Pass Your Minnesota Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You Need to Know

The Minnesota DVS written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a 40-question, multiple-choice exam designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws, road signs, and safety rules before you start practicing on the road. To pass, you must answer at least 32 questions correctly (an 80% score).

Confidence comes from preparation. All questions are pulled directly from the "Minnesota Driver's Manual". To help you study, we have created this list of 15 practice questions that mirror the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Minnesota Permit Test Practice Test

Read each question carefully and select the best answer. The correct answers and detailed explanations follow below.

1. A driver with a provisional license is under a driving curfew between what hours for the first six months? a) 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. c) 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 5 a.m. d) 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

2. In Minnesota, when must you use your headlights? a) Only when it is dark outside. b) From sunset to sunrise. c) When it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing. d) Both B and C.

3. During the first six months of holding a provisional license, a teen driver is limited to how many non-family passengers under the age of 20? a) Zero b) One c) Two d) Any number, as long as they wear seat belts.

4. A solid yellow line on your side of the road means: a) You are approaching a stop sign. b) Passing is permitted with caution. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. d) The road is ending ahead.

5. A flashing red traffic light at an intersection should be treated as: a) A yield sign. b) A stop sign. c) A warning that the light will turn green soon. d) A signal to proceed with caution.

6. An eight-sided (octagon) sign always indicates: a) Yield b) A railroad crossing c) Stop d) A school zone

7. In Minnesota, you must signal your intention to turn or change lanes at least how many feet before the maneuver? a) 50 feet b) 100 feet c) 200 feet d) 300 feet

8. When parking your vehicle UPHILL on a street with a curb, you should turn your front wheels: a) Straight ahead. b) Away from the curb (left). c) Toward the curb (right). d) It doesn't matter.

9. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for a driver 21 years or older in Minnesota? a) 0.10% b) 0.05% c) 0.08% d) 0.04%

10. What does a triangular sign with a red border and white center mean? a) Stop b) Do Not Enter c) Yield d) No Passing Zone

11. A teen driver must hold their learner's permit for a minimum of how long before taking a road test? a) 3 months b) 6 months c) 9 months d) 1 year

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, you must: a) Stop at least 20 feet away, regardless of your direction of travel, unless on a divided highway. b) Slow down to 10 mph and pass with caution. c) Stop only if you are traveling in the same direction. d) Honk to alert children you are approaching.

13. A round, yellow sign with a black "X" and "RR" is an advance warning for a: a) Hospital ahead b) An intersection ahead c) A railroad crossing d) A dead-end street.

14. What is the minimum age to obtain an instruction permit in Minnesota? a) 14 years old b) 14 years and 6 months c) 15 years old d) 15 years and 6 months

15. What is the standard speed limit in an urban or residential district in Minnesota, unless otherwise posted? a) 25 mph b) 30 mph c) 35 mph d) 20 mph

Answer Key and Explanations

1. c) 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 5 a.m. This is a key GDL rule for provisional license holders.

2. d) Both B and C. Minnesota law requires headlights to be on from sunset to sunrise and at any time when it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing.

3. b) One. This strict passenger restriction is a major part of the GDL program.

4. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. A solid yellow line on your side of the road indicates a no-passing zone for traffic on your side.

5. b) A stop sign. You must come to a complete stop, yield to all traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed when it is safe to do so.

6. c) Stop. The unique octagon shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs to make them easily recognizable.

7. b) 100 feet. Signaling your intention well in advance is crucial for communicating with other drivers.

8. b) Away from the curb (left). This ensures that if the car's brakes fail, it will roll back into the curb and stop, rather than rolling into traffic.

9. c) 0.08%. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or over. For drivers under 21, Minnesota has a zero-tolerance policy.

10. c) Yield. The inverted triangle shape is the universal symbol for a yield sign, requiring you to slow down and give the right-of-way.

11. b) 6 months. A teen must hold their learner's permit for at least six months, conviction-free, before being eligible to take the road test.

12. a) Stop at least 20 feet away, regardless of your direction of travel, unless on a divided highway. On a two-lane road, all traffic must stop.

13. c) A railroad crossing. This round sign is the advance warning sign placed before a railroad crossing.

14. c) 15 years old. This is the minimum age to begin the GDL process in Minnesota.

15. b) 30 mph. This is the standard speed limit for these areas unless a different limit is posted.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the "Minnesota Driver's Manual". Read it thoroughly, paying special attention to GDL restrictions, speed limits, and right-of-way rules. By combining diligent study with practice tests, you'll be well-prepared to ace your written exam.