We work with teens just learning to drive, adults getting or renewing their licenses, newcomers to the U.S. or to our specific climate, and anyone who wants to build confidence and improve their driving skills.

If you are between the ages of 14 and 18, here are the steps you need to take:

First, complete 30 hours of classroom instruction.

The 30-hour course gives drivers a strong foundation in safe, responsible driving by learning the rules of the road, how to read road signs, and how to handle different driving conditions. The classes cover topics like right-of-way, distracted driving, alcohol and drug impairment, defensive driving strategies, and what to do in emergencies. The classes include real-life examples, videos, and activities to keep students engaged. 

At Heavy D, we are happy to partner with CruiseControl, which provides the entire 30-hour class only and asynchronously. This allows students to take the classes when they have time in their busy schedules. To get started with the online class, click here to register—and be sure to use Heavy D’s coupon code (heavy2468) for a discount! The cost for the entire 30-hour class is $100 after the discount.

Second, enroll in Behind the Wheel instruction.

In order to take the Knowledge Exam and get your Instruction Permit, you must enroll in Behind the Wheel instruction. Once you are enrolled, the Behind the Wheel instructor will upload the electronic Blue Card to the DMV website. Behind the Wheel is private driving instruction with you and a licensed driving instructor. Minnesota state law requires six hours of Behind the Wheel instruction for those under the age of 18. Fill out this registration form to sign up. 

Third, take the Knowledge Exam.

After completing the 30 hours of classroom instruction, enrolling in Behind the Wheel instruction, having your instructor upload your electronic Blue Card, and some studying on your own time, you can schedule your Class D Knowledge Exam (also called the “written test”) at a DVS Exam Station. You must be 15 years old.

Apply for your Class D Instruction Permit.

After you pass the written test, you can go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to be issued a Class D Instruction Permit!

Practice driving.

Your driving practice is done in two ways: through a professional instructor like Heavy D and with a parent, guardian, or other licensed adult. 

• You are required to take six hours of Behind the Wheel instruction with a licensed provider like Heavy D. You will sign up for three, two-hour sessions with an instructor to prepare yourself for the Road Test.
• You are required to practice driving with a licensed adult driver for at least 50 hours before you are allowed to take the Road Test. Be sure to practice in a variety of weather and lighting conditions and on multiple types of roads to build your skills. State law mandates that at least 15 hours must be driven at night. You can log your hours using the RoadReady app. If your parent/guardian participates in a Parent Night online meeting, that will reduce the required supervised time to 40 hours, with 15 of those hours at night.

Take the Road Test.

After completing the 6 hours of Behind the Wheel instruction and 50 hours of practice (15 of which are at night) with a licensed adult, you can schedule your Class D Road Test at a DVS Exam Station. You must be 16 years old to take the Road Test and you must have been practicing driving for at least 6 months. 

Apply for your Provisional Class D Driver’s License!

After you’ve passed your Road Test, you can go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to be issued a Provisional Driver’s License. You’ll need to bring along your Instruction Permit, proof of vehicle registration and insurance, your Social Security number, two forms of identification, and the required fees. If you are planning to get a RealID, learn more here. Congratulations! 

If you are 18 or older, you are not required to complete the classroom instruction or professional Behind the Wheel training. You can read more about Minnesota’s guidelines here.

There are two main pathways to getting a Driver’s License in North Dakota: through Testing or the Waiver.

Testing:

Take the Online Driver Exam.

If you are 14 or older, you can take the driver’s knowledge exam online from home at this link. 

Practice driving.

Once you’ve acquired your permit, your driving practice is done in two ways: through a professional instructor like Heavy D and/or with a parent, guardian, or other licensed driver who is at least age 18 and has 3 years of driving experience. 

• You are required to take six hours of Behind the Wheel instruction with a licensed provider like Heavy D if under age 16. You will sign up for three, two-hour sessions with an instructor to prepare yourself for the Road Test.
• You are required to practice driving with a licensed adult driver for at least 50 hours. You must be 15 years old, and have had your permit for at least 1 year. Once 16, permit must be held for 6 months before you are allowed to take the Road Test. If you are 18, the 6 month limit does not apply. Be sure to practice in a variety of weather and lighting conditions and on multiple types of roads to build your skills. You can log your hours using the RoadReady app.

Take the Road Test.

After completing the 6 hours of Behind the Wheel instruction and 50 hours of practice with a licensed adult, you can schedule your Road Test. You must be 15 years old to take the Road Test and have had your permit for one full year. Once 16, professional instruction is no longer required. 

