not use or talk on a cell phone while driving, with or without a hands-free cell phone device.
- Cost - $ 10.25. The permit is valid for two years and may be renewed.
Phase II - Provisional License
Applicant Qualifications
- Must be at least 16 years of age.
- Must have completed driver education.
- Must have held an instruction permit for six months with no convictions for moving violations or convictions for alcohol/controlled substance violations. If all or part of your six months of driving experience was in a state other than Minnesota, please present a certified driving record from that state. Reference Minnesota Statutes 169A.20, 169A.54 , 169A.33 , 169A.54, 169A.35, 169A.50 169A.51 and 52 and 169.53
- Must pass the road test, complete application, and pay required fee.
- The person who approves the application also certifies that the applicant had driven under the supervision of a licensed driver at least 21 years of age for not less than 30 hours, at least ten of which were at night.
Conditions
- Every occupant under the age of 18 must have a seat belt or child passenger restraint system properly fastened.
- Cost - $13.25. A provisional license is valid for two years.
Phase III - Full License
Applicant Qualifications
- Must: be at least 18 years of age or must have held a provisional license for at least 12 consecutive months with no convictions for alcohol/controlled substance violations or crash-related moving violations, and with not more than one conviction for a moving violation that is not crash-related.
- Must complete application and pay required fee.
- If under 18, the person who approves the application also certifies that the applicant has driven under the supervision of a licensed driver at least 21 years of age for not less than ten hours on the provisional license.
- Cost -$22.25. Expires on 21st birthday. There is a $3.50 credit toward the fee for this license if the applicant has no violations on record.