New York DMV permit practice test 2026

New York learner's permit rules

• Minimum age: 16
• Hold the permit for at least 6 months for applicants under 18 (junior permit must be held in valid status at least 6 months, excluding any time suspended or revoked, before a road test can be scheduled) before the road test
• 50 hours of supervised driving, including 15 at night
• Must be supervised by a driver age 21 or older with a license valid for the vehicle, seated in the front seat
• No driving in a DMV road test area, on any street within a park in New York City, on bridges/tunnels of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, or on the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River or Taconic State parkways in Westchester County
• Junior permit: only passenger in the front seat is the supervising driver
• Junior permit: no more than one passenger under 21 unless immediate family or the supervisor is a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor
• Junior permit: everyone wears a seat belt, one per person; child passengers in correct child restraints
• Junior permit, Upstate: 5 AM-9 PM any supervising driver 21+ with valid license; 9 PM-5 AM only with parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver ed teacher or driving school instructor (21+)
• Junior permit, Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk): 5 AM-9 PM with parent, guardian, in loco parentis, driver ed teacher, driving school instructor, or a person designated in writing by the parent/guardian (21+); no driving 9 PM-5 AM
• Junior permit, New York City (5 boroughs): 5 AM-9 PM only with parent, guardian, in loco parentis, driver ed teacher or driving school instructor (21+) in a vehicle with dual controls (dual brakes); no driving 9 PM-5 AM
• Junior permit suspended 60 days for a serious violation (3+ points) or two other violations; 120-day suspension for a texting/cell phone conviction
• Must complete the 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course (or 48-hour high school/college driver education) before scheduling a road test; supervised hours (50, including 15 after sunset) certified on form MV-262 for under-18 applicants

Fees: Class D/DJ permit + license, age 16 to 16½ $80.00 ($90.00 in MCTD); Class D/DJ permit + license, age 16½ to 17 $76.75 ($85.75 in MCTD); Class D/DJ permit + license, age 17 to 17½ $92.50 ($102.50 in MCTD); Class D/DJ permit + license, age 17½ to 18 $89.25 ($98.25 in MCTD); Class D permit + license, age 18 to 18½ $80.00 ($90.00 in MCTD); Class D permit + license, age 18½ to 21 $76.75-$80.00 ($85.75-$90.00 in MCTD); Class D permit + license, age 21 and older $64.25-$67.50 ($73.25-$77.50 in MCTD); Enhanced permit/license (additional) $30.00; Replacement license or permit $17.50.

What to bring to the DMV · The road test

The official handbook

Everything on the test comes from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), also available in Spanish. Read it alongside the practice tests. Our chapter-by-chapter guide.

Renewing your license

The DMV lists no age-based retesting. To renew, drivers of any age must pass a vision test: at a DMV office, or (for mail or online renewal) through an approved DMV Vision Registry provider or a Vision Test Report (MV-619) completed by an eye-care or medical professional. You can renew up to 1 year before and 2 years after expiration. If your license expired more than 2 years ago, you must apply as a new driver (vision test, written test, pre-licensing course, road test).