Minnesota Lost Permit Replacement: Renewal Process, $24.50 Fee, and Temporary Credential

A lost Minnesota instruction permit is replaced through the permit renewal process. The current Class D instruction-permit renewal fee is $24.50. After the transaction, DVS issues a temporary credential while the replacement card is processed.

How Do You Replace a Lost Minnesota Instruction Permit?

Apply in person at any DVS Exam Station or Deputy Registrar office. Bring your primary ID, SSN proof, and a residency document. Pay the current $24.50 Class D instruction-permit renewal fee and receive the temporary credential issued for the transaction.

• Pre-Apply Online: Complete your application at drive.mn.gov to reduce counter time and confirm eligibility before your visit.
• Visit In Person: Find your nearest DVS location. You cannot replace lost permits by mail or phone unless you are an out-of-state resident.
• Required Identification: Bring primary and secondary ID. DVS may use your photo on file, but bring your Certified Birth Certificate and Social Security Card in case verification fails.
• Vision Test May Apply: Bring glasses if you wear them; DVS may conduct vision testing for duplicate issuance.
• Under 18: A parent or guardian must accompany you to sign the Application for Driver's License/ID/Instruction Permit (PS33100) again. If your parent cannot attend, bring a completed notarized Parent/Guardian Approval Form.

Under the 'Driver's License for All' law, unexpired foreign passports or consular IDs are accepted.

Check your ID documents for exact name spelling before you go to avoid a rejected application and a rescheduled appointment. A student in Rochester was turned away from the Broadway Avenue exam station because her passport had her middle initial but her Social Security card spelled out her full middle name.

Do I need a police report if my Minnesota permit was stolen?

No police report is listed as a condition for a duplicate permit in Minnesota Rule 7410.0450. The rule requires the applicant to attest that the credential was lost, stolen, destroyed, illegible or mutilated. A police report can still be useful when theft or identity misuse is a concern.

How do I replace a damaged Minnesota instruction permit?

Use the same replacement process if the permit is destroyed, illegible or mutilated beyond recognition. Minnesota's duplicate-credential rule expressly covers those situations as well as lost or stolen credentials.

What Does a Minnesota Permit Replacement Cost, and How Long Does It Take?

Minnesota treats a replacement instruction permit as a renewal. The current Class D instruction-permit renewal fee is $24.50. Check the current state fee schedule at mn.gov.

After processing, DVS provides the temporary credential for use while the replacement card is produced.

• In Minnesota: Use the permit-renewal process at the appropriate DVS or driver-license office.
• Temporarily outside Minnesota: Contact Minnesota DVS before relying on a mail-in duplicate process; replacement is handled as permit renewal.

Can I drive while waiting for my replacement Minnesota permit?

After DVS completes the replacement transaction, use the valid temporary credential it issues while the replacement card is produced. Do not drive using only a photo of the lost permit or a self-made copy.

What if I lose my Minnesota permit while temporarily out of state?

Contact Minnesota DVS before relying on a mail-in process. Minnesota rules allow the previous image to be used for replacement of an unexpired permit, but the exact transaction steps can depend on where you are and the status of the permit. See Minnesota Rule 7410.1810.

What Are Common Minnesota Permit Replacement Scenarios and Their Timelines?

Address mismatches return cards to DVS and add 3-4 weeks. Peak summer volume extends standard delivery to 8 weeks. The 120-day temporary permit covers most replacement timelines. Update your address at drive.mn.gov before requesting a replacement.

1. Permit Lost in Minneapolis. A driver loses their permit at the Mall of America. They pre-apply online, visit the Minneapolis DVS exam station on a Tuesday morning with their ID, pay the current permit-renewal fee, and leave with the temporary credential issued for the transaction.
2. Stolen Permit in Duluth. A permit is stolen from a locker. The holder visits the Duluth Deputy Registrar for the replacement transaction and may separately file a police report for identity-theft protection.
3. Out-of-State Student. A Minnesota resident temporarily outside the state should contact Minnesota DVS for the correct permit-renewal procedure before sending forms or payment by mail.

A police report is not listed as a requirement for a duplicate permit under Minnesota Rule 7410.0450. For theft or identity-theft concerns, you may still choose to make a police report and ask DVS what additional record-protection steps are available. Reference the official duplicate driver's license instructions for complete details.

Check the current hours and appointment rules for the office you plan to use before visiting. Review eligibility details if you need basic permit requirements during the replacement process.

What if I find my old permit after getting a replacement? Use the current replacement credential issued by DVS. Do not switch back to the old card after a replacement has been issued.