ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO/WCCO) – Getting a Minnesota driver’s license is going to get easier for new residents starting Aug. 1, thanks to a new law passed during the last legislative session.
The new state law was passed with bipartisan support. Anyone 21 or older with a valid driver’s license from another state won’t have to take a written knowledge exam when applying for a Minnesota license.
Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) director Pong Xiong said dropping the requirement makes moving more efficient for new residents.
“It’s a more streamlined application for our drivers who are already experienced and have already proven their driving knowledge and driving skill in another state,” Xiong said. “It just makes that transition to Minnesota more streamlined and easier.”
Before the law change, Minnesota was one of just a few states where new residents were required to take the written test before getting a state driver’s license.
“Ever since states started moving to a more understanding of shared best practices for driving rules and driving regulations, we’ve seen a lot of consistency across all the states,” Xiong said. “And with that consistency, it’s given us the opportunity now to take on those driving credentials or driving tests from other states.”
DVS said it takes less than a month to get the new license, with the Dakota County License Center in Lakeville and the Clay County Department of Motor Vehicles in Moorhead issuing same-day licenses.
New residents 21 and older will need the following documents to get their driver’s licenses:
- Two documents that include your full name and birth date, such as a passport, military ID, or marriage certificate.
- Out-of-state driver’s license or certified driving record.
- Social Security number, if eligible
- The $38 fee for a class D license.
