New residents have 60 days to register a vehicle and up to 60 days to switch a regular driver’s license to Minnesota, per DVS and the state statute book.
Moving to a new state comes down to a few deadlines and a few things that are different. The deadlines below are from state agency pages and the statute book, each read November 1, 2026.
The Deadlines That Matter
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Driver’s license (non-commercial, valid license from another state) | You may drive on your old license for up to 60 days after becoming a resident | Minnesota Statutes 171.03 |
| Commercial driver’s license from another state | Up to 30 days after becoming a resident | Minnesota Statutes 171.03 |
| Passenger vehicle, motorcycle, utility trailer or house trailer | 60 days to register; expired registrations and commercial trucks or trailers must be registered immediately | DVS, vehicle registration for new residents |
| Fishing license at the resident price | At least 60 consecutive days of legal Minnesota residence first | DNR, Fishing |
Winter Is The Real Move
MnDOT’s winter driving tips say to slow down, turn on your headlights, turn off cruise control, and stay back at least 10 car lengths behind a snowplow. For live road conditions MnDOT runs a statewide map at 511mn.org. More: MnDOT, winter driving tips.
Taxes, Housing, Jobs
Start with Minnesota taxes for the sales and income tax rates, housing costs for rent and home values in each city, and the Living In Minnesota hub for county jobs and pay.
The Rest
Use the new resident checklist for the order to do things in, and places to live to look at cities side by side.
What We Could Not Verify
- The exact first day the clock starts: the statute says “after becoming a resident”; DVS decides how that applies to your case.
- Voter registration, school enrollment, utilities, health coverage: not covered here. the Secretary of State’s voter registration page would not load for our reader, so we do not state voter rules here. Check with the Minnesota Secretary of State before you register.
- Fees for registration and licenses change; check the agency page for the current amount.
More Minnesota Guides
- Housing Costs
- Places To Live
- Income, Education And Commute
- Taxes
- Moving To Minnesota
- New Resident Checklist
- Answers
- Open Data
Questions People Ask
How long do I have to get a Minnesota driver’s license after moving?
Minnesota Statutes 171.03 lets a new resident with a valid license from another state drive for up to 60 days after becoming a resident without a Minnesota license (30 days for a commercial license).
How long do I have to register my car in Minnesota?
DVS says you have 60 days to register a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, utility trailer or house trailer after moving, and must register right away if the registration is expired.
Sources
- Minnesota Statutes 171.03, read November 1, 2026
- DVS: Vehicle registration for new Minnesota resident, read November 1, 2026
- DNR: Fishing, read November 1, 2026
- MnDOT: Winter driving tips, read November 1, 2026
- MnDOT: Minnesota 511, read November 1, 2026
Checked November 1, 2026 by It’s Minnesota. Cite this page: It’s Minnesota, “Moving To Minnesota” (itsminnesota.com/living/moving-to-minnesota/), checked November 1, 2026. Free to quote with a link.