New York motorcycle permit test numbers to know

Distances, speeds, limits, fines and deadlines are the questions people miss most, because they have to be memorized. Here are 22 New York numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.

Numbers quiz

12 questions a round from the 16 number questions in our New York bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.

Free and unlimited. Your answers count toward your readiness and mistake review.

Numbers flashcards

16 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.

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Each deck starts with 20 free cards. Swipe right if you knew it, left to see it again.

See 3 of the cards

Alcohol & drugs
In New York, at what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a driver legally intoxicated?
0.08 percent or above
In New York, a driver with a BAC of .08 percent or above is legally intoxicated.
New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 41
Distances & following gaps
How close must your supervising rider stay to you while you practice on a New York motorcycle learner permit?
Within 1/4 mile at all times
The supervising motorcyclist must remain within 1/4 mile of you at all times, and the manual adds that you should stay within sight of each other.
New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 4
Ages, permits & the test
You are 25 and practice on a New York motorcycle learner permit outside New York City and Long Island. Who may supervise you?
A licensed motorcyclist age 21 or older
Outside New York City and Long Island, your supervisor must hold a valid motorcycle license and be at least 21.
New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 4

Every New York motorcycle number, by topic

Official New York laws come first in each group, then the numbers from our handbook questions. Tap a source to read the exact words it comes from.

Alcohol & drugs

9 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
0.08%	Legal BAC limit for adult drivers	nysenate.gov Quote No person shall operate a motor vehicle while such person has .08 of one per centum or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood
0.02%	BAC limit for drivers under 21	nysenate.gov Quote a person under the age of twenty-one is deemed to have consumed alcohol only if such person has .02 of one per centum or more but not more than .07 of one per centum by weight of alcohol in the person's blood
0.04%	BAC limit in a commercial vehicle	nysenate.gov Quote no person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle while such person has .04 of one per centum or more but not more than .06 of one per centum by weight of alcohol in the person's blood
one year, $500	Drunk driving (DUI)Refusing a chemical test brings a license revocation of at least one year and a $500 civil penalty	nysenate.gov Quote shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in a penitentiary or county jail for not more than one year
0.08 percent	In New York, at what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a driver legally intoxicated?Answer: 0.08 percent or above	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 41 Quote In New York State, a driver with a BAC of .08 percent or above is legally intoxicated.
6-month	A rider under 21 in New York is found with a BAC of .02% to .07% for the first time. What is the penalty under the Zero Tolerance Law?Answer: A 6-month suspension	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 42 Quote 6-month suspension. Second violation, minimum 1-year revocation or until 21, whichever is longer.
1-year	In New York, what is the minimum license penalty for refusing a chemical test for most drivers?Answer: A 1-year revocation	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 41 Quote Chemical test refusal – minimum 1 year revocation for most drivers
90-day	In New York, what is the license penalty for a first conviction of DWAI or a .05% BAC?Answer: A 90-day suspension	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 41 Quote DWAI or .05% BAC – 90-day suspension.
two hours	On a long ride, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to fight fatigue?Answer: At least every two hours	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 43 Quote Stop, and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours.

Distances & following gaps

5 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
4 mile	How close must your supervising rider stay to you while you practice on a New York motorcycle learner permit?Answer: Within 1/4 mile at all times	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 4 Quote be at least 21 and remain within 1/4 mile of the learner at all times
Two seconds	What is the normal minimum following distance behind the vehicle ahead?Answer: Two seconds	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 17 Quote Normally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead.
Three seconds	The pavement is slippery and you cannot see past the vehicle ahead. What following distance should you use?Answer: Three seconds or more	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 18 Quote open up a three-second or more distance.
12 seconds	How far ahead does the manual tell you to scan your path of travel?Answer: 12 seconds	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 12 Quote Scan your path of travel 12 seconds ahead.
one second	In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: In the right side of the lane, one second behind the leader	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 38 Quote the second rider stays one second behind in the right side of the lane.

Ages, permits & the test

7 numbers

Number	What it’s about	Source
20	Questions on the test	dmv.ny.gov Quote To pass, you must get at least 14 of the 20 multiple-choice questions correct, including the correct answers to at least two of the four questions about road signs
14 of 20	Correct answers to pass	dmv.ny.gov Quote To pass, you must get at least 14 of the 20 multiple-choice questions correct, including the correct answers to at least two of the four questions about road signs
age 21	You are 25 and practice on a New York motorcycle learner permit outside New York City and Long Island. Who may supervise you?Answer: A licensed motorcyclist age 21 or older	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 4 Quote the supervising driver must hold a valid motorcycle license, be at least 21 and remain within 1/4 mile of the learner at all times
30 hours	How much practice does the New York Motorcycle Operator's Manual recommend before your motorcycle road test?Answer: At least 30 hours, with at least 10 in moderate to heavy traffic	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 4 Quote We recommend at least 30 hours of practice, with at least 10 in moderate to heavy traffic.
12 months	How often must a motorcycle registered in New York be safety inspected?Answer: At least once every 12 months	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 5 Quote Motorcycles must be inspected at least once every 12 months at a station licensed by the DMV to perform motorcycle safety inspections.
14 of 20, 2 of the 4	How many questions must you answer correctly to pass the New York Class M written permit test?Answer: At least 14 of 20, including 2 of the 4 road sign questions	New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website Quote To pass, you must get at least 14 of the 20 multiple-choice questions correct, including the correct answers to at least two of the four questions about road signs
at least 45	You must cross railroad tracks that run parallel to your path. How should you cross?Answer: Move away and cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 32 Quote move far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45°.

Time limits & deadlines

1 number

Number	What it’s about	Source
six months	The manual says more than half of all crashes occur on motorcycles the operator has ridden for how long?Answer: Less than six months	New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), page 10 Quote More than half of all crashes occur on motorcycles ridden by the operator for less than six months.

Memory tips

How to study them (our advice, not official rules):

Learn the number with its unit and its place. “15 feet from a hydrant” sticks; “15” on its own gets mixed up with 15 mph.
Say the answer before you look. Recalling the number yourself is harder than spotting it among four options, and it is what makes it stick.
Come back to the ones you miss. The quiz above brings missed questions back more often. Short rounds over several days beat one long session.

Questions about the numbers

What numbers do I need to know for the New York motorcycle permit test?

Mostly distances (how close you may park to a hydrant or crosswalk, when to signal, when to dim your high beams), speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, and the ages, hours and deadlines for your permit and license. This page lists 22 of them for New York, each with its source.

Why focus on numbers?

A California DMV study of its own knowledge test found that many of the hardest questions “are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.” Numbers are easy to mix up under pressure, so they are worth drilling on their own.

Where do these numbers come from?

Each one is quoted from the New York State Motorcycle Operator's Manual (MV-21MC), New York statutes or DMV pages. Our build checks that every number on this page appears word for word in the quote it cites.

Is the numbers drill free?

Yes. The table and the numbers quiz are free and unlimited, and so are the first 20 flashcards.