You come to a red, eight-sided sign with white letters. What must you do?

Come to a full stop and yield to vehicles and pedestrians in or heading toward the intersection

Slow down and continue if no traffic is coming

Stop only if another vehicle is already at the intersection

Yield to pedestrians only, then continue without stopping

What kind of sign is normally yellow and diamond-shaped with black letters or symbols?

A warning sign: a hazardous location or a special rule is ahead

A regulation sign setting a rule for lane use or parking

A destination sign showing direction and distance to places

A service sign showing gas, food or rest areas

A sign shows a red circle with a horizontal white bar and the words DO NOT ENTER. What does it tell you?

You must not enter; traffic on that road moves toward you (one-way traffic)

You may enter only to make a right turn

The road is closed to trucks but open to cars

Stop, then enter when the road is clear

You see an orange sign with black letters or symbols. What does its color tell you?

People are at work on or near the roadway, and a flag person may control traffic

Gas, food or lodging is available at the next exit

In New York City, may you turn right on a steady red light?

No, not unless a sign that permits the turn is posted

Yes, after a full stop and yielding, like anywhere else in the state

Yes, but only between 9 PM and 5 AM

Yes, if no pedestrians are in the crosswalk

A school bus stopped on the opposite side of a divided highway is flashing its red lights. What must you do?

Stop, and do not go again until the bus moves or the bus driver or a traffic officer signals you to proceed

Continue at normal speed, because the divider separates you from the bus

Slow to 15 mph and pass carefully

Sound your horn and pass on the far side

Two vehicles arrive at the same time at an intersection with no signs or signals, at right angles to each other. Who must yield?

The driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right

The driver on the right must yield to the driver on the left

The vehicle going faster has the right-of-way

The larger vehicle has the right-of-way

You are 16 with a junior learner permit. Can you practice driving in New York City (the five boroughs) at 10 PM?

No, junior permit holders must not drive in New York City between 9 PM and 5 AM

Yes, if your supervising driver is at least 21

Yes, if your parent supervises in a car with dual brakes

What do double solid center lines mean?

You may not pass or change lanes across them; you may cross only to turn left into or out of a driveway or other entrance, or to make a U-turn where allowed

You may pass if the road ahead is clear for 500 feet

You may cross them only to pass slow-moving vehicles

They mark a lane reserved for buses

Under New York's Zero Tolerance law, a driver under 21 found at a DMV hearing to have a BAC of .02 to .07 faces:

A written warning with no license action

New York law requires you to turn on your headlights in which of these situations?

Whenever you use your windshield wipers to clear rain, snow or sleet

Only when visibility is less than 2,000 feet

What can a first offense for talking on a hand-held mobile phone while driving bring in New York?

A fine of up to $200 and five license points

A fine of up to $50 and no points

A warning only for a first offense

A fine of up to $450 and two points

The rear of your car starts to skid to the left on an icy road. Which way should you steer?

To the left, the direction the rear is sliding

To the right, away from the slide

Straight ahead while braking hard

Hard left and then immediately hard right

A pedestrian with a white cane or a guide dog is crossing at a crosswalk, but your light is green. What must you do?

Yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian

Proceed, because the signal is in your favor

Sound your horn so the pedestrian knows you are there

Drive around the pedestrian slowly

Your car stalls on railroad tracks and a train is approaching. What should you do?

Get everyone out and move away from the tracks toward the direction the train is coming from, at an angle

Stay inside with seat belts fastened

Run along the tracks away from the train

Keep trying to restart the engine

NY Permit Practice Test 2026 (Free, Explained)

