New York permit test cheat sheet

New York-specific rules from our question bank, condensed to one line each with the handbook page. Read it the night before; don’t use it instead of practicing.

Study sheet for before your test. Notes aren’t allowed in the DMV test room. See the study sheets to print.

Test format
20 questions
Passing score
14 of 20 correct (70%)
Permit and test fees
$80 total
Minimum age for a permit
16 years
Supervised driving
50 hours (15 at night)
Hold your permit
6 months minimum

Permits & licensing

  • New York's junior (Class DJ) learner permit and junior license start at age 16. p. 6
  • Every permit holder must be supervised by a driver who is at least 21, holds a license valid for the type of vehicle being driven, and sits in the front seat. p. 11
  • The Certification of Supervised Driving (MV-262) confirms at least 50 hours of practice, with at least 15 of them after sunset. p. 14
  • A junior permit must be held for at least six months before you can schedule a road test, and time spent under suspension or revocation does not count. p. 19
  • In the five boroughs, junior permit holders may practice only between 5 AM and 9 PM. source
  • For daytime practice in New York City, a junior permit holder must be supervised by a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or instructor, and the vehicle must have dual controls. source
  • Upstate, a junior permit holder may drive from 9 PM to 5 AM only with a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or driving instructor who is 21 or older. source
  • With a junior permit, the front passenger seat is reserved for your supervising driver. p. 13
  • Junior drivers may carry at most one passenger under 21 unless the passengers are immediate family. p. 15
  • A Class DJ or MJ junior license does not allow driving anywhere in the five boroughs. source
  • Upstate, junior drivers may drive alone from 9 PM to 5 AM only directly between home and employment or a school course. p. 16
  • On Long Island a junior driver may drive alone during the day only directly between home and work, a work-study program, a college or evening high school course, driver education, or farm work. p. 16
  • Junior permit and license holders convicted of a texting or cell phone violation are suspended for 120 days. p. 19
  • A Class D license requires age 18, or age 17 with a driver education Certificate of Completion (MV-285). p. 6
  • The New York knowledge test has 20 questions. p. 10

Laws, points & insurance

  • If you collect 11 or more points within 24 months, DMV will suspend your license. p. 22
  • Points are charged from the date you commit the violation. p. 22
  • New York's speeding points rise with your speed: 3 points for 1-10 mph over, 4 for 11-20, 6 for 21-30, 8 for 31-40, and 11 for more than 40 mph over. p. 22
  • The Point and Insurance Reduction Program (a DMV-approved crash prevention course) can take up to four points off your record, and you can repeat it for point reduction every 18 months. p. 15
  • Six points within 18 months brings a $100 yearly Driver Responsibility Assessment for three years, plus $25 per year for each additional point. p. 23
  • New York requires $25,000/$50,000 for injury, $50,000/$100,000 for death, and $10,000 for property damage in any one incident. p. 27
  • Driving an uninsured vehicle, or allowing someone else to, brings a license revocation of at least one year. p. 21
  • Report a new address to DMV within 10 days, by mail on form MV-232 or online. p. 17
  • New York does not record most out-of-state moving violation convictions on its point record. p. 20
  • You must be at least 16 to register a vehicle in New York, though you can hold a title at any age. p. 24