State guide · Updated October 2026
Minnesota Driving Laws (2026): Speed, Phone, Insurance, Tax
Minnesota belongs to the Midwest region, with Saint Paul as the capital and Minneapolis and Saint Paul as its biggest cities. This guide collects the Minnesota driving laws drivers ask about most, covering speed and phones to insurance, car tax and motorcycles.
Each section below answers one question in detail, with key facts and the national picture; we last verified the figures on October 25, 2026 for Minnesota.
Minnesota driving laws: speed limits
The highest speed limit in Minnesota is 70 mph. Rural interstates reach up to 70 mph and urban freeways up to 65 mph.
| Minnesota: Maximum posted speed | 70 mph |
|---|---|
| Rural interstates | 70 mph |
| Urban interstates | 65 mph |
On major roads such as I-35 and I-94, signs are frequently below 70 mph, especially through Minneapolis and in work zones.
Every driver must also hold a speed that suits the conditions, even below the posted number, and officers can write a ticket for that alone.
In short, under Minnesota driving laws: max speed limit, 70 mph.
Minnesota driving laws: cell phone and texting law
Only hands-free. Minnesota has a hands-free law: anyone driving cannot hold a phone to talk, text or browse while driving. Hands-free calls and navigation are permitted.
| Minnesota: Holding a phone while driving | Banned |
|---|---|
| Sending texts while driving | Banned |
| Phone ban for new drivers | Permit holders under 18 and all intermediate license holders |
Under the Minnesota driving laws, a phone in a mount, voice commands and a single tap to pick up a call or begin a route are permitted; having it in your hand in traffic is what gets ticketed.
Teen motorists face more: in Minnesota, permit holders under 18 and all intermediate license holders may not use a phone in any way, not even through Bluetooth.
Bottom line, under Minnesota driving laws: phone law, hands-free law.
Minnesota driving laws: driving age and teen licenses
Teens in Minnesota may obtain a learner's permit at 15 and a provisional (intermediate) license at 16, which still restricts night driving and passengers.
| Minnesota: Permit age | Age 15 |
|---|---|
| Provisional license | Age 16 |
| Hours with an adult | 40 (15 at night) |
| All limits lifted | After 12 months licensed or at 18, whichever comes first (minimum 17) |
To qualify for the road test, permit holders in Minnesota must log 40 hours (15 at night) of supervised driving.
In short, under Minnesota driving laws: learner's permit age, permit at 15.
Minnesota driving laws: minimum car insurance
Minnesota requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/10 in liability insurance: $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for all injuries in one accident and $10,000 for property damage. Also mandatory: personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
| Minnesota: Injury limit per person | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Per-accident injury coverage | $60,000 |
| Damage to property | $10,000 |
| Other required coverage | PIP, UM, UIM |
| Fault system | No-fault |
| Insurance mandatory | Yes |
Minnesota is a no-fault state: your own PIP covers your medical bills first after a crash, and lawsuits against the other driver are limited to serious injuries.
Also mandatory in Minnesota: personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
Bare-minimum coverage rarely covers a serious crash, since medical bills plus a replacement car can top $60,000 fast.
Many agents suggest limits like 100/300/100, since costs beyond the policy can be taken from your savings.
At a glance, under Minnesota driving laws: car insurance, 30/60/10.
Minnesota driving laws: car sales tax
Minnesota applies a 6.875% state motor vehicle sales tax on vehicles you buy, and local taxes can add to that.
| Minnesota: Statewide rate | 6.875% (motor vehicle sales tax) |
|---|---|
| City or county tax | Yes, in some areas |
| Trade-in deducted | Yes |
| Example: $30,000 car | $2,063 |
The motor vehicle sales tax rose from 6.5% to 6.875% in 2023. Some areas add a local excise tax.
- A $20,300 car in Minnesota: roughly $1,396 in state tax
- A $35,450 car in Minnesota: roughly $2,437 in state tax
- A $55,000 car in Minnesota: about $3,781 in state tax
A trade-in lowers the Minnesota driving laws: a $30,000 car with a $5,000 trade-in owes roughly $1,719 rather than $2,063.
Bottom line, under Minnesota driving laws: car sales tax, 6.875%.
Minnesota driving laws: car inspection and emissions
No. Minnesota does not require regular safety inspections or emissions tests for passenger vehicles.
| Minnesota: Mechanical inspection | Not mandatory |
|---|---|
| Emissions test | Not required |
With no regular safety check in Minnesota, keeping brakes and tires in good order is up to the owner.
In short, under Minnesota driving laws: car inspection, no regular inspection.
