Minnesota
Vehicle Resource Center
Minnesota is a large state full of natural beauty and destinations to explore. More than 4.5 million people maintain driver's licenses in the state, and most own vehicles as well. With so many licensed drivers and vehicles traveling around the state, there is a huge number of people who would benefit from access to updated vehicle information.
Ownership and Maintenance
Maintaining Minnesota vehicles largely means filing the proper papers, keeping up insurance on the vehicle, and remaining legal to drive. This section covers all the regular tasks that must be completed to retain the right to drive.
Vehicle owners in Minnesota do not have to worry about having annual inspections on their vehicles. There are no emissions or safety inspections required to legally drive the vehicle in the state.
Minnesota is a no-fault insurance state, which means that all vehicle owners are expected to have insurance coverage designed to pay a portion of each accident the vehicle is involved in. Fault is not required to determine who pays in an accident because everyone involved does. To be allowed to drive legally in Minnesota, the vehicle must have the right no-fault vehicle insurance policy.
Meeting the Insurance Requirement
Drivers must maintain a total of $40,000 in no-fault insurance coverage. $20,000 of the coverage is meant to go toward injuries, while the other $20,000 is designed to go toward property damage. The insurance coverage that's required is not as high as what some states demand because it's expected that other vehicle policies will help cover the costs of an accident as well.
Learn more about Minnesota insurance requirements from the state government's insurance information page.
Each year, Minnesota vehicle owners' tabs expire. These tabs must be displayed on the vehicle's license plate to prove the registration is current. When the tab expires, it must be renewed at a License Bureau in person or through the mail.
To renew in person, visit a License Bureau location, provide identification, the policy number, and the expiration date of the tab, then pay the renewal fee. The new tab will be mailed out to a designated location and can be put on the vehicle when it arrives. It's best to renew the tab well before the old tab's expiration date to avoid having an expired tab.
Residents who do not wish to renew their tab in person can mail in the renewal notice, tab information, and payment. The final tab will be sent to the address indicated, helping to streamline the renewal process for owners that start the process soon enough.
Renewing registration tabs is simple to do but requires some planning to avoid having an expired tab that makes driving illegal.
Get more information about registration renewal through the government renewal page.
Every driver in Minnesota must maintain a valid driver's license. Driver's licenses expire once every four years for drivers within the state, so they must renew the license more regularly than that.
What to Bring
When going to have their license renewed, drivers should bring their Social Security Number, their current driver's license, and documentation proving a name change if one has occurred. With these three things, as well as enough money to pay the license fee, it's possible to renew.
Renew in Person
The only way to renew a Minnesota driver's license is in person. Drivers can go to a Driver's License Office or use one of the Vehicle Services Exam stations to go through the process. Either location works to renew a license.
Prepare a Pre-Application
Before going to either of the locations mentioned above, drivers should spend time filling out a Pre-Application form. This simple form streamlines the license renewal process so that little work is left to do at the office.
Don't Renew Until 3 Weeks Before If Turning 21
Drivers who are turning 21 should wait to renew their license until less than three weeks before their birthday. This is essential to avoid any potential issues, such as a license that needs to be renewed immediately after.
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Class D License Renewal
A standard driver's license renewal costs $41. There are many other renewal fees for different types of licenses outlined in this MVS chart.
Registration Renewal
During each registration renewal, owners must pay an $8 filing fee, a $2.25 technology surcharge, a $10 to $20 wheelage fee, and motor vehicle registration tax. The registration tax is a minimum of $35 on very old and low-value vehicles, but newer and more costly vehicles have higher registration fees associated with them.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling a vehicle in Minnesota, there are steps that must be completed to remain compliant with Driver and Vehicle Services. The necessary paperwork must be filed to protect both the buyer and seller and to ensure the buyer can register the vehicle properly.
Remove the License Plates
There is no reason to leave the license plates on a vehicle that's about to be sold. Pull the plates off and prepare them to go back to the DVS or to be used on another vehicle.
Provide an Odometer and Damage Disclosure
Both of these details are listed on the MN Application to Title and Register a vehicle that the buyer should have a copy of. The seller should help fill in these sections by providing any relevant details that help with finalizing the sections so they are ready for the registration process.
Cancel the Insurance Coverage
While it's a good idea to maintain insurance on the vehicle being sold until the buyer takes possession of it, once the driver has the vehicle, there is no reason to maintain insurance any longer. Sellers can save money by removing their insurance coverage.
Prepare the Original Title
Have the original vehicle title ready for the sale. The title must not have liens on it, and it should be filled out in front of the buyer to ensure it's accurate and has all the required information. The seller should sign the title before handing it over to the buyer.
Research the purchased vehicle. Buyers should get to know a potential purchase vehicle well before committing to buy it. Using a history search is an excellent way to get to know the vehicles quickly. With a Vehicle History search or a License Plate Lookup search from GoodCar, it's possible to learn about title brands, owner history, accident history, vehicle specifications, and more. This information is all useful when deciding whether to buy the vehicle or not.
Get the Original Title
The vehicle's original title is required for the vehicle’s registration and must be acquired during the purchase process. Buyers should look closely at the presented title to verify there is no lien and that the VIN matches the vehicle's VIN. Once these details are verified, the seller must fill out and sign the title.
Obtain Insurance on the Vehicle
Before registering the vehicle, it's essential to get adequate insurance coverage. Work with an MN agent to determine the right insurance coverage for the vehicle and to obtain a policy for the vehicle. Keep a record of the policy in case it is demanded at the MVS during registration.
