New York learner’s permit requirements
Everything here comes from New York State Department of Motor Vehicles pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where New York doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess. Last checked September 22, 2026.
The knowledge test and your permit
- Test format
- 20 questionsSource: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Passing score
- 14 of 20 correct (70%)Source: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Time limit
- None published
- Permit and test fees
- $80 totalThe fee depends on age and county and covers the permit and the later license: $80 at age 16–16½ ($90 in the 12 MCTD counties), and $64.25–$67.50 at 21+ ($73.25–$77.50 MCTD). There is no separate test fee.Source: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Minimum age for a permit
- 16 yearsJunior learner permit (Class DJ) minimum age is 16.Source: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Supervised driving
- 50 hours (15 at night)Source: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Hold your permit
- 6 months minimumSource: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Test languages
- 20 languagesEnglish, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, YiddishSource: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Take it online
- YesSource: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
- Vision standard
- 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lensesSource: dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov, dmv.ny.gov
From permit to full license
Junior learner permit at 16 (supervised driving only; NYC and Long Island have stricter supervision/hour rules; no driving in NYC 9 PM-5 AM). After holding the permit 6 months and certifying 50 supervised hours (15 after sunset, MV-262), pass road test for a junior license: no driving in NYC, upstate unsupervised only 5 AM-9 PM (night only to/from work or school), max one passenger under 21 unless immediate family. Unrestricted senior license at 18, or at 17 with an approved driver education course.
Before you go
Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website: dmv.ny.gov.
Sources
- https://dmv.ny.gov/new-york-state-drivers-manual-and-practice-tests/chapter-1-driver-licenses
- https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/prepare-for-and-take-your-permit-test
- https://dmv.ny.gov/book/export/html/1551
- https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/fees-refunds
- https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/learner-permit-restrictions
- https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/younger-driver/the-graduated-license-law
- https://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv262.pdf