1.1 Minnesota DVS Knowledge Test, Application & Identification Requirements

Minnesota DVS Knowledge Test, Application & Identification Requirements

Quick Answer: The Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) Class D knowledge test uses multiple-choice and true-or-false questions, all drawn from the Minnesota Driver's Manual. You need an 80 percent passing score to earn your instruction permit. Appointments are required, and the test may be given on paper or on a computer. The Class D instruction permit fee is $29.50, and it covers your first two knowledge test attempts; if you fail two consecutive tests, a $10 fee applies to the third and every later test. You may take only one written test per day. You must also pass a vision screening with at least 20/40 visual acuity and a 105-degree peripheral field of vision.

Earning a Minnesota driver's license begins with understanding the administrative, testing, and legal identity requirements established by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services (DPS-DVS) under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 171 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 7410.

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1. DVS Knowledge Test Structure & Administration

The Minnesota Class D knowledge exam evaluates your comprehension of traffic laws, regulatory and warning road signs, safe driving principles, pavement markings, and substance impairment rules.

Key Exam Parameters

Station Procedures and Test Rules

When taking the knowledge test at a DVS exam station:

• Electronic Devices: You must turn off and store all cellular phones, smartwatches, recording devices, and electronic communication tools. Using a phone or unauthorized reference material during the exam results in an immediate test failure and may disqualify you from retesting for a designated period.
• Audio Assistance: At stations offering the test on a computer, headphones are available so you can hear the questions as you read them, and the test is offered in several languages as well as American Sign Language. Ask at the exam station if you need any other accommodation.
• Required Identification: You must show proper identification before you are allowed to start the test. Applicants under 18 must also present a certificate of enrollment — the "Blue Card" or "Pink Card" — from an approved driver education course showing completed classroom instruction and enrollment in behind-the-wheel training.
• Pre-Applying Online: DVS strongly advises all applicants to complete an online pre-application via drive.mn.gov within 30 days prior to visiting an exam station. Pre-applying generates a confirmation barcode that allows DVS staff to rapidly retrieve and verify your identity documentation.

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2. Vision Screening Requirements & Restrictions

Every applicant for a Minnesota instruction permit or driver's license must undergo a mandatory vision screening administered by DVS staff pursuant to Minnesota Rules 7410.2400.

Vision Standards

• Visual Acuity: You must demonstrate a minimum visual acuity of 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
• Peripheral Vision: You must demonstrate a total binocular peripheral field of vision of at least 105 degrees.
• Corrective Lenses Restriction: If you require eyeglasses or contact lenses to achieve the 20/40 visual acuity standard, a Restriction 01 (Corrective Lenses) will be placed on your permit and driver's license. Operating a motor vehicle without your prescribed lenses constitutes a misdemeanor violation.
• Physician Vision Report: If you fail the screening or your peripheral field is less than 105 degrees, DVS will ask you to see an eye doctor and return the doctor's report — the DL Vision Report (form PS30338) — to the DVS Driver Evaluation Unit. The specialist reports your acuity and field readings and states whether your vision is adequate to control a motor vehicle safely.
• Speed-Restricted Licensing: Under Minnesota Rules 7410.2400, corrected acuity worse than 20/40 does not automatically end your driving. A restricted license may carry a maximum speed of 55 mph at 20/50, 50 mph at 20/60, and 45 mph at 20/70. Acuity between 20/80 and 20/100 triggers referral to Driver Evaluation, and a license is denied or canceled at 20/100 or worse corrected, or when the horizontal field is less than 100 degrees.

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3. Minnesota License Credentials: Standard, REAL ID & Enhanced (EDL)

Minnesota issues three distinct tiers of Class D driver's licenses and identification cards. Understanding the differences between these credentials is vital when gathering application documents.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         MINNESOTA CREDENTIAL COMPARISON                           |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)    | • Requires U.S. Citizenship                  |
|                                    | • Border crossing by land/sea                |
|                                    | • REAL ID air travel compliant               |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| REAL ID-Compliant License          | • Requires Lawful Status (Citizens or Non)   |
|                                    | • Domestic air travel compliant              |
|                                    | • No land/sea border crossing                |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Standard Class D License           | • Valid for driving in Minnesota & states    |
|                                    | • Marked "Not for Federal Identification"    |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+

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4. Identification & Document Verification Framework

To apply for a Minnesota instruction permit, you must present valid, original, or government-certified documentation proving your identity, date of birth, and residency. Photocopies, laminated documents, and digital smartphone photos are strictly rejected by DVS.

Primary Identification Documents (Must Contain Full Legal Name & Date of Birth)

• Certified government-issued birth certificate issued by a state vital statistics bureau (with an embossed or multicolored official seal; hospital-issued souvenir certificates are not accepted).
• Valid, unexpired United States passport or passport card.
• Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550/N-570) or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560/N-561).
• Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or foreign passport with valid U.S. visa and approved I-94.

Secondary Identification Documents

• Official Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration (metal, laminated, or altered cards are rejected).
• Certified marriage certificate or certified court order showing legal name change.
• Official high school, college, or university transcript containing your full legal name and date of birth (or recent certified school ID with photo and DOB).
• Current, unexpired U.S. Department of Defense military ID card or federal employee credential.

Proof of Minnesota Physical Residency

For REAL ID and EDL applications, you must submit two separate documents bearing your full legal name and current Minnesota physical address (P.O. Boxes are not permitted for residency verification):

1. Utility bills (electric, gas, water, cable, internet) issued within the past 12 months.
2. Bank statements, credit card bills, or pay stubs issued within the past 12 months.
3. Valid Minnesota residential lease agreement or mortgage document.
4. Official high school report card, transcript, or housing agreement issued within the past 12 months.

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5. Minor Applicants: Parental Consent & Education Prerequisites

Applicants under 18 years of age must meet specific statutory prerequisites before being allowed to sit for the knowledge test or receive an instruction permit:

1. Certificate of Enrollment (The "Blue Card"): Demonstrates that the teen applicant has completed the mandatory 30 classroom hours of state-approved driver education and is officially registered for the required 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
2. Parental / Guardian Consent: A parent, court-appointed legal guardian, or county foster parent must accompany the applicant to the DVS exam station and sign the permit application under oath in the presence of a DVS examiner or notary public.
3. Social Security Number Verification: The applicant's full Social Security number must be provided on the application and match the Social Security Administration electronic database.

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6. Physical & Medical Qualification Reporting

When applying for an instruction permit or driver's license you will be asked questions about medical conditions, and providing false information on the application could cost you your driving privileges. If you have a medical condition, you may need to provide a statement from a physician indicating whether it affects your ability to drive safely. Conditions that commonly prompt a medical review include:

• Epilepsy or Loss of Consciousness: If you already hold a permit or license and are diagnosed with epilepsy or any condition that could cause loss of consciousness, you must submit a physician's statement within 30 days of the diagnosis stating whether the condition interferes with your ability to drive safely. Statements go to the DVS Driver Evaluation Unit in St. Paul.
• Cardiovascular & Circulatory Impairments: Episodes of syncope (fainting), severe arrhythmias, or implanted cardiac devices requiring monitoring.
• Insulin-Treated Diabetes: Disclosure is mandatory, and a medical evaluation form verifying glycemic control and absence of severe hypoglycemic episodes may be required.
• Physical Disabilities or Loss of Limbs: May require special vehicle equipment restrictions (e.g., hand controls, left-foot accelerator, automatic transmission).

Falsifying or concealing a medical condition on a DVS application constitutes a gross misdemeanor and will result in the immediate cancellation of driving privileges.