Passing score: 14 out of 20 (70%) — and you must answer at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions correctly
Format: Multiple choice, taken at a New York DMV office
Minimum age: 16 for a learner permit
New York's 20-question test is the shortest of any major state. The scoring is strict on one point: the four road-sign questions are scored separately, and you must pass that mini-section regardless of your total score.
Who Needs a Permit in New York
Drivers age 16 and older can apply for a Class DJ or Class MJ (motorcycle) junior permit. The path to a full license involves:
Learner permit (minimum age 16)
5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course — a mandatory classroom course at an approved driving school
Road test
Junior license (restrictions on hours and passengers) until age 18 in most counties, age 17 with driver education
Drivers 18 and older follow the same path but without the junior license restrictions.
The 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course
This is a New York requirement that catches out-of-state drivers off guard. You cannot take the road test in NY without a certificate of completion from a state-approved 5-hour course — even if you already have a learner permit.
The course covers:
Alcohol, drugs, and driving
Defensive driving techniques
Highway driving
The role of the driver, passengers, and pedestrians in traffic safety
Cost is typically $35 to $55 at private driving schools.
What Is on the Written Test
The NY DMV test covers the New York State Driver's Manual. Topics covered:
Traffic signs (4 questions — must get at least 2 correct)
Rules of the road and right of way
Speed limits and passing
DUI, DWI, and implied consent
Driver licensing rules including junior license restrictions
New York City has several rules that do not apply in the rest of the state but appear on the NY DMV test:
Right turns on red are prohibited throughout NYC unless a sign expressly permits it
No honking except to warn of danger
Standing and parking rules are much stricter than elsewhere
If you are testing in any NYC borough, review these rules in the handbook.
Languages
New York offers the DMV written test in more than 20 languages, including Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Haitian Creole, Russian, Korean, Polish, and Arabic. Audio versions are available at most offices.