DRIVERS can now be fined $40 without even getting behind the wheel of a car.
Americans who want to take their road test but need to cancel can be fined up to $40 if they don’t follow specific requirements.
Drivers taking a road test now face a $40 fee (stock photo)[/caption]
Drivers who can’t make an appointment are encouraged to cancel 72 hours beforehand[/caption]
Minnesota drivers who have a road test scheduled but fail to appear or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged a fine.
Those who cancel 24 to 72 hours in advance will be charged a $20 fee.
The new fines are a push by the Driver and Vehicle Services to encourage people to show up for their scheduled appointments.
The $20 no-show policy was first enacted in 2021.
Three years later, in 2024, the legislature provided more funding for 30 extra examiners, making space for more appointments.
Despite the fines and additional examiners, no-show rates remain high, according to a CBS affiliate, WCCO.
DVS program director Jody-Kay Peterson told the outlet that one in five road test appointments are unused due to no-shows.
“As we see the no-show increasing, we definitely saw, well, something needs to be done,” Peterson said.
Even with the $20 fine in 2024, more than 48,000 Minnesota residents didn’t arrive for their road test appointments.
As of July 2025, approximately 24,000 appointments have been skipped.
From July 8 to July 24, 273 individuals did not attend.
“When you cancel within due time, that is going to give your neighbor, friend, family member, relative that chance to get that appointment,” Peterson said.
The no-show fee will be charged when the driver applies for their license.
Some drivers seem to agree on the no-show fee.
Minnesota fee breakdown
- No-shows: $40 fee
- Cancel less than 24 hours in advance: $40 fee
- Cancel 24 to 72 hours in advance: $20 fee
“I do think there should be a fine,” one Minnesota resident told KIMT News.
“You’d better show up and pass that test,” another resident added.
On the DVS website, drivers are encouraged to book their appointments early as spots tend to fill up quickly.
Minnesota residents can book their test up to 30 days in advance.
The DVS warns that if you don’t book your test early, you may end up driving over an hour for an appointment.
If residents properly cancel their appointment 24 hours in advance, it is put back into the system for other license hopefuls to book.
According to the website, about 20 percent of road test appointments are no-shows or canceled.
To book an appointment, residents should visit the DVS website.
