What You Need to Know About Your Minnesota Driver’s License

According to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, there are more than 4 million (4,273,027) licensed drivers in Minnesota and most of those people have a Class D driver's license.

I have one, but I honestly didn't know what the classification meant beyond being able to drive a car. Sgt. Troy Christianson from the Minnesota State Patrol recently explained that people with this type of license can operate more than just cars and trucks.

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“Class D” is the most common license for Minnesota drivers.

Sgt. Christianson said people with a Class D driver’s license can operate:

• All single-unit vehicles (cars, pickups, and small trucks) except those with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, vehicles designed to carry more than 15 passengers (including the driver), and vehicles that carry hazardous materials.

• Any farm truck transporting agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies (including hazardous materials), within 150 miles of the farm. The farm truck must be operated by the farmer, his or her immediate family member, or an employee of the farmer.

Authorized emergency vehicles, whether or not in excess of 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

Recreational vehicles (motor homes and camping trailers), operated for your personal use.

Motorized bicycles.

Motorcycles, with the appropriate license endorsement.

Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs).

You may also tow a trailer or other vehicle if:

It has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less, or it has a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds, but the combined gross vehicle weight of the vehicle and trailer is 26,000 pounds or less.

The Minnesota State Trooper explained that people do need an endorsement on their license to operate "motorcycles, buses, school buses, double and triple trailers, tank vehicles, and carry hazardous materials." Additional tests are required to earn these endorsements.