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Minnesota Supervised Driving Hours: Complete 2026 Guide
Minnesota requires 50 hours of supervised driving before you can get your license. 15 of those must be at night, leaving 35 daytime hours. That’s not a suggestion. The DMV won’t schedule your road test without a completed driving log.
Minnesota permit requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | 50 |
| Daytime hours | 35 |
| Night hours | 15 |
| Minimum permit age | 15 |
| Minimum hold period | 6 months |
| Supervisor minimum age | 21 |
| Driver education required | Yes |
Night driving rules in Minnesota
In Minnesota, night driving counts from sunset to sunrise. The hours shift with the seasons. In December, sunset might be as early as 4:30 PM. In June, it could be past 8:30 PM. That seasonal swing matters — winter is actually the easier time to knock out night hours because darkness comes early.
Plan to start your evening sessions about 30 minutes before sunset. That way you get comfortable in fading light before it goes fully dark. 15 hours sounds like a lot, but at 1-2 sessions per week you’ll be done within a couple months.
Supervisor requirements
Your supervising driver must be at least 21 and hold a valid license.
They need to sit in the front passenger seat, stay alert, and be ready to grab the wheel if needed. No scrolling, no napping, no backseat supervising. If you get pulled over and your supervisor doesn’t meet the requirements, that session might not count — and you could both get a citation.
Driver education
Driver education is mandatory in Minnesota. You’ll need a certified course covering road rules, hazard awareness, and behind-the-wheel training.
Start early. Course wait times can stretch to 4-6 weeks during summer, and you can’t get your license without the completion certificate.
How to plan your 50 hours
You have a 6-month hold period in Minnesota. If you spread your hours evenly, that’s about 2 hours a week. Totally doable.
Here’s what a realistic schedule looks like:
| Timeline | Sessions per week | Session length | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed (25 weeks) | 2 | 1 hour | ~25 weeks |
| Moderate (13 weeks) | 3-4 | 1 hour | ~13 weeks |
| Aggressive (9 weeks) | 5-6 | 1 hour | ~9 weeks |
Most families land somewhere in the moderate range. The key is consistency. Two sessions a week for six months beats cramming 10 hours into a single weekend. You learn more, retain more, and your supervisor won’t burn out.
Night hours are 30% of your total. Don’t save them all for the end. Mix in one evening session per week from the start and you’ll have them done well before the rest of your hours.
How Minnesota compares to other states
Minnesota’s 50-hour requirement puts it right around the middle of the pack. The most common requirement across all states is 50 hours (30 states use it).
Michigan requires the same 50 hours. Montana requires the same 50 hours.
See all state requirements for a complete comparison.
Tracking your driving hours
Paper driving logs are a pain. You forget to fill them in, lose the sheet, or can’t remember if last Tuesday’s session was 45 minutes or an hour. Moda handles it. Hit start when you get in the car, hit stop when you’re done. It tracks the time, categorizes day and night automatically, and keeps a running total of your progress against Minnesota’s requirements.
See how close you are to finishing with the hours calculator.
How many supervised driving hours does Minnesota require?
Minnesota requires 50 total supervised driving hours. 15 must be at night and 35 during the day.
What counts as night driving in Minnesota?
Night driving in Minnesota is defined as sunset to sunrise (varies by season and location). You need 15 hours of night driving to qualify for your license.
How long do I need to hold my permit in Minnesota?
You must hold your learner’s permit for at least 6 months in Minnesota before you can take your road test.
How old do you have to be to get a learner’s permit in Minnesota?
You can apply for a learner’s permit in Minnesota at age 15.
Who can supervise a permit driver in Minnesota?
Your supervising driver must be at least 21 years old with a valid license.
Does Minnesota accept a digital driving log?
Most DMV offices accept printed driving logs. Moda generates a PDF in Minnesota’s required format that you can print and bring to your road test appointment.
Is driver’s ed required in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota requires a state-approved driver education course for applicants under 18. This is in addition to the supervised driving hours.
How long does it take to finish 50 driving hours?
At 2-3 sessions per week, most families finish in 17 to 25 weeks. Some move faster with daily sessions, but spreading practice out leads to better skill retention.
Calculate your remaining hours
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