Minnesota driving laws: license and registration deadlines for newcomers
After moving to Minnesota, you have 60 days to obtain a Minnesota driver's license, and 60 days to register your car.
| Minnesota: New driver's license | 60 days |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration | 60 days |
| Minimum car insurance | 30/60/10 |
| Vehicle check | No regular inspection |
Step-by-step list for Minnesota driving laws
- Get a Minnesota driver's license: 60 days. Bring an ID document, your SSN and two documents with your new address when you visit the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS); REAL ID rules apply.
- Buy car insurance that meets the minimum: Minnesota sets a floor of 30/60/10. A policy is usually needed ahead of registration.
- Inspection: No regular inspection, though a VIN check can be mandatory for an out-of-state vehicle.
- Title and register the car: 60 days at the deputy registrar office.
The clock usually begins when you start work, buy a house or put children in a local school in Minnesota, not on the day the moving truck indicates up.
Bottom line, under Minnesota driving laws: new resident deadline, 60 days.
Minnesota driving laws: motorcycle helmet law
Only if you are under 18. In Minnesota, riders and passengers 17 and younger are required to wear a helmet; adults 18 and older can legally go without one. From Saint Paul to the capital, Saint Paul, the same state law applies.
| Minnesota: Who must wear a helmet | Riders 17 and younger |
|---|---|
| Kind of law | Partial (age-based) |
| Adults may ride without a helmet | Yes |
Riders 17 and younger must wear a helmet under the Minnesota driving laws; at 18 the choice is the rider's.
Riders with an instruction permit must also wear a helmet.
According to NHTSA, that helmets prevent roughly 37% of rider deaths in crashes, and 41% for passengers.
A compliant helmet carries the DOT label at the rear; novelty helmets without it do not count.
Bottom line, under Minnesota driving laws: helmet law, under 18.
Minnesota driving laws: lane splitting
Yes, with limits. Minnesota has allowed lane splitting since 2025, up to 25 mph and no more than 15 mph faster than surrounding traffic.
| Minnesota: Lane splitting (moving traffic) | Legal |
|---|---|
| Passing stopped vehicles | Legal |
| In effect since | 2025 |
Since July 1, 2025, riders can lane split at speeds up to 25 mph and no more than 15 mph faster than surrounding traffic.
Where it is allowed, Minnesota driving laws is still subject to reckless-driving laws, so police can stop a rider who rides too fast for conditions.
In short, under Minnesota driving laws: lane splitting, splitting with limits.
Where the Minnesota driving laws stand out
- Lane splitting: Splitting with limits, in the more permissive group of 2 states
On the roads of Minnesota
Most long trips use I-35, I-94 and I-90, which tie together Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Saint Paul. Each of these routes falls under Minnesota driving laws.
You get a license from the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), and plates and titles go through the deputy registrar office.
Every rule on this page applies across the state, from Minneapolis to small towns.
Next door
- Iowa: 5% for car sales tax, against 6.875%; 20/40/15 for car insurance, against 30/60/10; helmet law of No helmet law instead of Under 18
- North Dakota: 80 mph for max speed limit, against 70 mph; car sales tax of 5% instead of 6.875%; car insurance of 25/50/25 instead of 30/60/10
- South Dakota: max speed limit 80 mph (vs. 70 mph); car sales tax of 4% instead of 6.875%; car insurance 25/50/25 (vs. 30/60/10)
- Wisconsin: car sales tax 5% (vs. 6.875%); car insurance of 25/50/10 instead of 30/60/10
Questions about the Minnesota driving laws
Do the Minnesota driving laws change for trucks?
Most roads in Minnesota post the same limit for passenger cars and big rigs; stay alert to signs posted just for trucks.
Can an officer stop motorists solely for ignoring the Minnesota driving laws?
Yes. In Minnesota it is generally a primary offense, so you can be pulled over for it even with no other violation.
Can a 15-year-old drive alone under the Minnesota driving laws laws?
No. Solo driving is permitted once you hold the provisional license at 16 in Minnesota.
Can I drive without Minnesota driving laws?
Driving without coverage in Minnesota can bring penalties, loss of your registration, and personal responsibility for any damage.
Is the Minnesota driving laws owed on used vehicles?
Yes. Used vehicles pay it as well, and sales between individuals may be valued at a minimum or a book value.
Is a Minnesota driving laws required to sell a car?
Usually not in Minnesota, but buyers can ask for one.
Do adults have to follow the Minnesota driving laws?
No. Just riders 17 and younger need one in Minnesota; riders with an instruction permit must also wear a helmet.
Is filtering at red lights part of Minnesota driving laws?
Yes, filtering is covered within the same speed limits.