This guide walks you through the New York learner permit test. You’ll see how it’s scored, what it covers and what to bring on the day. When you feel ready, there’s a free 20-question practice test further down.
20Multiple-choice questions on the written permit test
14Correct answers needed to pass (70%)
2 of 4Road-sign questions you must get right, whatever your total
Updated October 2026 · Written from the New York State Driver’s Manual (MV-21)
Key facts
At a glance
Minimum age
16
Fee
$64.25 to $92.50, by age
Where
DMV office, or online at home if under 18
Languages
20, including Spanish and Chinese
How it works
20 questions, plus a rule just for road signs
You need 14 of 20 right overall. You also need at least 2 of the 4road-sign questions right, whatever your total.
You must be a New York resident and at least 16 years old to apply for a learner permit.
In person, you take the test at a state or county DMV office. It is given on a touch-screen test station or on paper.
The same written test covers a Class D car permit and the junior Class DJ permit for drivers under 18.
The test has 20 questions on road signs, rules of the road, safe driving and alcohol and drug laws.
Four of the 20 questions are about road signs. You must answer at least 2 of those 4 correctly.
You also need at least 14 correct answers overall. A score of 14 with only 1 sign question right is a fail.
As of October 2026, DMV offers the test in 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Korean, Haitian Creole and Arabic.
Topics
What’s on the test
01
Road Signs You Must Know
Sign shapes and colors, and the 16 signs on DMV’s must-know chart plus the other signs in the manual.
Key points (4)
In New York, regulation signs are normally white rectangles. Warning signs are normally yellow diamonds. Destination signs are green, service signs are blue, and work area signs are orange.
A red circle with a slash over a symbol means you may not do what the symbol shows.
In New York, you fail the written test if you miss 3 or 4 of the sign questions, even with 14 or more correct overall.
At a STOP sign, stop before the stop line. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is neither, stop at the point nearest the intersection where you can see cross traffic.
02
Traffic Signals, Lane Markings and Officers
What each light and arrow means, turns on red in New York, lane-use lights, road lines and who overrides them.
Key points (4)
In New York City, you may not turn on a red light unless a sign allows it. Elsewhere, you may turn right on red after a full stop, yielding to traffic and people crossing, unless a sign, signal or marking forbids it.
Green does not mean the way is clear. You must still yield to vehicles and people already in the intersection.
If a traffic light is out or not working, stop as you would for a STOP sign. Then follow the right-of-way rules, unless a traffic officer directs you.
A steady yellow X over your lane means move out of it. A flashing yellow X means the lane is for left turns only.
03
Right-of-Way, Emergency Vehicles and Turns
Who goes first, how to react to sirens and flashing lights, signalling, turn positions and U-turns.
Key points (4)
Right-of-way rules tell you who goes first and who must wait. To yield means to let others go first.
A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic that is going straight or turning right.
Some intersections have no signs or signals. At others, two drivers on cross streets stop at STOP signs at the same time. In both cases, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
When you enter a road from a driveway, private road or parking lot, you must stop. Then yield to traffic on the road and to people walking.
04
Passing Safely and School Buses
When you may and may not pass, how to pass and be passed, and New York’s school bus law.
Key points (4)
You may not go over the speed limit to pass another vehicle.
In New York, do not pass on the left if your side has a solid yellow center line. Also do not pass if an oncoming vehicle would come within 200 feet before you are back in your lane.
If a car has stopped at a crosswalk, do not go around it. Someone may be crossing in front of it.
Before you return to the right lane, you should see the front bumper of the passed vehicle in your inside rear-view mirror.
05
Parallel Parking and Parking Rules
How to park and pull out, parking on hills, NO PARKING/STANDING/STOPPING, distances and reserved spaces.
Key points (4)
When you finish parallel parking in New York, your wheels must be no more than 1 foot from the curb.
You, the driver, are responsible for driving and parking safely, even when your car has backup cameras or can park itself.
Do not open the door on the road side if it will get in the way of bicyclists or other traffic.
When you park on a hill, set the parking brake and shift into Park. With a manual transmission, use 1st gear. Then turn your wheels toward the curb or the side of the road.
06
Defensive Driving, Speed and Safety Equipment
Scanning, distractions, aggressive driving, speed limits, following distance, seat belts and child seats, work zones, roundabouts, fatigue, phones and vehicle checks.
Key points (4)
Keep your eyes moving. Look far down the road, watch the sides of the road, and check your mirrors every few seconds.
