DMV Practice Test New York (2025)

1. One broken line indicates:

You can pass other vehicles and change lanes, if it is safe.
You cannot pass other vehicles or go across the line.
You can change lanes, but only when traffic conditions or obstructions in the road make it necessary.
None of the above.

2. Drivers may need more space in front of their vehicle:

when it is hard to see ahead.
when carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer.
when following motorcycles.
All of the above.

3. If your car goes into water, you should:

wait for water to rush in and let it out in small breaths through your nose.
remove yourself before it starts to sink.
call the fire department immediately.
None of the above.

4. The NYS law requires drivers to use their headlights:

from one-half hour after the sun sets to one-half hour before the sun rises.
when visibility is less than 1,000 feet.
when they use their windshield wipers to clear rain, fog or snow.
All of the above.

5. When drivers come to this sign, they must:

be ready to stop at the stop sign.
keep right.
warn other drivers that a stop sign is ahead.
brake sharply and come to a complete stop.

6. This is:

a reduction of lanes sign.
a right curve sign.
a merging traffic sign.
a side road sign.

7. What does this ‘Soft Shoulder’ sign indicate?

Drivers should leave the pavement immediately.
Drive on the shoulder if you have soft tyres.
The dirt on the side of the road is soft.
None of the above.

8. What does a NO STANDING sign mean?

Drivers cannot stand in front of parked vehicles.
Vehicles can stop only to obey a traffic sign, signal or officer.
Drivers must discharge passengers before leaving.
Drivers can only make a temporary stop to load or drop off passengers.

9. U-turns are illegal:

on limited access expressways.
in school zones.
in business districts of New York City.
All of the above.

10. For protection, motorcyclists are required to:

wear approved helmets.
keep their headlights and taillights on at all times.
signal turns, lane changes and stops.
None of the above.

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.

Number of questions:	20
Correct answers to pass:	14
Passing score:	70%
Signs questions:	4
Signs - Correct answers to pass:	2
Minimum age to apply:	16

In Partnership with Voorheesville Public Library

Frequently Asked Questions

1 How old do you have to be to get a driver's license in New York?

2 How can you schedule the DMV test?

3 What documents do you need to apply for a driver’s license in New York?

4 Is the DMV test only provided in English?

5 How can you prepare for the New York DMV test?

6 How many questions are on the DMV test in New York?

7 How many questions can you miss on the New York DMV test?

8 What are the restrictions for new drivers in New York?

9 How long is a New York permit valid for?

10 What happens if you fail your DMV test?

NY DMV Permit Practice Test