How to get a Minnesota driver's license

The three steps for teens

1. Instruction permit, from 15: start driver education (30 classroom hours done and behind-the-wheel booked, or 15 hours into a concurrent course), then pass the vision screening and the Class D written test. The permit costs $29.50 and lasts two years.
2. Provisional license, from 16: hold the permit six months with no moving or alcohol violations, finish driver education, hand in your Supervised Driving Log and pass the road test. It costs $32.50.
3. Under-21 Class D license: at 18, or after 12 months on the provisional with no alcohol, drug or crash-related violations and no more than one other moving violation. Under 18, you also certify at least 10 hours of driving supervised by a licensed driver 21 or older. It's marked Under 21 and expires on your 21st birthday.

New drivers 18 and older

You don't need driver education. Pass the written test and vision screening, get a permit, and practice with a licensed driver who is at least 18. At 18 you hold the permit six months before the road test. At 19 or older, it's three months. If you turn 19 partway through, the 19-year-old rule applies.

What a Class D license covers

• Cars, pickups and other single vehicles up to 26,000 pounds, unless they carry more than 15 people or hazardous materials.
• Towing a trailer of 10,000 pounds or less, or more if the combined weight is 26,000 pounds or less.
• Recreational vehicles for personal use, mopeds, autocycles and neighborhood electric vehicles.
• Motorcycles, but only with a motorcycle endorsement. Bigger vehicles need a CDL (Class A, B or C).

Licenses before 16

• Restricted farm work license at 15: for teens who work on a farm. You can drive alone in daylight within 40 miles of the farmhouse for farm work. Your parent or the farm owner fills out a form and brings a property tax statement to the road test.
• Special medical license at 15: when no one in the household is licensed and you need to drive for your own or a relative's medical needs. It shows MEDLIM.
• Moped permit at 15: after a motorized bicycle safety course and the written, vision and road tests.

Medical conditions and the Driver Evaluation Unit

The application asks about medical conditions. If you fail the vision screening or your side vision is under 105 degrees, you'll see an eye doctor and send the report to the DVS Driver Evaluation Unit, which decides on any restrictions. Medical statements go to the Driver Evaluation Unit at 445 Minnesota St., Suite 170, St. Paul, MN 55101-5170.