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.
The instruction permit is step one of Minnesota's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) system. It lets you practice with a licensed supervisor beside you and build experience before the road test.
Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL)
Minnesota's system for easing new drivers in. If you're 18 or younger you must hold an instruction permit at least six months before taking the road test.
A licensed supervising driver must sit in the front passenger seat. Practicing without a valid permit is illegal, and you must carry the permit whenever you drive.
The person who signed can withdraw approval. Foreign exchange host sponsors can't sign unless they are your legal guardians; you'll need two notarized parent applications — one for the permit and one for the provisional license.
If your permit is lost or expired, apply for a new one; it's valid for two years from the day you apply. At the road test, show your valid permit and current proof of insurance for the vehicle.
You're 16 with a new permit, and your 19-year-old cousin offers to ride along while you practice. That's not allowed — a permit holder under 18 must be supervised by a driver 21 or older.
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.
How long is a Minnesota instruction permit valid?
One year
Two years
Six months
Three years
Answer: Two years
An instruction permit is valid for two years of practice driving.