Minnesota Provisional License

Minnesota's graduated teen license is called the Provisional License. It's available to drivers 16 and 17 who have held an instruction permit for at least six months without a moving violation. The card looks like an adult license but carries restrictions on passengers, nighttime driving, and phone use that lift gradually over the first 12 months.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Minnesota Provisional License, the applicant must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have held a Minnesota instruction permit for a minimum of 6 consecutive months without a traffic conviction.
• Have completed at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours at night, signed off on the Minnesota Driving Log.
• Have completed both the 30-hour classroom driver education course and 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel instruction.
• Pass the Minnesota road test.
• Have parental consent on file.

Documents required

Bring the documents listed on the Minnesota driver license page, plus the signed driving log, certificate of completion for the driver education program, and the parental consent on the PS33133 application. Both parents (or legal guardians) sharing custody usually need to sign — the office will tell you when only one signature is needed.

Fees

The Minnesota provisional license fee is $13.25 for a license that expires the day after the holder's 21st birthday (or 18 with renewal). Failed road test retake: $20.

Restriction 1: passengers in the first 6 months

For the first 6 months after the provisional license is issued, the licensee may not transport more than one passenger under age 20 who is not an immediate family member. For months 7-12, the licensee may transport up to three passengers under 20 who are not immediate family members. After 12 months, the passenger limit ends.

Immediate family — siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings, or foster siblings — does not count toward the cap. Exceptions also apply for transporting a passenger to or from a school activity with documentation, and for emergencies.

Restriction 2: nighttime driving in the first 6 months

For the first 6 months, a provisional license holder may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless:

• Driving directly to or from work with documentation from the employer.
• Driving directly to or from a school activity with documentation.
• Driving with a parent or guardian in the front passenger seat.
• A medical emergency.

Restriction 3: cell phones

Minnesota bars provisional license holders from any wireless communication device use while driving — including hands-free Bluetooth, voice navigation, and dictation. The only exceptions are emergency 911 calls and contact with a parent or guardian. The ban remains in effect until the driver turns 18, even after the passenger and curfew restrictions lift.

Restriction 4: seat belts and alcohol

Every occupant must wear a seat belt or appropriate child restraint. Minnesota's "Not-A-Drop" law prohibits any detectable alcohol in a driver under 21 — a violation is a separate administrative action against the license, in addition to any criminal alcohol charge. See the Minnesota DWI page for the under-21 thresholds.

Penalties for violations

Provisional license holders face restrictions that adult drivers don't:

• A first violation of the passenger or curfew rule extends the provisional restrictions by 6 months.
• A second moving violation triggers a Driver Improvement letter and possible license cancellation.
• A conviction for any alcohol-related offense — including Not-A-Drop — cancels the provisional license entirely until age 18.
• Failure to follow the cell phone ban can result in a $50 fine and license suspension for repeat violations.

Graduating to a full license

The Minnesota provisional license becomes a full Class D license automatically when the holder turns 18, provided they have held the provisional for at least 12 months and have not had a license cancellation or suspension during that period. There is no extra office visit required if the address and personal information are current. The full license is mailed at the next renewal cycle in the standard Class D format. New full-license holders should review the no-fault insurance requirement with their carrier — premiums often shift when the provisional designation drops off.

Provisional license cancellations

Minnesota cancels the provisional license — not just suspends it — for serious offenses during the provisional period. Cancellation requires the driver to start the licensing process over from the permit stage when they become eligible to apply again. The reinstatement process after a cancellation differs from a standard suspension, so understanding which administrative action is in play matters.