Minnesota Permit Driving Restrictions: No Solo Driving, Phone Ban, and Passenger Rules

Minnesota instruction permit holders face specific driving restrictions and supervision requirements. These rules prevent solo driving and establish clear guidelines for permitted activities while learning to drive safely.

What Are Minnesota's Supervision Requirements for Instruction Permit Holders?

You cannot drive alone on an instruction permit, no exceptions. Under-18 holders need a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat. Adults 18+ need a licensed driver 18 or older.

• You cannot drive alone with a Minnesota Instruction Permit. No exceptions.
• Supervision is mandatory for all driving on public roads.
• If you are under 18, your supervisor must be a licensed driver age 21 or older seated in the front passenger seat.
• If you are 18 or older, your supervisor must be a licensed driver age 18 or older in the front seat.
• The supervisor must be awake, sober, and alert to take control of the vehicle.
• Driving alone is a misdemeanor, with fines up to $1,000, possible vehicle impoundment, and an extension of your permit holding period.

A teen in Eden Prairie was ticketed $350 for driving alone to school and had to restart the 6-month permit holding period. Police regularly patrol school zones specifically looking for unsupervised permit holders.

What Can and Cannot a Minnesota Instruction Permit Holder Do

You can drive on any public road including freeways with proper supervision. Under-18 drivers cannot use any wireless device while driving, even hands-free. All drivers must carry the physical permit at all times.

• You can: Drive on any public road, including city streets, rural highways, and interstates, as long as you are supervised.
• You can: Drive at any time of day or night. There is no statewide curfew for permit holders, but local youth curfews may apply.
• You can: Drive on freeways like I-35W or I-94 with a qualified supervisor. It is legal but should be practiced after mastering basic control.
• You cannot: Drive to school alone. You must have a qualified supervisor in the car.
• You cannot: Drive without your physical permit in your possession. Forgetting it is a misdemeanor.
• You cannot: Use a cell phone while driving if you are under 18. This is a total ban on all use, including hands-free. Drivers 18+ may use hands-free devices.

Bring both a primary ID (like a birth certificate) and a secondary ID to your DVS appointment. A Bloomington teen was sent home for bringing only a school ID, causing a long delay.

Can Minnesota Permit Holders Drive with Passengers?

No legal passenger limit applies during the permit phase, but the qualified supervisor must occupy the front passenger seat. Every passenger requires a working seat belt.

• There is no legal limit on the number of passengers you can have with a permit.
• You can drive with friends in the car, provided your qualified supervisor is present in the front seat.
• Every passenger must have a working seat belt or proper child restraint.
• The supervisor does not count toward passenger limits.
• While legal, driving with multiple friends is highly discouraged due to increased distraction and crash risk.

A Duluth teen failed their road test before it started because they arrived with three unbuckled friends in the car. The examiner reported the violation to police who issued additional citations.

What Are Common Permit Violations and Penalties in Minnesota

Inattentive supervision, cell phone use under 18, and unsupervised driving in parking lots all generate citations. Under-18 cell phone violations carry a $50 base fine. Driving alone can add a permit hold period restart.

1. If your supervisor is texting: Both you and the supervisor can be ticketed for 'inattentive supervision.' The supervisor must be alert.
2. Driving through a drive-thru: This is considered driving on a public roadway. Your supervisor must be in the car, but they do not need to place the order.
3. Moving a car in a driveway or parking lot: This is generally considered driving. If you are on any property other than private land not open to the public, you need your supervisor. Police can and do ticket unsupervised permit holders in parking lots.
4. Cell phone violations for drivers under 18 carry a $50 base fine, often exceeding $120 with fees. A second offense is $275+.
5. Any moving violation or alcohol offense (zero tolerance) will restart the mandatory 6-month holding period for teens under 18.
6. Vanessa's Law: Unlicensed teens under 18 who commit serious violations may be barred from licensure until age 18, facing over $680 in reinstatement fees and retaking courses.

In Eagan, a teen's permit was suspended after a single cell phone violation. Court fees pushed the total cost over $200 and delayed the road test by 6 months. Traffic violations carry serious consequences that extend far beyond initial fines.

How Many Supervised Practice Hours Do Minnesota Permit Holders Need?

Under-18 drivers must log 50 hours (15 at night) using the official DVS form before taking the road test. Adults have no hour requirement, but the 3- or 6-month permit hold still applies.

• Drivers under 18 must complete 50 hours of supervised driving (15 hours at night). This drops to 40 hours (15 at night) if a parent completes a Parent Awareness Class.
• All hours must be logged on the official Supervised Driving Log and presented at your road test.
• Night hours are defined as sunset to sunrise.
• Drivers 18 and older have no log requirement but must hold the permit for a set period (6 months at age 18, 3 months at 19+).

Double-check your supervised driving log totals and signatures before your road test. Teens in Rochester are frequently turned away for incomplete logs, forcing a reschedule.

Minnesota Permit Holders Apply and What Mistakes Delay Them Locations

Apply at any DVS exam station or deputy registrar. Bring original documents only, pre-apply online to save time, and never confuse the vehicle registration office with the driver licensing center.

• Apply at a DVS exam station. Pass a 40-question knowledge test (80% to pass), a vision screening (20/40 minimum), and pay a $29.50 fee.
• The permit is valid for 2 years.
• Common Mistake: Using a 20-year-old sibling as a supervisor. Minneapolis police have issued citations for this. The supervisor must be 21+ if you are under 18.
• Common Mistake: Assuming you can drive in a school parking lot alone. Most high schools ban permit holders from student lots, risking towing.
• Do not let a supervisor nap or be on their phone. Officers have cited both parties for inattentive supervision.

Pre-apply online before visiting the DVS to save significant time. Walk-ins at busy stations like St. Cloud can face multi-hour waits. Study the official Minnesota Driver's Manual and complete the PS33002 application form beforehand.

For complete permit application guidance, visit the DVS Under 18 Class D Driver page. Review Minnesota Statute 171.05 for detailed supervision requirements and complete application steps to ensure proper preparation.