Adult drivers · 18 and older
You never learned to drive. That is more common than you think.
Maybe you grew up somewhere with a bus line. Maybe money was tight when you turned sixteen. Maybe you got a permit years ago and let it expire. Minnesota does not require driver education once you turn 18, so nobody hands you a plan. We will give you one.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2023, Table DL-20. Percentages are licensed drivers as a share of each age group; the figures above are the remainder.
The process
How an adult gets licensed in Minnesota
The rules for adults are shorter than the rules for teens. No 30-hour classroom. No 50-hour supervised driving log. No parent signature. Here is the whole path.
Pass the knowledge test and get an instruction permit
Study the Minnesota Driver's Manual, then take the written test at a DVS exam station. You will also have a vision check and need to bring proof of identity, your Social Security number, and proof of a Minnesota address. Once you pass, you hold an instruction permit.
Practice with a licensed adult in the seat beside you
With a permit, you may drive only when a licensed adult driver is occupying the seat next to you. That is a Minnesota statute, not a suggestion. This is the stage where most adults get stuck — not everyone has a patient licensed friend with a spare car and free Saturdays. This is where we come in.
Hold the permit — 180 days at 18, 90 days at 19 and older
If you are 18, you must hold the permit for 180 days before the road test. If you are 19 or older, it is 90 days. If you turn 19 partway through, you switch to the 19-year-old rule and the 90-day clock applies to the time you have already held it.
Pass the road test
Schedule the road test through DVS. You bring a vehicle with valid insurance. Pass, and you have a Class D license.
The rule that surprises people. The permit hold is 180 days at age 18 but only 90 days at 19. If you are 18 and a half, waiting a few months to apply can cut your wait in half. Do that math before you schedule anything.
Permit and license requirements: Minnesota DVS, Class D driver's license for new driver age 18 and older, and Minnesota Statutes 171.05. State fees change — check the current DVS fee list before you go.
What we do
Lessons built around step two
You are not required to take driver education after 18. You are required to be a safe driver, and those are different things. Six hours is the teen requirement; adults buy time in the car as they need it. Most start with two hours, then decide.
Behind the wheel
A two-hour lesson with a current or former ISD 196 teacher. Buy two hours up front, then add more as you need them. No package to commit to before you know what you need.
Priority scheduling
Moves you up the list when the schedule is full. Optional. Worth it if you have a road test on the calendar.
How many hours do you need? Nobody can answer that from a form. An adult who drove a tractor on a farm for ten years needs different hours than an adult who has never held a steering wheel. Start with two. Your instructor will tell you straight what is left to work on.
Logistics
Where we meet and when
Our instructors teach in ISD 196 schools, so we already schedule around work and school hours. Evenings and weekends are normal for us, not an exception.
Pickup. Included across most of the ISD 196 area. Farther out there is a charge per lesson, listed below.
Meeting point. Always free, from anywhere. If you live outside the included area, meeting us is how you avoid the charge entirely.
The car. You drive our vehicle. It is insured and maintained. You do not need to own a car to take a lesson — though you will need access to one for your DVS road test.
Pickup
What pickup costs
We come to you across most of Dakota County. Farther out, the drive costs us something, so it costs you something. Here is the whole schedule.
| Where you live | Pickup, per lesson |
|---|---|
| Apple Valley, Burnsville, Rosemount, Eagan Plus Lakeville north of 185th St and Farmington north of 220th St | Included |
| Inver Grove Heights, and the far edges of Lakeville and Farmington Lakeville south of 185th St, Farmington south of 220th St, Empire Township | $30 |
| Hastings, Northfield, and farther out Ask us. Some addresses we can reach, some we cannot. | $60 |
| Meet us at a location instead From anywhere. We will pick a spot that works for you. | Free |
The charge is per lesson, and it covers fuel and vehicle costs — nothing more. If it does not suit you, meet us at a location and pay nothing extra. Plenty of students do.
Pricing
Two hours at a time
You are not required to buy six hours. Start with a two-hour lesson, then add more if you want them. Your instructor will tell you straight what is left to work on.
Checkout collects $130 for the lesson. If you live outside the included area and want pickup, we will add that charge before your first lesson — or you can meet us and pay nothing extra.
What happens next
After you book
You pay for the lesson
Checkout collects $130. You will give us your legal name, date of birth, address, and permit status at the same time, so we have what we need in one pass.
We contact you within two business days
We will text or call to set your first lesson around your schedule, and confirm any pickup charge for your address. Evenings and weekends are normal for us.
You drive
Bring your Minnesota instruction permit. You must have it with you at every lesson — that is state law, and we cannot teach without it. You drive our car. It is insured and maintained.
No permit yet? You cannot take a lesson until you have one. Pass the knowledge test at a DVS exam station first. Text or call us before you go if you have questions — we would rather answer them now than have you book too early.
Driving, demystified.
Have a question before you enroll? Text or call 612-552-1929, or email info@southmetrods.com. Texting is usually fastest.