Submit an Application to Title and Register a Vehicle
Once all the documents are collected and the vehicle has the necessary insurance on it, it's time to submit an Application to Title and Register a Vehicle. This form gathers all the information to streamline the title and registration process so a worker at the Minnesota MVS can quickly process the registration and title and make the vehicle legal to drive.
Sales Tax
Minnesota has a high vehicle sales tax of 6.875% for any vehicles sold in the state. The purchase price of the vehicle will be used to determine how much taxes are owed to the state using that state tax rate when registering the vehicle.
Registration
Registration fees are also charged, along with sales tax on the vehicle. The fees include a filing fee of $8, a tech surcharge of $2.25, a wheelage fee of between $10 and $20, a title fee of $8.25, and several other small fees such as a $12 filing fee and $3.50 for a Public Safety Vehicle fee. All these fees must be paid when the Application for title and registration is submitted in order for it to be processed.
Get more in-depth details regarding Minnesota registration fees from the Department of Public Safety.
Laws and Regulations
Minnesota drivers are subject to strict laws. Disobeying any of the laws can result in traffic stops, fines, and sometimes significant punishment, especially for more serious laws such as driving while intoxicated.
Most drivers know they are supposed to wear seat belts in vehicles, but far fewer drivers understand all the car seat laws that impact drivers and passengers alike in Minnesota. According to state law, all children under the age of 8 or the height of 4'9" must be securely fastened in an approved child safety seat. There are different types of seats made for different-sized children, but each of the seats makes riding in a vehicle safer for children when used properly.
Choosing the Proper Seating
Children should begin in rear-facing car seats and remain in the seats until they are either too tall or too heavy to safely use them any longer. Once rear-facing seats cannot accommodate the child, they can be moved to a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness. This seat should be good for the child until they reach between 30 and 50 pounds, depending on the seat. Use the height and weight requirements to judge when it is time to move to a booster seat.
Children should remain in a booster seat until they reach the height of 4'9", though they can legally stop using a booster once they are eight years old. Children who are significantly shorter than 4'9" at age eight or older should still remain in a booster seat for their safety.
Get more information about Minnesota's car seat laws and understand how to keep children safer via the Office of Traffic Safety website.
In Minnesota, the DWI (driving while intoxicated) laws are strict. Any driver found to be driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol will face strict penalties that include jail time, fines, and license suspension. The penalties become progressively worse with repeat offenses, and they can be more significant if minors are in the vehicle or if the individual has a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of greater than 0.16%, which is twice the illegal limit drivers must avoid.
The DWI Limits
There are different DWI limits depending on the type of the driver. Standard adult drivers must not exceed a BAC of 0.08% when given a breathalyzer test after being pulled over. Anyone under 21 cannot have any alcohol in their system at all if they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. Commercial drivers can be charged with a DWI when driving with a BAC of 0.04% or higher. They will face significant fines and penalties and can easily reach a BAC of 0.04% after a few drinks.
Learn more specifics about the DWI laws in Minnesota via page 107 of the Minnesota Driver's Manual for in-depth data on the penalties and more requirements involved with this offense.
The state of Minnesota protects consumers who purchase new vehicles with in-state registrations. There are instances when new vehicle purchases suffer from significant and potentially dangerous defects. In these cases, the MN Lemon law gives the buyer the right to demand the issue be repaired.
Seeking Repairs
When there is a significant defect with the vehicle that's covered by the manufacturer's warranty, it is important to send a certified letter explaining it to the manufacturer. That letter serves as notice telling the automaker to repair the issue.
Identifying a Lemon
An MN vehicle can be declared a lemon once the auto manufacturer fails to repair the qualifying defect four or more times. A vehicle can also be a lemon if it is in the garage for 30 or more business days while receiving manufacturer repairs. Once a vehicle is a lemon, the manufacturer is legally obliged to refund the purchase price minus usage fees or to replace the vehicle with another.
Useful Things to Know
Access the MN Motor Vehicle Forms: Get access to the state's vehicle forms through this one directory online: Minnesota Motor Vehicle Forms Directory
Find Local EV Charge Stations: Any EV (electric vehicle) owners benefit from having access to local charging stations they can utilize as necessary. Most EV owners have a charging station at home they can use to recharge their vehicle overnight, but there are times when public charging is required. This EV charge station search helps with finding nearby charging stations: MN EV Charging Station Search Tool
Learn About Specialty Veteran License Plates: Get information about specialty Veteran license plates via this small information hub: MN Veteran License Plates
Learn More About REAL ID: Find out more about the REAL ID driver's license program. This license is required to fly within the United States and to enter many government buildings: MN Real ID Information
See all the Driver and Vehicle Services Fees: There are many different fees to remember and keep up with when getting Driver and Vehicle Services from MN. See the fees and taxes required to access these services: MN DVS Fees Hub
Find Vehicle Service Centers: Get help with registration, license renewal, and other vehicle needs by finding a local office and scheduling an appointment for help. The office locations are simple to find using this state search tool: Minnesota License and Vehicle Services Search Tool
Minnesota Car Crash Trends: Even though Minnesota enjoyed a reduction of 8% in vehicle accident-related deaths between 2021 and 2022, the state still suffers from hundreds of deaths caused by accidents each year. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, some of the common factors leading to these fatalities were drunk driving, distracted driving, failure to use seat belts, and excess speed. Get a complete understanding of Minnesota car crash statistics from GoodCar and discover more useful trends.
Minnesota Resources
Get the Latest Minnesota Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Minnesota vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.