The Minnesota road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services: who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Minnesota road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the MN DPS-DVS gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Minnesota driving test at 16, after logging 50 hours of supervised driving.
Minnesota sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear.
Below you'll find the full Minnesota road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Minnesota's written knowledge test ranks tied for 26th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Minnesota road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Minnesota road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. Only you and the examiner are in the car during the test.
If you fail the Minnesota road test
Minnesota doesn't set a fixed wait before you can try again, but you'll need to book another appointment. Your first two road tests are free; the third and later cost $20 after failing the first two.
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $46 for a Class D license.
How the Minnesota road test is scored
Scored by the examiner, with no published numeric threshold. The study guide lists common reasons for failing but names no official automatic fails.
Minnesota doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Minnesota written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the MN DPS-DVS (dps.mn.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (5 official MN DPS-DVS pages)
- Eligibility: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/class-d-regular-dl/class-d-dl-new-driver-under-age-18
- What to bring: https://dps.mn.gov/news/dvs/get-ready-your-drivers-road-test
- Test format: https://dps.mn.gov/news/dvs/get-ready-your-drivers-road-test
- Scoring: https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/dvs/Driver-27s-License-Study-Guide.pdf
- Retakes: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/dl-and-id-card-fees
- Fees: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/dl-and-id-card-fees
- Handbook (PDF metadata rev 2025-05-09): https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/dvs/dvs-class-d-drivers-manual-english.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Minnesota sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.