New York DMV permit test format

Section	Questions	Time
Road signs	4	—

New York DMV permit test	Official rule
Number of questions	20 questions, 4 of them about road signs source
Passing score	At least 14 of 20 correct, and you must also answer 2 of the 4 road-sign questions correctly source
What the test covers	Rules of the road, safe driving techniques, road signs and the laws on alcohol and drug use while driving (Driver's Manual chapters 4 to 11 and the road signs page) source
Vision test	20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses source
Minimum age	16 to apply for a learner permit source
Online test	Applicants under 18 may take the permit test online; DMV then needs 3 business days to review results and ID before you finish in an office (go sooner and you must retake the test in the office) source
Languages	Class D permit tests are given in 20 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Yiddish source
Fee (Class D or DJ, first permit and license)	Depends on age and county: for example $80.00 at 16 to 16½ ($90.00 with the MCTD fee) and $64.25 to $67.50 at 21 and older ($73.25 to $77.50 with the MCTD fee) source
Permit validity	About 5 years (exact date depends on your date of birth and application date) source
Supervision	Always with a supervising driver age 21 or older licensed for the vehicle; junior permit holders have extra regional hour and supervisor rules (no driving in NYC or on Long Island from 9 PM to 5 AM) source
Where permit holders may not drive	Streets in New York City parks, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority bridges and tunnels, the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River and Taconic State parkways in Westchester County, and DMV road test areas source
Pre-licensing course	5-hour Pre-Licensing Course required before the road test, unless you complete a 48-hour high school or college driver education program source
Supervised practice (Class DJ/MJ permit)	At least 50 hours, including at least 15 after sunset, certified on form MV-262 source
Holding period (under 18)	Wait at least six months from the date you received your learner permit to schedule the road test source
Failed road test	Wait at least 14 days to retest; additional fees apply if you failed your first two road tests source

Checked on the official sources on September 30, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before test day.

What the New York permit test is

In New York, the written (knowledge) test is the first real step toward a driver license. You take it with a vision test, pay the fees and, if you pass, receive a learner permit that lets you start practicing with a supervising driver. You must be 16 or older to apply, and the permit is valid for about 5 years.

The test for a Class D, DJ, M, MJ or E license covers the rules of the road, safe driving techniques, road signs and the laws on alcohol and drug use while driving (NYS Driver's Manual, chapter 1). The DMV says the material you must know is in chapters 4 to 11 of the manual plus the road signs page; chapters 1 to 3 contain useful information about licenses and vehicles but are not covered on the permit written test.

Format and scoring

	New York written permit test
Questions	20
Road-sign questions	4 of the 20
To pass	at least 14 correct, including at least 2 of the 4 sign questions
Vision test	20/40 in at least one eye, with or without glasses or contacts
Languages	20 languages

The road-sign rule is the one people forget. Scoring 16 out of 20 is not a pass if 3 of your misses are road-sign questions, because you must answer two of the four sign questions correctly no matter how you do on the rest. The signs are easy points, but only if you actually learn the sign chart.

The manual says office tests can be taken on touch-screen test stations or on paper. The DMV does not publish a time limit.

Step by step: from permit to license

Study the manual. Download the free NYS Driver's Manual (MV-21) or read the online version with chapter quizzes.
Prepare your documents. You need proof of identity, age and residence. The DMV's pre-screening tool on the permit test page tells you which documents to bring and fills in the application (MV-44). If a parent or guardian vouches for you with form MV-45, they must come with you.
Take the test online (under 18) or in an office. If you are under 18 you can take the permit test online. After you pass, the DMV needs three business days to review your results and documents. If you go to an office before then, you must retake and pass the test there.
Visit a DMV office, pass the vision test, pay the fee and get your learner permit.
Practice with a supervising driver. Every permit holder must drive with someone age 21 or older who holds a license valid for the vehicle. With a junior (DJ) permit you need at least 50 hours of practice, including at least 15 after sunset, certified by a parent or guardian on form MV-262.
Complete the 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course, unless you finish a 48-hour high school or college driver education program. The in-person course certificate is valid for one year.
Schedule the road test. If you are under 18, you must wait at least six months from the date you received your permit to schedule it. If you fail, you must wait at least 14 days before retesting, and you pay extra if you failed your first two road tests.

Fees

The permit test page sends you to the fee chart, which shows one total fee for your first permit and license (application, license class, document and, where it applies, MCTD fees). It depends on your age and on whether you live in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (the five NYC boroughs, Long Island and several nearby counties). For a Class D or DJ, it is for example $80.00 at age 16 to 16½, or $90.00 with the MCTD fee, and $64.25 to $67.50 at 21 and older ($73.25 to $77.50 with the MCTD fee). An enhanced license or permit costs an extra $30. Check the fee chart for your exact age band.

Learner permit rules you must know

These rules come from chapter 1 of the manual and the DMV's permit pages. The DMV says chapters 1 to 3 are not covered on the permit written test, but you must follow them as soon as you hold a permit.

