“ASK A TROOPER” by Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol
Question: How many classes of drivers’ licenses are there and what do they mean?
Answer: Minnesota has four different classes of drivers’ licenses.
Class D is valid for:
- Single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less;
- Recreational vehicles;
- Certain farm vehicles;
- Towing vehicles, regardless of weight, provided the GVW of the combination does not exceed 26,000 pounds;
- Towing vehicles up to 10,000 pounds GVW when the combination exceeds 26,000 pounds GVW.
Class C is valid for:
- All Class D vehicles requiring a hazardous materials, passenger, and/or school bus endorsement.
Class B is valid for:
- All Class C and Class D vehicles and all other single unit motor vehicles including buses with proper endorsements;
- May tow vehicles with a GVW up to 10,000 pounds.
Class A is valid for:
- Any vehicle or combination of vehicles with proper endorsement(s).
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).
