In Minnesota, teens can start to prepare for the permit test (knowledge multiple choice test) to be taken at age 15, but cannot receive their license to drive alone until they are 16 (exception for Farm license at 15). There are multiple steps involved in becoming a licensed driver in MN and some of these differ for homeschooled students. Below is the overall process of these steps in detail, with forms, links, and statutes as necessary.
About the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system
Minnesota licenses new drivers through a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system that limits some aspects of driving privileges until the driver gains experience.
The system is divided into three stages:
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- learner’s permit
- provisional licensure
- full licensure
(There is also a less common farm work license for farm-related driving.)
Note: Adult learner drivers have a somewhat reduced process which is not covered her
Teens Learning to Drive: The Process
Part One – Driver’s Ed to Permit
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- Students must complete 30 hours of classroom instructions. (See Minnesota Statute)
- For homeschooled children the classroom education can be carried out at home with the parent
- No more than three hours per day.
- You DO NOT need to pay for this or obtain a certificate (you can but it’s not necessary).
- You must use approved resources. (The approved resource list from the DPS is out of date and several of the links do not work so I have added an updated version here.)
- You must sign an affidavit upon completion and send this to: Submit by mail: Driver and Vehicle Services, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 176, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 or Submit by email: driver.education@state.mn.us or Submit by fax: 651-296-5316.
- If you decide to pay for the driver’s ed. materials you can claim for them using your non-public funds.
- At child age of 15, parents sign and send in the parent affidavit and receive a proof-of-classroom completion document.
- Present this document to the behind-the-wheel instruction provider to obtain a Certificate of Enrollment (blue card).
- Present “blue card”, birth certificate and / or passport, and social security card to the DMV test center (or schedule an appointment).
- Take vision screening and permit test. See current cost here.
- Take a permit (knowledge) test. The permit test takes 30 minutes and they must score 32 out of 40.
- If they fail they can do it again 2 more times at the DMV. (After that it changes to the exam office).
Part Two – Behind-the-Wheel
Once you have passed the permit test you can begin the BTW part of the process. You must be 15 at this point (except farmer’s license)
- Complete 50 (or 40 with supplemental parent class) hours of supervised driving (15 at night) under the supervision of a licensed driver at least 21 years of age.
- Complete 6 hours of driving school / school district behind-the-wheel instruction and receive a white card.
- A driving school suggested schedule is:
- 20 hours supervised driving.
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- 2 hour professional BTW lesson in season 1.
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- 2 months supervised practice.
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- 2 hour professional BTW lesson in season 2.
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- 2 months supervised practice.
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- 2 hour professional BTW lesson in season 3. (Ensure one of the BTW sessions is in a MN winter).
- Present a supervised driving log verifying that you have driven. This can be a paper log or app-based log to the DMV office.
Part Three – The Skills Test
At age 16, you take a skills test. If you fail, you need to book a new one. If you pass, you receive your provisional license and can now drive alone! What to expect and what to bring
The skills test covers the following areas in addition to general safe and defensive driving:
- Parallel parking: Be sure to actually turn your head and look behind you, instead of just using your rearview mirrors.
- Backing: You must back up for about 100 feet in a straight line and do so smoothly. Again, remember to actually turn and look. You will get points off if you don’t.
- Stopping at a line and intersections: Be sure to stop at least 2 feet in front of the line (you should be able to see it). If you cross it, you will get points off.
- Left and right turns: Always signal well ahead of time and make sure you are turning into the same lane you are turning from.
- Expressway/rural highway driving
- Railroad crossing: Remember if you need to stop for a train, you must stay behind the stop sign until it’s safe to proceed.
- Turning the fan/radio on/off while driving: You’ll likely be asked to do one of these, so make sure you’ve practiced doing this while driving.
Part Four – The first 12 months
- Follow the GDL guidelines for the first twelve months of driving with a Class D license.
- The first 6 months.
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- You cannot drive between midnight and 5am without an adult over 25 years old.
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- You cannot transport more than one passenger under 20 (except siblings).
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- You can use a phone for GPS ONLY and you must set it while parked. You cannot use any hands free kit for any other phone use.
- The next 6 months.
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- You cannot transport more than three passengers under 20 (except siblings).
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- You can use a phone for GPS ONLY and you must set it while parked. You cannot use any hands free kit for any other phone use.
- After 12 months
- If you have a clean license you will upgrade a full, unrestricted, class D driving license. Driver’s License Fees
- Notes
- If you receive a DWI under the age of 21 you will have to retake and pay for every single part of the process
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- If you have any alcohol or crash violations (or multiple speeding tickets for example) you will not receive a full license at the end of 12 months
Part Five – My Kid’s Not Driving Safely! Help!
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) has a “Withdrawal of Parental Consent/Voluntary Surrender” form. The withdrawal of parental consent form can be used by a parent or legal guardian to cancel the driving privileges of their teen who is under age 18.
Final Takeaways
- You don’t need to pay for any teaching materials or obtain any external certification on the classroom portion. It’s your child and in your own interest that they are fully prepared to drive.
- Permit driving starts at 15, provisional driving starts at 16, full licensure should start at 17, all going well.
- The local DMV offices are the best places for information, but beware they do not always know the homeschool differences so be forearmed with your information from here.
- You can revoke your child’s license pretty much instantly if need be.
My personal experience – especially as someone who learned to drive in a different country with a different process – is that it seems like a lot, but it’s not. The classroom portion is easy and after you have done that together use the practice tests here which are the same as the permit test, and apps on a phone or tablet to practice and practice again until they are scoring 38-40 every time. This gives them some test anxiety buffer. The parent session here is really worth a watch and gives some fabulous tips about starting the BTW teaching together.
Have fun and be safe! There’s no rush.