Aggressive driving breaks traffic laws. Road rage breaks criminal laws. Aggressive driving can grow into road rage.
Be ready to give up the right-of-way to avoid a crash. Waiting a few seconds is far better than a collision.
If no limit is posted, the most you may drive in New York State is 55 mph. In New York City, the limit is 25 mph unless a sign shows another limit.
07
Alcohol, Drugs and the Law
How alcohol and drugs affect driving, BAC, chemical tests, Zero Tolerance and the penalties.
Key points (4)
Drivers under 21 are about 4 percent of all drivers. Yet they are 7 percent of the impaired drivers in fatal crashes. This is one reason penalties are tougher for young drivers.
The effects of alcohol begin with the first drink. You do not have to look or feel drunk for your driving to suffer.
Mixing alcohol with other drugs severely reduces your ability to drive. The mix can also cause serious health problems, including death.
A BAC of more than .05 is legal evidence of impairment (DWAI). A BAC of .08 or more is evidence of intoxication (DWI). A BAC of .18 or more is evidence of aggravated DWI.
08
Railroad Crossings, Expressways, Night, Weather and Emergencies
Grade crossings, expressway entering and exiting, headlight rules, rain, fog, snow, skids, deer and emergencies.
Key points (4)
Always expect a train at a crossing. Never race a train, never drive around lowered gates, and never stop on the tracks.
Some vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing. These are school buses, with or without passengers, and other buses carrying passengers. Vehicles carrying explosives or flammable cargo must stop too.
When lights flash, gates come down or a bell rings, stop at least 15 feet from the tracks. Wait until the lights and bell stop and the gates are all the way up.
Do not start across unless your whole vehicle can clear all the tracks. If traffic ahead blocks you, wait before the crossing until there is room.
09
Sharing the Road
Pedestrians, bicyclists, skaters, motorcyclists, mopeds, large trucks and buses, slow-moving vehicles, ATVs and horses.
Key points (4)
Before you back into or out of a driveway when children are near, get out and check behind your vehicle.
Always yield to a blind pedestrian with a guide dog or a white or metal cane at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. This applies even when the signal or other right-of-way rules favor you.
Yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks and intersections, marked or unmarked.
Never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. People may be crossing where you cannot see them.
10
Your Permit, Junior Rules and Keeping Your License
How the permit test works, junior permit and junior license rules by region, road-test steps, points, probation, insurance and what to do after a crash.
Key points (4)
You must answer at least 14 of the 20 questions correctly. You must also get at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions right.
To pass the vision test, you need 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without glasses or contacts.
After you pass online, DMV needs 3 business days to review your results and documents. If you visit an office sooner, you must take the test again there.
You may drive only with a supervising driver who is at least 21. That person must hold a license valid for your vehicle and sit in the front seat beside you.
Road signs
Learn the shape first, then the words
STOP: red octagon
YIELD: red and white triangle
School crossing: five-sided sign
Railroad crossing ahead: round yellow sign
No right turn
No left turn
No U-turn
Do not pass
No turn on red
Speed limit 55 mph
Keep to the right of the divider
Free practice test
Try 20 questions in the real format
Here are 20 questions, the same length and mix as the real test, with 4 road-sign questions among them. After each answer you can ask the tutor to explain it another way, or why a different answer is wrong. Anything you miss comes back at the end.
Question 1 of 20
You see this sign ahead. What should you do?
Sample of the permit test: same format, 20 questions.
Test day
What to bring to the DMV
Application for a Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (form MV-44). DMV’s pre-screening tool can fill it in for you to print.
Proofs of name and identity worth at least 6 points, with at least one that shows your signature. Form ID-44 lists every accepted proof.
Proof of your date of birth, your Social Security number and your New York residence.
Under 21: a parent or guardian may complete a Statement of Identity (form MV-45), worth 4 points. They must come with you and sign it in front of DMV staff.
Your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them, for the vision test.
The permit and license fee. As of October 2026, the Class D or DJ fee depends on your age when you apply: $80.00 at 16 to 16½, $76.75 at 16½ to 17, $92.50 at 17 to 17½, $89.25 at 17½ to 18, $80.00 at 18 to 18½, $76.75 to $80.00 at 18½ to 21, and $64.25 to $67.50 at 21 or older.
Before you go
Use DMV’s pre-screening tool on dmv.ny.gov to see which forms and proofs you need.
