How to Navigate a 4-Way Stop (Without the Standoff)
Nothing creates an awkward standoff quite like a four-way stop — everyone waves everyone else on, nobody moves, and then two cars go at once. It comes down to two things most drivers never fully learn: who actually has the right of way, and when to commit. Let me fix both.
I'm Chris Scanlon, Program Director at South Metro Driving School. Here's how to own a 4-way stop.
Who goes first: the rules
Minnesota's right-of-way order at an all-way stop is simple once you know it:
Come to a complete stop just before the stop line — a full stop, not a roll. (Rolling through is an automatic road-test fail.)
First to stop, first to go. Whoever comes to a complete stop first has the right of way.
Tie? Yield to your right. If two of you stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Turning left? Yield to oncoming. A left-turning driver yields to any car coming straight from the opposite direction.
Know those cold and you'll never sit there guessing.
Scan before you stop
As you approach a 4-way stop, observe and scan in every direction. Read the intersection for pedestrians and cross traffic as you come to your complete stop before the stopping line. You want to know the whole picture before it's your turn — not figure it out after.
Take your turn — and commit
Here's the part I coach hardest. When you know it's your turn, release the brake and let your vehicle begin to roll forward. That little roll is a physical signal to the other drivers that you're taking your turn — it does the talking for you. Confirm the intersection is clear, then accelerate on into the rest of your day.
Beginning drivers do the opposite: they sit, hesitate, and wait too long. And all that hesitation does is invite another driver to take the turn that was rightfully yours — which restarts the whole awkward dance. Being confident at a 4-way isn't about being aggressive; it's about knowing the rules so well that when it's your turn, you commit.
The big one: never assume cross traffic is stopping
This is the mistake that turns a fender-bender into a serious crash. Never assume the cross traffic has a stop sign. Before you pull out, make sure it's actually an all-way stop — look for the "ALL WAY" plate under the stop sign, or confirm the cross street clearly has stop signs of its own. If the cross traffic doesn't have a stop sign, they have the right of way and you yield to them. Mistaking a two-way stop for a four-way is exactly how people get hurt — so verify it every time.
The mindset
Scan the whole intersection, stop completely, know whose turn it is, and commit when it's yours — but never assume the other guy is stopping. Do that every time and the four-way stop stops being a guessing game and becomes just another intersection you drive with confidence.
Enroll with South Metro Driving School
Written by Chris Scanlon, Program Director & Owner of South Metro Driving School
SouthMetroDrivingSchool.com — Info@SouthMetroDS.com — 612-552-1929
South Metro Driving School is a Minnesota State-Certified Driving School serving the south Twin Cities Metro — with core markets in Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Eagan, and growing service in Farmington, Lakeville, and Hastings.
This article reflects Chris's personal experience running a licensed Minnesota driving school and independent research from official Minnesota state and city sources, current as of September 2026. It's meant as a helpful starting point, not legal advice - rules change and cities differ, so always confirm the current requirements with Minnesota DVS (dps.mn.gov) and your local city before you ride or drive.
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