Waiver:

Complete 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind the wheel, and the proficiency test at the end of the last lesson. 

Heavy D does not currently offer the classroom portion of this option, but we hope to do so in the very near future. We can, however, do the behind the wheel training and proficiency exam. We require proof of classroom completion before the second lesson.

Enroll in Behind the Wheel instruction (can be completed concurrently with classroom instruction)

Behind the Wheel is private driving instruction with you and a licensed driving instructor. Fill out this registration form to sign up. 

• Practice driving.

Your driving practice is done in two ways: through a professional instructor like Heavy D and with a parent, guardian, or other licensed driver who is at least age 18 and has 3 years of driving experience. If you are under age 16, you are required to take 6 hours behind the wheel. Once 16, no formal training is required. Parents need to sign off on having 50 hours of supervised driving. 

• You are required to take six hours of Behind the Wheel instruction with a licensed provider like Heavy D. You will sign up for three, two-hour sessions with an instructor to prepare yourself for the Road Test.
• You are required to practice driving with a licensed adult driver for at least 50 hours before you are allowed to take the Road Test. Be sure to practice in a variety of weather and lighting conditions and on multiple types of roads to build your skills. You can log your hours using the RoadReady app.

Complete the proficiency test with your instructor.

During your final Behind the Wheel lesson, your instructor will assess whether you drive with enough skill to pass the proficiency test. Not all students pass the proficiency test after three 2-hour lessons, just as not all students pass the driving exam at the DMV. Our best results are the team effort when students get practice between lessons. If this student passes the proficiency test and has completed the 30 hours of classroom instruction, they will receive a ND waiver. If a proficiency test is not passed by the end of the 3rd lesson, further testing is done at the DMV.

Bring the waiver to the DMV to get your license.

Behind the Wheel training is private driving instruction with you and one of our licensed driving instructors. Minnesota state law requires six hours of Behind the Wheel instruction for those under the age of 18, but all ages are welcome to sign up for the training. The cost is $380 for six hours (or $140 for each two-hour session).

Your instructor will meet you at your home (within immediate Moorhead and Fargo) or at the arranged meeting spot (if you live south of 52nd Ave S, or in Reiles Acres, Horace, Harwood, Dilworth, Sabin, Oakport, or other nearby communities). You will practice driving with your instructor in one of our vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped with safety equipment including instructor-side brakes. You will drive for two hours with your instructor’s guidance on a variety of different types of roads, practicing skills like merging, accelerating and braking smoothly, and parking.

Our instructors are teachers, law enforcement officers, and other professionals—and all of them are licensed experts at teaching safely, calmly, and effectively. You can meet the whole team here!

To keep everyone focused and safe, only the instructor and student are allowed in the vehicle during Behind the Wheel instruction. The only exception is if the student needs a language interpreter to accompany them to ensure communication between the student and instructor.

Yes! We are based in the Fargo-Moorhead area and know how important winter driving skills are. We help students of all ages learn how to navigate icy and snow packed roads with confidence.

Whether you are at the very beginning of the learning process or just need a refresher after driving for fifty years, we can help you with your next step. Get started here.

RoadReady is a free app that helps students track their 50 hours of practice with a licensed driver. You can log your time, driving conditions, and whether you are driving in daylight or night time. Print a copy of the drive history at the end of your 50 hours to bring with you to your Road Test.

Parent Night is a free, one-time, 90-minute online class for parents/guardians of Minnesota students who have already passed the Knowledge Exam and earned their Instruction Permit. During the session, we refresh your memory about Minnesota driving laws, update you on recent changes, give you tips on teaching your student how to drive, and answer all of your questions. If the student’s parent/guardian participates in a Parent Night online meeting, that will reduce the required supervised driving time to 40 hours (instead of 50), with 15 of those hours at night. After you’ve registered for Behind the Wheel, you will be notified whenever Parent Night classes are offered.

The six hours of Behind the Wheel instruction costs $380 for both Minnesota and North Dakota residents. While you may pay the entire amount when you register, we ask that you provide a minimum of a $150 deposit when you register for Behind the Wheel instruction. You can pay with cash, check or Venmo (@Eric-Weaver-91).

The 30-hour online class for Minnesota residents costs $100 and you can pay directly through the CruiseControl website. Be sure to use Heavy D’s coupon code (heavy2468) to receive this discounted rate.

The 30-hour online class for North Dakota costs $100 and you can register and pay for it through Heavy D.

If you would like to schedule private driving instruction, the cost is $140 for each two-hour lesson.