Minnesota driving law, answered
Every answer here comes from Minnesota Driver’s Manual and, where the manual is silent, Minnesota Statutes: Chapter 169: Traffic Regulations (except bus construction, commercial inspection, axle weights and haul permits), Chapter 169A: Driving While Impaired, Chapter 171: Drivers' Licenses and Training Schools (except commercial licensing, the department's agents and the licensing of schools), Chapter 168: Vehicle Registration, Taxation, Sale (except special plates, dealers, the registrar and carrier registration), Chapter 65B (§§ 65B.43, 65B.44, 65B.48, 65B.482, 65B.49): No-Fault Automobile Insurance, Chapter 340A (§ 340A.503): Persons Under 21; Illegal Acts, with the page or the section it is in.
Statutes fetched on 8 October 2026; manuals fetched on 14 September 2026. How the answers are made
How far from a fire hydrant must you park?
You may not park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. A fire crew needs to get a hose onto the hydrant without breaking a window to reach it.
Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a crosswalk at an intersection must you park?
You may not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. A car parked at the corner hides a person stepping off the curb until the moment they are in front of you.
Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you park in or near an intersection?
You may not park on a crosswalk or sidewalk, within an intersection, on any bridge or in a highway tunnel. Each of those is a place with no room to spare, where a stopped car forces somebody into traffic.
On any bridge
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a stop sign or traffic signal must you park?
You may not park within 30 feet of a flashing light, stop sign or traffic control signal at the side of a road. A parked car in front of a stop sign takes the sign away from everyone approaching it.
Within 30 feet of any flashing light, stop sign or traffic control signal on the side of a public road
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a railroad crossing must you park?
You may not park within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. A train overhangs the rails by several feet, and it cannot steer around anything.
Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a fire station driveway must you park?
(9) within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of said entrance when properly signposted;
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 169.34, subd. 1(a)(9)
As of 8 Oct 2026
How close to the curb must you park?
When you parallel park, the wheels nearest the side of the road must be no more than 12 inches from the curb. A car parked wide sticks into the lane, and a cyclist meets it head-on at night.
When you parallel park, your vehicle’s wheels closest to the side of the road should be no more than 12 inches from the curb.
As of 14 Sep 2026
When must you stop for a school bus with flashing red lights?
When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing and its stop arm out, you must stop at least 20 feet from it. Twenty feet is the space the children cross in, and it is also room to see them coming around the bus.
you must stop your vehicle at least 20 feet from the bus
As of 14 Sep 2026
What must you do when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights?
When an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder with its lights flashing, move a lane away if you safely can. The lane of space is the only thing standing between a crew and the traffic going past.
When you see the flashing lights of an ambulance, fire truck or police car on the shoulder of the road, you must move a lane away from the emergency vehicle if it is possible to do so safely.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far behind a fire truck answering an alarm may you follow?
The driver of any vehicle other than one on official business shall not follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet, or drive into or park such vehicle within the block where a fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 169.40, subd. 1
As of 8 Oct 2026
When must you turn on your headlights?
Turn your headlights on at sunset and keep them on until sunrise. Sunset is well before it looks dark to the person driving. Everyone else sees you sooner than you see yourself.
Turn on your headlights at sunset and keep them on until sunrise.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from an oncoming vehicle must you dim your high beams?
Within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle your headlights must be on low beam. High beams at that distance put the other driver in the dark just as you are meeting them.
When you are within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle or following another vehicle at a distance of 200 feet or less, your headlights must remain on low beam.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Who must wear a seat belt?
The driver and every passenger, including those in the back seat, must wear a properly adjusted seat belt. An unbelted passenger in the back becomes a projectile that hits whoever is sitting in front of them.
You as the driver and all of your passengers, including those in the back seat, must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.
As of 14 Sep 2026
When must a child ride in a car seat?
Children under 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach its weight or height limit. A small child’s neck cannot hold their head in a crash. Facing backward, the seat does it for them.
Children under 2 years of age must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight or height limit of the car seat.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21?
It is illegal for a driver under 21 to operate a vehicle with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. There is no allowance to argue about, which is what no tolerance means.
It is illegal for a person under age 21 to operate a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What happens if you refuse a breath or blood alcohol test?
Your license may be revoked if you refuse a test for alcohol or a controlled substance, or if you fail it. Refusing is treated as failing, because otherwise refusing would always be the better bet.
Refuse to take a test to determine whether you are under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, or if you fail the test.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you text while driving?
You may not use a wireless device to compose, read or send electronic messages while driving. Reading a message takes your eyes off the road for seconds, and the car covers a football field in them.
You may not use a wireless communication device, like a cell phone, to compose, read or send electronic messages while driving.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far before a turn must you signal?
Activate your signal at least 100 feet before turning. A signal given as you turn tells nobody anything. A hundred feet is enough for the car behind to lift off.
Activate your signal at least 100 feet before turning.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you turn right on a red light?
At many intersections you may turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop. The stop is what makes the turn legal. Rolling through it is running a red light.
At many intersections, you can make a right turn while the traffic light is red. Make sure you are in the correct lane and come to a complete stop.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you turn left on a red light onto a one-way street?
You may turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street in certain situations. Both roads run one way, so the turn never crosses oncoming traffic.
You can make a left turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street while the traffic light is red in certain situations.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Where are U-turns not allowed?
U-turns are illegal near the tops of hills and on curves where drivers cannot see you from 1,000 feet away. A car crossing the road is invisible until the other driver crests the hill, and then it is too late.
They are also illegal near the tops of hills and on curves where other drivers cannot see you from 1,000 feet away.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the speed limit on a highway outside town when no sign is posted?
In any location the list does not name, the Minnesota speed limit is 55 mph. It is the fallback, and it applies to the county road with no sign on it at all.
