Driver's Training in Minnesota

Minnesota Driver's Training

If you're a teenager applying for your first driver's license with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), you must first complete both behind-the-wheel training during Driver's Ed/driver's training and supervised driving practice.

You must do this while you have your learner's permit to satisfy the requirements of the graduated driver's licensing (GDL) system.

Your supervised behind-the-wheel driving practice will help you learn the safe driving skills necessary to ace your MN DMV road test and get on the road with your first unrestricted driver's license.

On this page you'll find information about the Minnesota DPS behind-the-wheel requirements and the next steps in the GDL program.

MN Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

If you are younger than 18 years old, you'll need to satisfy the following Minnesota behind-the-wheel requirements:

  • Driving training with your professional Driver's Ed instructor.
  • At least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a licensed adult.
    • If your parents or guardian take a parent awareness class (the course is about 90 minutes) then your requirement drops to 40 hours instead of 50 hours.
  • Your parent or guardian will be required to sign your Supervised Driving Log showing your completed driving hours before you can apply for a provisional license.

You can begin the GDL process by first completing the classroom component of a driver's education course and then applying for your learner's permit when you are at least 15 years old.

For more information about obtaining your learner's permit and enrolling in driver's education, please visit our pages on those topics:

Minnesota Driver's Training Course

Behind-the-wheel driver's training with a driving instructor is a component of Minnesota driver's education programs.

NOTE: You'll need to complete the classroom portion of your course before you obtain your learner's permit and participate in the in-car component.

Before taking your road skills test and advancing to your provisional driver's license, you must complete at least 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction during a Minnesota driver's training program.

You should receive a completion certificate after you complete each section of the course.

For a complete list of driver’s training schools, please visit the Minnesota DPS website.

Driving Practice in Minnesota

During the learner's permit stage of the Minnesota DMV GDL program, you'll be allowed to drive ONLY when supervised by:

  • Your parent/legal guardian.
    OR
  • A licensed adult who is at least 21 years old.

You'll need to complete at least 50 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice with at least 15 hours completed at night before advancing to your provisional driver's license.

Once you have your provisional driver's license, you'll need to complete at least 10 hours of supervised driving practice before you can obtain your full driver's license.

Your parent/legal guardian will need to sign your application to certify that you've completed your supervised driving practice.

Next Steps - Getting Your Provisional License

You'll be eligible to take you driving test and apply for your provisional driver's license when you have:

  • Turned 16 years old.
  • Held your learner's permit for at least 6 months.
  • Completed your supervised driving practice. (See “Driving Practice in Minnesota" above.)
  • Completed driver's education (including the behind-the-wheel instruction).

You must not have had any traffic violations.

For more information, please visit our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in Minnesota page.

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