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To earn your motorcycle license in New York State, you must pass a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test. The NYS knowledge test questions are based on information from the New York DMV Driver's Manual and the New York Motorcycle Manual. They require that you know and understand road rules, road signs, driving laws and safe riding practices. The New York motorcycle test consists of 20 questions. A score of at least 14 (70%) is required to pass.
1.
When riding in a group, inexperienced riders should be placed:
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behind the leader.
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in front of the leader.
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in the middle of the group.
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in front of the last rider.
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2.
The safest formation when riding in a group is:
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the single-file formation.
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the staggered formation.
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in pairs.
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the L-formation.
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3.
Always use _____________ to stop.
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both brakes at the same time
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swerving
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the rear brake only
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the front brake only
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4.
If you must go over
an obstacle:
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increase your speed before contact.
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approach it as close to a 90°
angle as possible.
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keep your elbows locked.
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with your feet skimming the ground
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5.
Other drivers are most likely to try and share the lane with a motorcycle when:
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they want to pass the motorcycle.
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the motorcycle rider is preparing to turn at an intersection.
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traffic is heavy.
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All of the above.
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6.
You should operate the engine cut-off switch:
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if your throttle is stuck and twisting it back and forth does not free it.
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as soon as your motorcycle starts wobbling.
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if your rear tire goes flat.
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if the front tire goes flat.
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7.
Wobbling can be caused by:
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improperly loading your bike.
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lower tire pressure.
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defective wheel alignment.
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All the other answers are correct.
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8.
When parking at the roadside, park:
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with your front wheel touching the curb.
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parallel to the curb.
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on the curb.
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with your rear wheel touching the curb.
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9.
Riders in a staggered formation should move into a single-file formation when:
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All the other answers are correct.
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riding at night.
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riding in the left position.
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riding curves.
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10.
Before riding, position yourself comfortably and sit far enough forward so that your arms are:
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bent at a 120-degree angle.
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straight.
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slightly bent when
you hold the handgrips.
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stretched out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To get a driver's license in New York, the initial step is obtaining a learner permit. You need to be 16 years or older to qualify for a junior learner permit. Once you've held the permit for six months and successfully passed the road test, you'll receive a junior operator license (class DJ). At the age of 17, you become eligible for a senior driver license (class D) if you already possess a junior driver license or limited junior driver license and have completed a state-approved high school or college driver education course.
You can take the test in three ways:
- Identify the New York DMV office closest to you and book an appointment for the written test.
- Complete your application online and take the permit test at home. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must supervise your test and provide permission to capture photographs. After the test, your parent/guardian must accompany you to the DMV office and sign the Online Permit Test Parent/Guardian Certification.
- If you are a student who is at least 15 years old, you can take the written test through the DMV Online Knowledge Test Application (OKTA) program. After passing the test online, you'll receive a receipt to apply for a learner permit at 16 at any DMV office. Check if your high school participates in this program.
You must bring specific documents based on the type of license you are applying for. The Standard Permit is not sufficient for domestic flights in the US, but REAL ID and Enhanced Permits are acceptable for boarding a domestic flight. Additionally, Enhanced licenses can be used to cross into Canada, Mexico, and certain Caribbean countries. Generally speaking, here's what you'll need to take the permit in New York:
- A completed application for a permit.
- Proof of Social Security status.
- Proof of age.
- Proof of identification.
- Proof of residence (2 documents for a REAL ID Permit).
- Vision Test Report completed by an eye care professional if you don't take the vision test at a provider enrolled in DMV's Online Vision Registry.
If you can't provide two documents to prove your identity or residence, your parent/guardian must come with you to a DMV office to sign the Statement of Identity and/or Residence. Refer to this guide to determine all the required documents based on the type of license you are interested in.
The DMV written tests are available in various languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Yiddish. Individuals with a hearing disability may request an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter at no cost.
Read the New York Driver's Handbook and take our free practice tests to verify your knowledge. Topics covered on the DMV written test include road signs, parallel parking, turning, passing a vehicle, yielding the right of way, etc. Once your scores are good, you are ready for the real exam.
The written test consists of 20 questions. You can find the most common topics of the test in our free practice tests. These quizzes cover a variety of topics, including traffic control signs, intersections and turns, passing, parallel parking, defensive driving, alcohol and drugs, special driving conditions, and road signs.
To pass the New York DMV written test, you need to correctly answer at least 14 out of the 20 questions presented. Additionally, you must correctly answer two of the four questions related to road signs.
If you have a learner permit in New York, you cannot drive:
- Unless accompanied by a driver aged 21 or older.
- On any street within a park in New York City.
- On any bridge/ tunnel under the jurisdiction of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
- On the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, or Taconic State parkways in Westchester County.
- In a DMV road test area.
If you have a junior operator license:
- You cannot transport more than one passenger under 21, unless they are siblings.
- Regarding curfew, regional restrictions apply:
- In New York City (5 Boroughs), you must drive under the supervision of a parent/guardian, driving teacher/instructor aged 21 or older, and you cannot drive between 9 pm and 5 am.
- In Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk), you must drive under the supervision of a parent/guardian, driving teacher/instructor, or anyone designated by your parent/guardian aged 21 or older, and you cannot drive between 9 pm and 5 am.
- In Upstate (all other counties), you must drive under the supervision of a driver aged 21 or older. Driving is permitted between 9 am and 5 pm if you are accompanied by a parent/guardian or instructor aged 21 or older.
A New York learner permit is valid for a maximum of 5 years. If it expires, you cannot renew it and you need to apply for a new permit at a DMV office and retake the written test. The only exception is for individuals who possess two permits, such as a class M (motorcycle) and a class D (operator). In this case, there is the option to renew the second permit for an additional year by submitting the expired permit at a DMV office. Depending on the date of the last written test, it may be required to retake it.
If you don't pass your online DMV written test in New York, you'll need to wait at least 6 hours before submitting the application and trying again. If you find the exam difficult, sign up for DMV Premium, which offers numerous resources and practice tests to improve your preparation.