New York DMV Permit Test Practice Exam Questions
Past exam questions and practice questions based on official past exams
Exam info
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- Type
- State license
- Field
- Driving
- Provider
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Sections
- Learner Permit Written Test (20)
- Questions · Time
- 20 questions · 30 min
- Format
- 20 multiple choice questions on the rules of the road, safe driving, road signs, and alcohol and drug laws. Four of the 20 questions are about road signs. The DMV does not publish a time limit for the office test, so this practice mock uses 30 minutes. This practice mock uses 4 answer choices per question.
- Passing score
- You must answer at least 14 of the 20 questions correctly (70%), and at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions must be correct. This practice mock checks only the overall score.
- Eligibility
- You can apply for a New York learner permit at age 16. You must pass a vision test and the written test, and show proof of identity and age. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian's consent. Check the New York State DMV website for the current documents and fees before you go.
Exam outline
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Tap a unit name to see its key concepts and sample questions.
Learner Permit Written Test20 questions
- Unit 1: Road Signs★★★★★Weight 20%Concepts
- Unit 2: Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆Weight 15%Concepts
- Unit 3: Intersections, Turns, and Right of Way★★★★★Weight 20%Concepts
- Unit 4: Passing and Parking★★★★☆Weight 10%Concepts
- Unit 5: Defensive Driving and Special Conditions★★★★☆Weight 15%Concepts
- Unit 6: Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆Weight 10%Concepts
- Unit 7: Sharing the Road★★★★☆Weight 10%Concepts
New York DMV Permit Test study tips
Written by our team- Study order
- Start with Road Signs. Four of the 20 test questions are about signs, and you must get at least 2 of them right even if your total score is high enough. Next study Intersections, Turns, and Right of Way and then Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings, because the other chapters build on them. Finish with Defensive Driving, Passing and Parking, Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Sharing the Road.
- Topics people often miss
- Passing and Parking is full of distances that are easy to mix up, such as 15 feet from a fire hydrant, so keep them in one list. Alcohol and Other Drugs uses several blood alcohol levels (DWI, DWAI, and the Zero Tolerance law for drivers under 21) that differ by small numbers. Sharing the Road has the school bus rule, where New York asks you to stop from either direction, even on a divided highway.
- Test day tips
- You need at least 14 correct answers out of 20, so you can miss no more than 6 questions, and at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions must be right. Read every answer choice before you pick one, because wrong choices often differ by a single number or word. If a question is hard, think about which choice keeps pedestrians and other drivers safest.
▼ More about New York DMV Permit Test (trends · overview · FAQ)▲ Hide
New York DMV Permit Test exam trends
The test mixes road signs with road rules. Sign shapes and colors, right of way at intersections and when turning left, emergency vehicles and the Move Over law, school bus stops, parking distances, following distance, and New York's alcohol limits (DWI and DWAI) are the topics new drivers most often need to review. The chapters on this site follow the Driver's Manual but are study groupings, not official test sections.
Start with the Road Signs chapter, because a weak sign score alone can fail the test. Then practice the chapters on right of way and turns, and the ones with numbers (parking distances, signaling distance, alcohol limits). Redo every missed question the next day, and before test day take a full 20-question Mock Exam and aim for at least 16 correct.
New York DMV Permit Test Sample Questions and Explanations →
About New York DMV Permit Test
The New York permit test is the written knowledge test you take to get a learner permit for a car (Class D, DJ, or E). It has 20 multiple choice questions on the rules of the road, safe driving, road signs, and alcohol and drug laws. You pass with at least 14 correct answers, and at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions must be right. The questions come from Chapters 4 to 11 of the New York State Driver's Manual.
FAQ
- Q. What score do I need to pass the New York permit test?
- You need at least 14 correct answers out of 20. You must also get at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions right, even if your total is 14 or more.
- Q. Which part of the Driver's Manual should I study?
- The New York State DMV says Chapters 4 through 11 of the Driver's Manual cover what you must know for the Class D, DJ, or E learner permit test. That includes traffic control, intersections and turns, passing, parking, defensive driving, alcohol and drugs, special driving conditions, and sharing the road.
- Q. Can I take the test online?
- The New York State DMV offers an online learner permit test for some applicants, with its own passing rules. Check the DMV website to see whether you are eligible and what score you need.
- Q. Are these the real New York test questions?
- No. Every question here is an original practice question written from the rules in the New York State Driver's Manual and New York law. Use this site to learn the rules and read the official manual as well.
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