Check the fee chart on dmv.ny.gov the week you go: fees can change.
Make an office reservation on dmv.ny.gov. When an office is busy, only people with a reservation may be let in.
Under 21 and using form MV-45: bring your parent or guardian, and do not sign the form in advance.
Under 18 and testing online: your parent or guardian later completes form MV-263 at a DMV office.
Review the 16 signs on DMV’s “Road Signs You Must Know” chart. Missing 3 of the 4 sign questions fails the test.
After you pass: with a junior permit, plan for at least 50 hours of supervised practice, 15 of them after sunset, before your road test.
Get a full night’s sleep and bring your documents in one folder.
Every question on the test comes from DMV’s own manual, and DMV’s quizzes are free. Want more practice? We’ve compared the apps, websites and in-person options people use.
Option
Price
Free to use
Links
Official and free
New York State Driver’s Manual (MV-21)Official · web and PDFEvery test question comes from here. Chapters 4 to 11 are the ones the written test covers, so you can skip the first three. You can also pick up a free printed copy at any DMV office.
NYS DMV practice quizzesOfficial · webOne quiz for each chapter from 4 to 11, plus a road-signs quiz and an all-chapters quiz. DMV says they use real test questions. They show your score but don’t explain the answers.
Road Signs You Must KnowOfficial · webDMV’s own chart of the 16 signs to know, with a short quiz. Worth learning by heart, since missing 3 of the 4 sign questions fails the test.
ZutobiApp and web · all statesGame-style practice with a short version of the handbook. 600+ New York questions, according to the store listing. Very well rated: 4.7 stars from about 238,000 ratings on the App Store.
Driving-Tests.org and DMV GenieWeb and app · all statesThese two are the same company. The website’s free tests are generous and you don’t need an account. Premium adds an exam simulator and cheat sheets. The DMV Genie app has 4.8 stars from about 184,000 ratings.
Free with ads, Premium from $29 a week
6 New York practice tests, a Spanish test and handbook audio
DMV-Permit-Test.comWeb · all statesLots of free tests in the real 20-question format, in English and Spanish. The one-time Premium price is easier to budget for than a weekly subscription.
NNew York DMV NY - Permit test (Driver-Start)App · iPhone and AndroidThe most-rated New York-only app: 4.8 stars from about 6,700 ratings. Works offline and has flashcards. Be aware the iPhone version hasn’t been updated since 2020.
NNew York DMV License Test PrepApp · iPhoneMore than 550 questions in English and Spanish, plus the official manuals built in. Some users say the Spanish wording is hard to follow.
NNew York DMV Permit Test PrepApp · iPhoneA newer app, updated in 2026, with questions in English and French and the official manual for offline reading. No account needed.
Permit test walk-throughs on YouTubeVideo · freeChannels like DMV Permit Practice Test go through New York questions out loud. Good if you learn better by listening. They’re unofficial, so check anything surprising against the manual.
Take the test at school (OKTA)Participating high schoolsSome high schools run the written test on site, from age 15 years and 11 months, in English or Spanish. You still apply for the permit itself at a DMV office.
DMV-licensed driving schoolsLocalDriving schools mostly teach the driving itself, not the written test. Use DMV’s finder to search near your city or ZIP code.
How many questions are on the New York permit test?
There are 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need 14 right to pass. There’s a catch, though. Four of the questions are about road signs, and you have to get at least 2 of those right. Score 14 with only 1 sign question right and you still fail.
Can I take the New York permit test online?
Yes, if you’re under 18. Do DMV’s online pre-screening first, then take the test at home while a parent or guardian watches. DMV takes 3 business days to check your result. If you’re 18 or older, you’ll take it at a DMV office.
What do I need to bring to the DMV?
Bring form MV-44 and ID proofs worth at least 6 points. Form ID-44 lists what counts. You’ll also need proof of your date of birth, Social Security number and New York address. Wear your glasses if you need them, because there’s an eye test. And don’t forget the fee.
How much does a New York learner permit cost?
It depends on your age. As of October 2026 it’s between $64.25 and $92.50. Live in New York City or a nearby county? Then a small MCTD fee gets added on top. Fees do change, so check dmv.ny.gov the week you go.
What languages is the permit test offered in?
You can take it in 20 languages, as of October 2026. Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Korean, Haitian Creole and Arabic are some of them.
All 20 practice questions with answersA printable list of the practice test above
You see this sign ahead. What should you do?
