Minnesota Permit Test Practice

4.6 out of 5 (1332 votes)
80% Passing score
20 Questions
4 Mistakes allowed
Minnesota’s Class D knowledge test is the written test you take for a standard passenger-vehicle instruction permit, and it is not limited to ''red means stop.' The real test draws from the Minnesota Driver’s Manual and covers the rules DVS expects you to know before you are allowed to practice on public roads: traffic laws, right-of-way, signs and signals, pavement markings, safe driving decisions, winter driving, sharing the road, vehicle safety, and the parts nobody loves studying but absolutely should, including alcohol, drugs, DWI laws, and basic driver responsibility. This MN permit test practice gives you 20 multiple-choice questions that reflect the kind of material you will see while preparing for the official Minnesota permit test. The actual Class D knowledge test has 40 questions, and you need 32 correct answers to pass, so the math is simple enough: 80% is the target. On this Minnesota DMV practice test, that means 16 correct out of 20 is the score you want to see before you start feeling comfortable. Comfortable, not invincible. There is a difference, and the written test is very good at reminding people of that. The questions focus on the practical stuff that shows up in real driving, not just tidy textbook rules. You may see traffic signs, lane markings, right-of-way situations, emergency vehicle rules, school bus safety, bad-weather judgment, and Minnesota-specific laws such as the Move Over law, which requires drivers to move over when possible for stopped emergency vehicles and tow trucks. That little “when possible” part matters, by the way, because the test is often checking judgment as much as memory. The licensing path also changes depending on your age. Teens can apply for an instruction permit at 15, but they need the required driver education progress first, along with the proper Blue Card or Pink Card documentation and adult approval. First-time adult drivers still need to pass the knowledge test and vision screening before receiving an instruction permit. At 18, the permit usually has to be held for at least 6 months before licensing; at 19 or older, it is generally at least 3 months. Then comes practice, and then the road test. So, yes, turn signals matter—but only after DVS confirms you can actually see them. Because this DMV permit practice test is available online anytime, you can use it as a flexible study tool instead of trying to absorb the manual in one stiff, heroic sitting. Take it, miss a few, learn why, and come back sharper.
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Sample Minnesota Permit Test Questions

Question 1

If anger or frustration begins affecting your driving, what should you do?

  1. A Make a deliberate effort to remain calm and drive courteously
  2. B Follow other vehicles more closely
  3. C Change lanes frequently to get ahead
  4. D Challenge any driver who caused the frustration

Correct answer: A – Make a deliberate effort to remain calm and drive courteously

Anger and frustration can contribute to speeding, following too closely, abrupt lane changes and other aggressive actions. The Minnesota manual advises drivers who recognize these behaviors in themselves to make a greater effort to stay calm. Safe driving requires courtesy, cooperation and full attention to the road.

Source: Minnesota Driver’s Manual — Ch. 6, “Aggressive driving”

Question 2

Under Minnesota law, what must you do when a train is plainly visible and dangerously close to a crossing?

  1. A Slow down and cross before the train arrives
  2. B Stop at least 10 feet from the track and wait until it is safe to cross
  3. C Cross if the location has no gates or flashing lights
  4. D Stop on the tracks to check both directions

Correct answer: B – Stop at least 10 feet from the track and wait until it is safe to cross

A driver must stop at least 10 feet from the nearest track when a train is plainly visible and in hazardous proximity. The vehicle must remain stopped until crossing is safe and traffic ahead allows it to clear the tracks completely. Trains can be difficult to judge and cannot stop as quickly as motor vehicles.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 169.26, subd. 1(a)–(c) — Special Stops at Railroad Crossing, Minnesota Driver’s Manual — Ch. 4, “Railroad crossing safety”

Question 3

What does a double solid yellow centerline prohibit?

  1. A Passing in either direction
  2. B Turning left into a driveway
  3. C Entering the road from private property
  4. D Stopping on the right shoulder

Correct answer: A – Passing in either direction

Yellow centerlines separate traffic moving in opposite directions. A solid yellow line prohibits passing for traffic beside that line. When both centerlines are solid, passing is prohibited in both directions.

Source: Minnesota Driver’s Manual — Ch. 5, “Pavement markings—Yellow lines”

Question 4

Which audio-device use is specifically prohibited while operating a motor vehicle in Minnesota?

  1. A Listening through the vehicle’s speakers
  2. B Using a single earphone
  3. C Adjusting the volume before entering traffic
  4. D Wearing headphones or earphones in both ears

Correct answer: D – Wearing headphones or earphones in both ears

A motor vehicle operator may not use headphones or earphones in both ears simultaneously to listen to broadcasts or other sound-producing devices. The law contains limited exceptions for hearing aids and certain emergency-service communications. Listening through the vehicle’s speakers is not prohibited by this provision.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 169.471, subd. 2 — Television; Headphones

Question 5

A prescription medication has impaired your ability to drive safely. May you legally drive in Minnesota?

  1. A Yes, because the medication was prescribed
  2. B Yes, if you remain below the speed limit
  3. C No, being under the influence of an impairing substance is prohibited
  4. D Yes, if you carry the prescription container

Correct answer: C – No, being under the influence of an impairing substance is prohibited

It is a crime to drive while under the influence of a controlled substance. The law also covers an intoxicating substance when the driver knows or should know that it can cause impairment. Whether the substance was legally prescribed does not remove the prohibition against driving while impaired.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 169A.20, subd. 1(2)–(4) — Driving While Impaired

Question 6

Your gas pedal sticks, and lifting it with your toe does not work. What should you do next?

  1. A Turn off the ignition immediately while remaining in traffic
  2. B Apply the brakes, shift to Neutral and steer toward a safe shoulder
  3. C Shift into Park while the vehicle is moving
  4. D Pump the accelerator and continue at highway speed

Correct answer: B – Apply the brakes, shift to Neutral and steer toward a safe shoulder

If lifting the pedal does not free it, apply the brakes and shift into Neutral to disengage the engine. Select a safe path and steer toward the shoulder. If the shoulder is unpaved, activate the hazard warning lights and continue straight until you can pull over safely.

Source: Minnesota Driver’s Manual — Ch. 6, “Stuck gas pedal”