New York DMV road test: what to expect

What the examiner checks

• Parallel parking (part of every road test)
• Three-point turn (you may be asked to make one)
• Turns, intersections, right-of-way, lane use and observation, as described in the Driver's Manual

Your car

• Correctly registered, inspected, insured and equipped, in good working order including doors and seat belts
• Passenger-side seat belt available and clean for the examiner
• Permanent license plates assigned and on the vehicle (in-transit permits not allowed)
• Driver assistance: warning systems (back-up warning, blind spot monitor, cameras, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, etc.) and automatic emergency braking, automatic reverse braking, lane keeping assist and left turn crash avoidance are allowed. Adaptive cruise control and automatic parallel parking are NOT allowed. The examiner checks that you did not rely on these systems

After you pass

Drivers under 18, or 17 with a driver education Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285) get a provisional or junior license first. Its restrictions:

• No more than one passenger under 21 unless immediate family
• Every occupant belted, one per belt; children in correct child restraints
• Upstate: may drive unaccompanied 5 AM-9 PM; 9 PM-5 AM only directly between home and work or a school course, otherwise accompanied by licensed parent, guardian or person in loco parentis
• Long Island: 5 AM-9 PM alone only directly between home and employment, work-study, college/university/registered evening high school course, driver education course, or farm employment; otherwise accompanied by licensed parent, guardian, in loco parentis, driver ed teacher or driving school instructor. 9 PM-5 AM alone only directly between home and a work-study program, college/evening high school course, driver ed course, or farm employment
• New York City: junior license holders must NOT drive (5 boroughs)
• Suspended 60 days for one serious violation (3+ points) or two other violations; 120 days for a texting/cell phone violation
• Class DJ: vehicle GVWR 10,000 lb or less, may tow 3,000 lb or less

How to prepare

• Practise in the car you'll take the test in, including parking and backing up.
• Drive the kinds of roads near the test site with your supervising driver: intersections, lane changes, school zones.
• Check the car the day before: lights, signals, horn, brakes, mirrors, tires, seat belts, and current registration and insurance documents.
• On the day, signal every turn and lane change, check mirrors and blind spots visibly, and come to full stops behind the line.