NY Practice Permit Test

New York has a Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL) that is designed to have teenagers earn their license in stages so that they gain valuable experience and wisdom prior to their driving privileges expanding. The levels and age requirements for the program are:

• Learner’s Permit – 16 years old
• Provisional Driver’s License – 16 years old with Learner’s Permit
• Senior Driver’s License – 17 years old with driver’s ed
• Senior Driver’s License – 18 years old without driver’s ed

• Proof of identity and date of birth – documents that are acceptable to submit as proof
• Social Security Number
• Form MV-44 (Application for Driver License)

File your application at a local DMV office.

Visit https://dmv.ny.gov/ for office locations and contact information.

To apply for your Senior Driver’s License at age 17 you must have completed either a state-approved driver’s ed course or a NY pre-licensing course.

New York does not allow anyone younger than 16 to drive under any circumstances, even if you have an out-of-state permit or license.

If you are over 16 with a full driver’s license from another state you will have 30 days to transfer it to New York. One more thing – you cannot exchange an out-of-state Learner’s Permit for a NY Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License. You will need to satisfy the state’s GDL program requirements.

There are a total of 20 questions on the written knowledge test.

The New York written test includes questions on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving methods. The questions themselves are drawn from the state Driver’s Manual. Here are two examples of content from the manual that you could be tested on:

• Double solid lines on a roadway mean you cannot pass or change lanes. You cannot go across the lines except to turn left to enter or leave the highway (e.g., to or from a driveway or to do a U-turn).
• Many people think chemical test evidence is required to prove you were intoxicated or impaired. However, the testimony of a police officer about the way you drive, your appearance and behavior when arrested can provide enough evidence to convict you, even without a chemical test.

The New York written test is given in multiple choice format.

All questions on the New York written test are taken from the state driver’s manual – more specifically parts two and three of the driver’s manual. There are no questions expressly designed to “trick” you. Rather the questions are designed to test whether you have the necessary knowledge to drive safely on the state’s roads and streets.

There are 20 questions on the test and you must answer at least 14 of them correctly to pass – that includes answering at least two road sign questions correctly.

You should become familiar with parts two and three of the New York Driver’s Manual extensively. To verify your knowledge and identify if there are any areas that you should focus more of your study time on, take practice tests online.

We offer the New York Driver’s Manual for free on this website.

At least four of the 20 test questions will cover road signs so be sure to memorize road signs. You should also study parallel parking, intersections, passing, sharing the road, traffic crashes and more. Pay particular attention to numerical information such as measurements, distances and lengths and try to memorize this data as well. You can take practice tests to better assess your knowledge and learn what you need to study more.

Plan on reviewing your Driver’s Manual from cover to cover and then taking a practice test to confirm your knowledge. After that, be sure to get a good night’s sleep so that you are well-rested for the test.

Contact your DMV office to see if appointments are accepted and, if they are, it is recommended that you make one.

You will take the test at a local DMV office.

• Proof of identity and date of birth – documents that are acceptable to submit as proof
• Social Security Number
• Form MV-44 (Application for Driver License)

You should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Yes, the fee varies based on age and county of residence.

The New York knowledge test contains 20 questions and at least 4 of those questions will be on road signs. The questions come from parts two and three of the state driver’s manual; however, when you take the test you cannot refer to the manual or to any notes. You must answer at least 14 of the questions correctly to pass, of the correctly answered questions at least two need to be about road signs.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit.If you pass the written test, you will receive a learner permit that is good for approximately 5 years depending on your date of birth and your learner permit application date.

If you fail the written test, you will be allowed to retake it.
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There is no limit to the number of times you can take it. You will also not have to pay a fee again to retake it.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit, which allows you to begin driving practice with a supervising driver age 21 or older. You need to complete 50 hours of driving practice, with at least 15 of those hours coming at night.

You must hold your Learner’s Permit for a minimum of six months and you must also complete the 50 hours of supervised driving practice before you can apply for your Provisional Driver’s License.

No, New York requires you to complete at least 15 hours of supervised driving practice at night.

Yes, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older.

You can get a replacement permit by mail or in person at the DMV office. You will need to pay a $17.50 replacement fee, however if you report your permit as stolen the DMV will waive the fee.

Be sure to practice driving as much as possible. The more comfortable you get behind the wheel the better you will do on the test. Also, be sure to continue studying the state Driver’s Manual and follow the safe driving practices that are outlined on its pages.

Yes, you should practice turns, including three-point turns; parking, including parallel parking; reversing; stopping; and driving straight and smoothly as these are all usually tested for on the exam.

Be sure to both complete maneuvers such as parking, turning, stopping, starting and parking as well as driving in traffic. You will need to be able to do both well to pass the test. When driving in traffic be sure to use good defensive driving skills, such as checking your mirrors, signaling and not following too closely.

You can schedule a road test online or by phone at 1-518-402-2100 using the state’s Road Test Scheduling System.

You will take the test at an approved road test site.

• Learner’s Permit
• Driver’s ed completion certificate
• Form MV-262 – Certification of Supervised Driving

• A well-maintained vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance

A parent or legal guardian should bring you.

You will be asked to make various maneuvers, such as park, turn, back up, stop, start and more on a closed maneuver course. You will also be required to drive in traffic where you will need to display good defensive driving skills. You will also need to obey traffic signs and signals and show good awareness of potential road hazards.

Common reasons for failure include nerves, a lack of practice, failing to signal, speeding and having an accident.

• Speeding
• Not following the examiner’s instructions
• Failing to signal for a turn
• Not checking mirrors when changing lanes
• Not using proper hand position on the steering wheel

You will be allowed to retake the driving test. If you fail your driver’s license road test, your learner permit will remain valid until the expiration date. If your learner permit expires before your next road test, you must apply for a new learner permit.
To schedule another road test, you must

• pay additional fees if you failed your

(online or call 1-518-402-2100)

• wait at least one day after your failed road test to schedule another test

If you fail the test twice, you will need to pay a $10 fee that will enable you to take the test another two times.

• You will receive your New York Provisional Driver’s License from the license examiner. This.  interim license will allow you to drive; keep this document with your photo learner permit.
• In approximately 2 weeks you will receive your photo driver license in the mail
• If you are under the age of 18 and possess a Class DJ, MJ or DJMJ driver license, you are required to follow the restrictions for junior drivers (see Graduated Driver License (GDL) Law and restrictions on drivers under age 18)

Provisional license restrictions vary by the area in which you live. Click the links below to learn specific restrictions for specific areas.

• Upstate New York
• New York City
• Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk)

New York requires all drivers to have up-to-date car insurance and failure to maintain that coverage can result in a ticket.

New York is a “no-fault” state and requires drivers to hold at least minimum coverage of:

• Bodily Injury: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage: Minimum $10,000
• Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
• Basic Personal Injury Protection: Minimum $50,000

You can renew your license up to one year before the expiration date. The New York DMV will send you a renewal notice approximately 50 days before your expiration date.

You may be able to replace a lost or stolen license online, by mail, and in person depending on your eligibility. Contact the DMV for more information.

You can renew online, by mail or by visiting a NY DMV office.

No, in September of 2011 the state decided to no longer require vision tests for renewals in an effort to speed up and simplify its online and mail-in renewal processes.