The present invention discloses a method for minimization of drive tests, a method for collecting terminal information, a terminal, and a network element, which belongs to the field of communication technologies. The method includes: in a process of activating a minimization of drive tests MDT task, checking, by a network element, a consent type of a user corresponding to a selected terminal; sending a MDT task activation command to the selected terminal according to a check result of the consent type; after receiving measured data reported by the selected terminal, performing an operation according to a check result of the consent type. In embodiments of the present invention, check on user consent is implemented in a network detection process, thereby avoiding a case that a user equipment is forced to report personal information without permission of the user and improving the user experience.