Everywhere: you may not drive with a permit on streets inside New York City parks, on Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority bridges and tunnels, on the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River or Taconic State parkways in Westchester County, or in a DMV road test area.
Junior permit, upstate: from 5 AM to 9 PM you drive with any supervisor 21+. From 9 PM to 5 AM you need a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor.
Junior permit, New York City: from 5 AM to 9 PM only with a parent, guardian or instructor, in a car with dual controls (dual brakes). You cannot drive in the five boroughs from 9 PM to 5 AM.
Junior permit, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk): from 5 AM to 9 PM with a parent, guardian, instructor or an adult designated in writing. You cannot drive from 9 PM to 5 AM.
Passengers: the only front-seat passenger is your supervising driver. You may carry no more than one passenger under 21 unless they are immediate family or your supervisor is a parent, guardian or instructor.
Phone and texting: a first cell phone or texting conviction suspends a junior permit for 120 days.

After the road test, junior license holders still face graduated license limits. For example, a Class DJ license cannot be used in New York City at all.

New York rules that show up often

These points come straight from the Driver's Manual and are specific to New York:

Right on red: allowed statewide after a full stop and yielding, but not in New York City unless a sign permits it.
Speed: 55 mph where no limit is posted, and 25 mph in New York City unless posted otherwise.
School buses: stop for flashing red lights from either direction, even on the opposite side of a divided highway.
Alcohol: a BAC of more than .05 is evidence of impairment, .08 of intoxication and .18 of aggravated DWI. Under Zero Tolerance, a driver under 21 with a BAC of .02 to .07 loses the license for six months.
Phones: a hand-held call can cost up to $200 and five points on a first offense. Hands-free is allowed.

How to prepare

Read chapters 4 to 11 once from start to finish, then learn the road signs page until you can name every sign from its shape and color alone. The DMV's own chapter quizzes and all-chapters quiz are free and worth doing first. Numbers are where most candidates lose points: distances (100 feet to signal, 15 feet from a hydrant, 20 feet from a stopped school bus), BAC levels, and the junior permit hours. Write them on one page and review them the day before.

Our practice questions are original, written from the current manual, and each explanation points to the chapter it comes from. They are for practice and do not replace the manual. The DMV decides what is on your test.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss road-sign questions?

Four of the 20 questions are about road signs. Even with 14 correct answers overall, you must answer at least two of the four road-sign questions correctly to pass. Source

Can I take the New York permit test online?

If you are under 18 you have the option to take the permit test online. After you pass, DMV needs three business days to review your results and identity documents before you complete the transaction in an office; if you go earlier you must retake and pass the test in the office. Source

Which parts of the Driver's Manual are on the test?

The DMV says chapters 4 through 11 contain the material you must know for the Class D, DJ or E written test, together with the road signs. Part 1 (chapters 1 to 3) has information every driver should know but is not covered on the permit written test. Source

How old do I have to be?

You must be 16 years or older to apply for a learner permit in New York. Source

How long do I have to hold my permit before the road test?

If you are under 18, you must wait at least six months from the date you received your learner permit to schedule your road test. You also need the 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course (or a driver education course) and, with a junior permit, 50 hours of supervised practice including 15 after sunset. Source

Can a junior driver drive in New York City?

No. With a Class DJ or MJ junior license you cannot drive within the five boroughs under any circumstances. A 17-year-old who completed an approved driver education course and received a Class D license may drive anywhere in the state. Source

In which languages is the permit test available?

Class D permit tests are given in 20 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Yiddish. Source

Sources

New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), PDF edition (84 pages; file dated April 2026; the online edition is marked MV-21 (5/23)) — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
New York State Driver's Manual and Practice Tests (online manual, road signs page and chapter quizzes) — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
Prepare For and Take Your Permit Test — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
Driver License and Learner Permit Fees and Refunds — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
Complete Pre-Licensing Requirements — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
Schedule and Take a Road Test — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
Learner Permit Restrictions — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
The Graduated License Law and Restrictions for Drivers Under 18 — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
Learner Permits — New York State DMV (checked September 30, 2026)

passmock is an independent practice resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Our questions are original practice questions written from the official test description and study materials; they are not questions from the real test.

New York permit practice test

Free New York DMV permit test practice test (20 questions)