Roadwise States Minnesota Driving lessons Driving at 15: farm, medical and moped exceptions Minnesota driving lesson · Your License
Driving at 15: farm, medical and moped exceptions A 3-minute lesson from the Minnesota course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Your License
Checkpoint questions 5
Source pages 19, 20 A few 15-year-olds can drive before the normal GDL timeline — for farm work, a family medical need or a moped. Each still requires driver education and a road test.
Know the rule
At 15 you may qualify for a restricted farm work license, a special medical license or a motorized bicycle (moped) permit after completing a driver education course and passing a road test.
Handbook p. 19 ↗ Restricted farm work license Drive to help with farm work, whether or not your parent or guardian owns the farm Drive alone for farm work during daylight hours within 40 miles of the farmhouse Parent form plus a property tax statement classifying the land as agricultural (rental agreement if rented) Working for another farmer: the farm owner fills out the form and provides a property tax statement No 6-month wait, but you need a permit, a behind-the-wheel certificate and a driving log The restriction can be removed after holding it 6 months and turning 16 — you must apply Handbook p. 19 ↗ 40 miles Farm work license: max distance from the farmhouse, daylight only
Handbook p. 19 ↗ Special medical license Age 15, with no licensed drivers in the household For your own medical needs or a relative's who can't drive because of a disability Submit a License for Medical Reason Exemption form before the road test The Commissioner may set conditions and limits No 6-month wait, but you need a permit, a behind-the-wheel certificate and a driving log Shows on the license as MEDLIM Handbook p. 20 ↗ Motorized bicycle (moped) permit Available at age 15 after completing a motorized bicycle safety course and passing the written, vision and road tests.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ Know the rule
An electric-assist bicycle is not a moped. You need no test or license to ride one, but you must be at least 15.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ Put it into practice
A 15-year-old works on a neighbor's farm 30 miles from the farmhouse. With a restricted farm work license she may drive there alone for farm work in daylight — but not after dark, and not 50 miles away.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
With a restricted farm work license, how far from the farmhouse can you drive alone during daylight hours? Within 40 miles Within 150 miles Within 10 miles Within 100 miles Answer: Within 40 miles
A restricted farm work license allows driving alone within 40 miles of the farmhouse during daylight hours.
Handbook p. 19 ↗ When can the farm work restriction be removed from a restricted farm work license? Immediately upon request After 6 months held and age 16 After one year regardless of age Never — it's permanent Answer: After 6 months held and age 16
The farm work restriction can be removed after six months of holding the license and reaching age 16.
Handbook p. 19 ↗ A special medical driver's license may be issued at age 15 under what condition? You live more than 40 miles from a clinic Your parents both work night shifts No household driver; medical need You have completed a first-aid course Answer: No household driver; medical need
The special medical license applies when no licensed household drivers exist and driving is needed for medical purposes.
Handbook p. 19 ↗ At what age can you get a motorized bicycle (moped) permit? 14 years old 16 years old 13 years old 15 years old Answer: 15 years old
A motorized bicycle permit is available at age 15 after completing a safety course and passing required tests.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ Does an electric-assist bicycle require a moped permit or license to ride? No, but riders must be 15 or older Yes, the same permit as a moped is required Yes, a full Class D license is required No age requirement applies at all Answer: No, but riders must be 15 or older
Electric-assist bicycles aren't considered mopeds and need no test or license, but riders must be at least 15.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ Previous lesson Provisional license, Vanessa's Law and the under-21 license Next lesson License classes and endorsements About the source Roadwise’s Minnesota course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 19, 20. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Minnesota’s DVS. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.