55 mph — in all other locations that are not specified in this list
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the speed limit in a school zone?
(a) Local authorities may establish a school speed limit within a school zone of a public or nonpublic school upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation as prescribed by the commissioner of transportation. The establishment of a school speed limit on any trunk highway shall be with the consent of the commissioner of transportation. Such school speed limits shall be in effect when children are present, going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours or during school recess periods. The school speed limit shall not be lower than 15 miles per hour and shall not be more than 30 miles per hour below the established speed limit on an affected street or highway.
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 169.14, subd. 5a(a)
As of 8 Oct 2026
When may you pass another vehicle on the right?
You may pass on the right when the vehicle you are overtaking is making or about to make a left turn. The car ahead has stopped in the road waiting for a gap, and the space to its right is the way past.
When the vehicle you are overtaking is making or about to make, a left turn.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you wear headphones while driving?
It is illegal to wear headphones or earphones in both ears while driving. Sirens, horns and a train whistle all reach a driver by ear before anything reaches them by eye.
It is also illegal to wear headphones or earphones in both ears simultaneously to listen to a radio or other sound-producing device.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you have an open container of alcohol in the car?
You must not drink or have an open container of any alcoholic beverage inside a motor vehicle on a public street or highway. An open bottle in the car is an offense on its own, whether or not anybody has been drinking.
You must not drink or have an open container of any alcoholic beverage inside a motor vehicle when it is on a public street or highway.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How long must you hold a learner's permit before a license?
A driver aged 18 or younger must hold an instruction permit at least six months before taking the road test. Six months is long enough to meet rain, dark and snow. A test passed without them proves less.
Under the GDL system, if you are 18 years old or younger, you must hold an instruction permit for at least six months before taking the road test.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Who must ride with you when you drive on a learner's permit?
(b) The permit holder may, with the permit in possession, operate a motor vehicle, but must be accompanied by and be under the supervision of a certified driver education instructor, the permit holder's parent or guardian, or another licensed driver age 21 or older. The supervisor must occupy the seat beside the permit holder.
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 171.05, subd. 2b(b)
As of 8 Oct 2026
What hours may a provisional driver not drive?
For the first six months a provisional driver must not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. Those five hours hold the worst mix of tired drivers and empty roads. A beginner meets them last.
During the first six months, you must not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless you are: – Accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years old. – Driving between home and work. – Driving between home and a school event for which the school does not provide transportation. – Driving for employment purposes.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How many passengers may a new provisional driver carry?
In the first six months a provisional driver may carry only one passenger under 20 unless a parent or guardian is along. Teen passengers are the biggest distraction a teen driver has. One at a time is the limit at first.
During the first six months, you may have only one passenger under 20 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the fine for a first drunk-driving conviction?
A first DWI offense can also bring 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. It is a criminal penalty on top of losing the license, decided by a court.
90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How long can you be jailed for a first drunk-driving conviction?
A first DWI offense can also bring 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. It is a criminal penalty on top of losing the license, decided by a court.
90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
As of 14 Sep 2026
When must you install an ignition interlock after a drunk-driving conviction?
(2) if the person has one qualified prior impaired driving incident within the past 20 years, or two or more qualified prior impaired driving incidents, until the commissioner determines that the person used an ignition interlock device in compliance with section 171.306 for the period of time described in subdivision 8.
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 171.178, subd. 5(a)(2)
As of 8 Oct 2026
At what blood alcohol level do drunk-driving penalties increase?
Penalties are more severe with prior DWI arrests, an alcohol concentration of 0.16 percent or above, a child under 16 in the vehicle, or a driver under 21. Each of those is the state saying this was worse than the ordinary case.
Have a child younger than 16 years of age in the vehicle at the time of the stop.
As of 14 Sep 2026
For how many years does a prior drunk-driving conviction count against you?
(1) a qualified prior impaired driving incident within the ten years immediately preceding the current offense;
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 169A.03, subd. 3(1)
As of 8 Oct 2026
Who must wear a protective helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle?
(a) No person under the age of 18 shall operate or ride a motorcycle on the streets and highways of this state without wearing protective headgear that complies with standards established by the commissioner of public safety; and no person shall operate a motorcycle without wearing an eye-protective device.
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 169.974, subd. 4(a)
As of 8 Oct 2026
How much light must a tinted side or rear window let through?
Tint transmitting less than 50 percent of light is limited to the rear window of a pickup or the rear and side windows of a van, limousine or funeral vehicle. Dark glass hides the driver from everyone who needs to see them, including a child at a crosswalk.
If it transmits less than 50 percent or reflects more than 20 percent of available light, you can only use it on the rear window of a pickup truck or the rear and side windows of a van, limousine or vehicle used by a funeral home.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How much distance must you leave when passing a bicycle?
When you pass a bicyclist you must leave at least 3 feet between your car and the bike. Three feet is the room a rider needs to swerve around a pothole without being under your mirror.
You must keep at least 3 feet between the side of your car and the bicyclist.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Must a vehicle driving slower than other traffic keep to the right lane?
If you are driving slower than other traffic, stay in the lane nearest the right side of the road. Faster traffic can then pass on the left, which is the side everybody expects to be passed on.
If you are driving slower than other traffic, stay in the lane nearest to the right side of the road.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the minimum liability insurance coverage for bodily injury or death of one person and property damage?
(1) Each plan of reparation security shall also contain stated limits of liability, exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each vehicle for which coverage is thereby granted, of not less than $30,000 because of bodily injury to one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, of not less than $60,000 because of injury to two or more persons in any one accident, and, if the accident has resulted in injury to or destruction of property, of not less than $10,000 because of such injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
Minnesota law, Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3(1)
As of 8 Oct 2026
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