The under 21 license — Minnesota Permit Test

The under 21 license on the Minnesota permit test — 4 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.

The rules

An under 21 Class D license takes 12 consecutive months on a provisional license with no alcohol or crash-related convictions.

A clean year is the evidence the restrictions worked. One conviction resets what that year was for.

you must be at least 18 years old or have held a provisional license for 12 consecutive months with no convictions for alcohol violations, controlled-substance violations or crash-related moving violations

Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.17

An applicant under 18 must certify at least 10 hours driven under the supervision of a licensed driver aged 21 or older.

The hours come after the provisional license, when nobody is required to be watching any more.

If you are under 18, you must certify that you have driven for at least 10 hours under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old.

Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.17

Upgrading from a provisional license with a clean record earns a $3.50 credit toward the fee.

It is a small discount for a clean record, and it is the one place the state pays a driver back.

If you upgrade from a provisional license with no violations on your record, you will receive a $3.50 credit toward the fee.

Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.17

A license issued to a driver under 21 is marked “Under 21” and expires on their 21st birthday.

The marking is there so anyone checking it can see the driver’s age at a glance.

If you are under 21, you will receive a license marked “Under 21.” This license will expire on your 21st birthday and will then expire every four years on your birthday.

Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.17

On the test

How long must a provisional license be held cleanly before the under 21 license?

12 consecutive months. A clean year is the evidence the restrictions worked. One conviction resets what that year was for. Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.17: “you must be at least 18 years old or have held a provisional license for 12 consecutive months with no convictions for alcohol violations, controlled-substance violations or crash-related moving violations”

How this works

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Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against Minnesota Driver’s Manual, published by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-22.