The MN licensing action explained
After a DWI arrest in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (mn.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 30 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the MN agency runs the licence case
- DPS revokes driving privileges administratively under the implied consent law, separately from the criminal case.
- Reinstatement is often through the Ignition Interlock Device Program administered by DPS.
- A revoked driver must pass the examination required by the Commissioner of Public Safety under Minn. Stat. § 171.29.
- DPS publishes interlock programme guidelines covering enrolment and eligibility.
Minnesota licence facts
Minnesota DWI law at a glance
Sourced from the Minnesota code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DWI (Minnesota)
- Controlling statute
- Minn. Stat. § 169A.20
- Implied consent
- Minn. Stat. § 169A.51
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 30 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 10 years
- First-offense fine
- up to $1,000
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 3 months
- Licence suspension
- 3 months
- Ignition interlock
- Not automatic on a first offense
- Trial court
- the District Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to 90 days jail and a $1,000 fine.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an ignition interlock device if the court or agency orders one.
- Minnesota requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DWI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on mn.gov before you travel to an office.
Minnesota ZIP codes covered
These Minnesota ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Minnesota resources
Counties
- Big Stone County DUI guide
- Blue Earth County DUI guide
- Freeborn County DUI guide
- Kanabec County DUI guide
- Lac qui Parle County DUI guide
- Mille Lacs County DUI guide
- Mower County DUI guide
- Renville County DUI guide
- Stearns County DUI guide
- Swift County DUI guide
- Watonwan County DUI guide
- Wright County DUI guide
Other Minnesota official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to challenge a Minnesota licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 30 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the MN licensing agency at mn.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Minnesota?
- A first DWI offense generally carries a 3 months suspension in Minnesota. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.