Slow down and watch for oncoming traffic This sign means the bridge ahead is narrower than the road. Slow down and watch for oncoming traffic as you cross.
What should you do when you see this sign?
Slow down and watch for children crossing This five-sided sign marks a school crossing. Children may be crossing near a school, so slow down and be ready to stop.
How is this sign different from a DO NOT ENTER sign?
It shows which side of the island to use Keep Right of Divider tells you to drive on the right side of an island or divider. DO NOT ENTER means a road is one way toward you and you may not drive into it.
What should this yellow sign make you ready for?
A traffic light ahead This sign warns of a traffic signal ahead that you may not see yet. Be ready to stop when you reach it.
When may you turn right on a red light in New York City?
Only where a sign permits it In New York City, no turns on red are allowed unless a sign permits it. Elsewhere in the state, right on red is allowed after a full stop unless something forbids it.
Where in your lane should you be when you start a U-turn?
The left part, nearest the center line Make a U-turn only from the left part of the lane nearest the center line. Never make one from the right lane.
After passing on the left, when may you move back into the right lane?
When its front bumper shows in your inside mirror Return to the right lane only when you can see the passed vehicle’s front bumper in your inside rear-view mirror. That shows you have left enough room. Signal first and glance over your right shoulder.
At which of these places is it illegal even to stop for a moment?
Beside a parked car, double parked Double parking is on New York’s list of places where you may never park, stand or stop. A driveway and the 20-foot crosswalk zone ban parking and standing, but not a brief stop. The railroad rule bans parking within 50 feet.
What is the difference between aggressive driving and road rage?
Road rage breaks criminal law Aggressive driving breaks traffic laws, for example speeding or passing on the shoulder. Road rage is an angry, hostile state that can turn into violent criminal action. Aggressive driving can grow into road rage.
A 35-year-old driver refuses a chemical test for the first time, and a DMV hearing confirms it. What happens to the license?
It is revoked for at least 1 year As of October 2026, a first chemical test refusal by a driver 21 or older brings a license revocation of at least one year and a $500 civil penalty. This happens even if the court finds the driver not guilty of the alcohol charge.
Your car goes into deep water. How should you escape?
Unbuckle and get out through a window If your car goes into water, unbuckle and escape through a window. Do not open the door, because water would rush in and the car could roll over.
You just passed a tractor-trailer. Why should you not cut in close in front of it?
You may be in its front blind spot and stopping path A truck has a blind spot in front of it and needs much more room to stop than a car. If you cut in close, the driver may not see you and cannot stop in time. Return to its lane only when you can see its whole front in your mirror.
What does a diamond painted in a lane mean?
The lane is reserved for certain vehicles A diamond symbol marks a reserved lane. It may be for buses, high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) such as car pools, bicycles or other special vehicles.
Which of these places is on New York’s list of places where U-turns are banned?
School zones U-turns are illegal in New York City business districts, where NO U-TURN signs are posted, on limited-access expressways and in school zones. Each of these places makes a U-turn especially risky.
The car ahead is waiting to turn left at an intersection, and you plan to pass it on the right. What should you check for first?
An oncoming car turning left across your path You may pass on the right when the vehicle ahead is turning left, but only if it is safe. At an intersection, make sure an oncoming car is not about to turn left into your path, and watch the right side for people walking, bicyclists, skaters and moped riders.
A fire station driveway is on your side of the street. You may not park within how many feet of it?
20 feet In New York, you may not park or stand within 20 feet of a fire station driveway on the same side of the street. Across the street, the distance is 75 feet.
Until about what age should a child ride in a rear-facing seat?
Until age 2, or the seat’s limit Children ride rear-facing until age 2, or until they reach the seat’s highest rear-facing weight or height limit. Rear-facing seats protect a small child’s head and neck. After that, they move to a forward-facing child seat.
When do the effects of alcohol on your driving begin?
With the first drink The manual says alcohol’s effects begin with the first drink. You do not need to look or feel drunk for your driving to suffer.
Driving within the range of your headlights means you can stop within about how many feet?
350 feet Your headlights light the road about 350 feet ahead. Driving within their range means going at a speed that lets you stop within that distance.
About how far does a passenger car need to stop from 55 mph?
About 193 feet The average total stopping distance for a passenger car at 55 mph is about 193 feet. A tractor-trailer with cool brakes needs about 256 feet.
New York · Permit test