Your road test in Minnesota starts before you touch the steering wheel. The examiner checks your paperwork first. If anything’s missing, you’re done for the day. Take 10 minutes the night before to check every item on this list.

The checklist

Print this. Check it twice before you leave the house.

Valid learner’s permit (not expired)
Proof of identity: birth certificate or US passport
Social Security card or proof of SSN
Proof of residency (2 documents: utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
Completed driving log showing 50 supervised hours
Parent or guardian signature on the log (if under 18)
Driver’s ed completion certificate
Vehicle registration for the car you’re testing in
Proof of insurance (current, not expired)
Glasses or contacts (if your permit has a corrective lens restriction)
Road test appointment confirmation
Payment for the license fee

The driving log: 50 hours

Minnesota requires 50 supervised driving hours before you can take the road test. Your log needs to show 35 daytime hours and 15 night hours, each with the date, start and end time, and your supervisor’s signature.

The DMV clerk will look at totals. If your math doesn’t add up to 50, you’re going home. Double-check your addition before you walk in.

The vehicle

The car you bring is part of the test. Before the driving portion starts, the examiner does a quick vehicle check. They’ll look at headlights, brake lights, turn signals, horn, mirrors, and tires. If something doesn’t work, you won’t test that day.

Make sure the registration and insurance are current. Not “expired last week.” Current. Bring the physical cards, not just a photo on your phone (some locations don’t accept digital copies). And clean out the backseat. The examiner needs to sit back there.

Mistakes that get people turned away

DMV employees see these every day:

Forgetting a parent signature on the driving log
Bringing a photocopy of your birth certificate instead of the original or certified copy
Leaving the proof of insurance at home because you thought digital was fine
Bringing a vehicle with a broken taillight or turn signal
Not having enough hours logged (you need 50, not close to it)

Don’t forget your driver’s ed proof

Since Minnesota requires a driver education course, you’ll need the certificate from your approved program. No certificate, no test. If you lost it, contact your driving school for a replacement before your appointment.

Skip the paper log headache

Moda tracks every practice session and builds your Minnesota driving log automatically. Dates, times, day vs. night classification, supervisor info. Export a clean PDF when it’s time for the DMV. Done.

View all Minnesota permit hour requirements

Track your permit hours the easy way.