In Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Minnesota Legislature are advancing efforts to enhance teen driver safety through legislation now in motion. One proposal, which has gained attention in 2025, would reshape the path toward a full driver license for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Key features of the proposed change include:

  • Teen drivers would need to hold an instruction permit for a minimum of six months before moving toward a provisional license. 

  • The provisional-license phase could be extended to 12 months for young drivers under 18, before eligibility for a full driver license. 

  • Driver education requirements would be more clearly enforced, requiring completion of classroom and behind-the-wheel training, along with logging supervised driving time. 

  • The changes also emphasise the importance of safe driving behaviors during the permit and provisional stages, aiming to reduce crash risk for teen drivers. 

What this means for new drivers, permit holders & parents

  • If you’re a teen about to begin the driver education journey: expect that simply holding a permit may not be enough, you may be required to log more supervised driving and remain in the permit/provisional phases longer.

  • For parents and guardians: now is a good time to plan ahead. Support your teen’s supervised driving, keep a clear driving log, and ensure the classroom portion (often a 30-hour course) and behind-the-wheel training are completed thoroughly. Minnesota allows home-school students to use approved driver education classroom materials as part of this process. 

  • For driver education providers: the update would reinforce the value of the “30 hour” classroom module, supervised driving logs, and consistent behind-the-wheel practice.

  • For permit holders: stay alert to your obligations. Until you’ve met the new criteria (permit duration, supervised hours, education completion), you’ll remain under certain restrictions before advancing to full driving privileges.

  • For parents of teens who are taking driver education as workbook, ebook or online modules: it’s even more important that you confirm the materials are approved, complete the required classroom and supervised driving phases, and you stay engaged in your teen’s progress.

Why this matters

The teen-driving years are among the highest risk for new drivers. By structuring the permit → provisional → full license phases more robustly, Minnesota aims to give young drivers more practice, more focused instruction, and a longer runway before full privileges. This supports safer roads and greater confidence behind the wheel.

Whether you’re a teen driver, a parent, or a driver education student (in-class, workbook, ebook, home school or traditional format), these policy changes mean it’s smart to stay proactive: complete your “30 hour” driver education course, track your supervised driving hours, follow the permit rules, and keep open communications about when you’ll be ready for the next step toward your driver license.

And remember: to stay compliant and confident in your journey, rely on the resources at DriverEdToGo.com