New York DMV Practice Test

New York study guide

Key facts from the official NY DMV handbook, organized the way the test asks about them. Each one links to its source section.

Road signs, signals & markings

• Warning signs normally are yellow and diamond-shaped, with black letters or symbols. They tell you that you are approaching a hazardous location or a location with a special rule.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs
• Destination signs are green with white letters and show the direction and distance to locations.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Destination Signs
• Service signs are blue with white letters or symbols and show the location of services such as rest areas, gas stations, camping and medical facilities.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Service Signs
• Work area signs are orange with black letters or symbols. A work-area speed limit as low as 25 mph can be posted, and you must always obey flag persons.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Work Area Signs
• Regulation signs normally are white rectangles with black letters or symbols, though some are different shapes and some use red letters or symbols.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs
• A red circle with a slash over a symbol indicates that an action, like a right turn, is not allowed or that some vehicles are restricted from the road.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Other Regulation Signs
• At a YIELD sign, decrease speed and prepare to stop and yield to vehicles and pedestrians. You must come to a full stop if traffic conditions require it.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Yield Sign
• You must stop before the stop line if there is one. If not, stop before you enter the crosswalk. With neither, stop before entering the intersection at the point that gives you a view of traffic.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Stop Sign
• You are not allowed to turn on a red light in New York City unless a sign that permits it is posted.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Steady Red
• You can turn left at a steady red light when turning from a one-way road into another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians — unless a sign, signal, or marking prohibits it.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Steady Red
• A flashing red light means the same as a STOP sign: stop, yield the right-of-way, and go when it is safe.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Flashing Red
• State law requires that if traffic lights are out of service or not working correctly, you must stop as you would for a stop sign and then continue according to right-of-way rules.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Traffic Lights
• Lane-use control lights: steady red X — do not drive in this lane; steady yellow X — move from this lane; flashing yellow X — left turns only; green arrow — you may use this lane.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Lane Use Control Lights
• With double solid lines you cannot pass or change lanes. You may cross only to turn left to enter or leave the highway (e.g., a driveway or a U-turn).Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Pavement Markings
• An edge line that angles toward the center of the road shows that the road is narrower ahead.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Pavement Markings: Edge and Lane Lines
• The diamond symbol indicates reserved lanes for buses, high-occupancy vehicles, bicycles or other special vehicles.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Pavement Markings: Diamond Symbol

Traffic laws & licensing

• Directions given by traffic officers take precedence over signs, signals, or pavement markings. If an officer signals you to drive through a red light, you must do it.Right-of-Way · Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Officers
• To pass the written test for a Class D, M, DJ, MJ or E license, you must correctly answer at least 14 of the 20 questions.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Vision and Knowledge Tests
• You must correctly answer at least 14 of the 20 questions, and you must correctly answer two of the four questions about road signs.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Vision and Knowledge Tests
• To pass the vision test, you must have 20/40 vision in at least one eye with or without corrective lenses.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Vision and Knowledge Tests
• When you practice, you must be supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21, holds a license valid for the vehicle, and is seated in the front seat with you.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — The Learner Permit and Road Test
• It is important to have at least 50 hours of practice, with at least 15 hours after sunset. Junior drivers must present form MV-262 certifying this.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Preparing for the Road Test
• Your permit must be held in valid status for a minimum of six months in order to take the road test.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — For Junior Drivers with Permits
• Under the regional restrictions for a junior permit in New York City, you must NOT drive between 9 PM and 5 AM.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Regional Restrictions for a Junior Permit
• If you hold a junior permit, the only passenger allowed in the front seat is your supervising driver.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Driving with a Junior Learner Permit
• If you change your address you must notify DMV within 10 days.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Change of Address
• Drivers who have moved here must turn in their out-of-state license and get a New York license within 30 days of becoming a permanent resident.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Driver Licenses
• The Junior Operator, Class DJ license has a minimum age of 16, with restrictions on where, when, and with whom you can drive.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Types of Licenses
• You must obey the speed limit. If no limit is posted, drive no more than 55 mph.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Speed
• The speed limit is 25 mph in New York City unless another limit is posted.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Speed
• Roundabouts follow the yield-at-entry rule: look to the left — traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way. Enter when there is an adequate gap.Right-of-Way · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Roundabouts
• Roundabouts are designed so that the speed of all vehicles is restricted to 30 mph (50 km/h) or less within the roundabout.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Roundabouts
• When you speed in work zones, ticket fines double, even when the workers or work vehicles are not there.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — How to Drive Safely in Work Zones

Safe driving

• Use the two-second rule for a good space cushion. In bad weather and when following large trucks, increase the count to at least three or four seconds.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Allow Yourself Space
• If an aggressive driver is following you, do not stop or leave your vehicle. Drive to the nearest police station.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Aggressive Drivers
• Speaking into or listening to a hand-held mobile phone while driving is a traffic infraction. A first offense can mean a fine of up to $200 and five license points.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Using a Cellular or Mobile Telephone
• Drivers with probationary and junior licenses who use a hand-held phone or text while driving receive a 120-day suspension for a first conviction.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Penalties for Texting, Electronic Device Use
• The law requires that your tires have at least 2/32nds of an inch of tread. It is also illegal to drive on tires with cuts down to the cords, bumps, or bulges.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Vehicle Condition
• You should sit with at least 10 inches between the center of your chest and the cover of the air bag.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Seat Belts, Child Safety Seats, and Air Bags
• A child under four must be in a federally approved child safety seat, and must ride rear-facing until two years old or until reaching the seat's highest weight or height limit.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Seat Belts, Child Safety Seats, and Air Bags
• A child between four and seven must be restrained in an appropriate federally approved child restraint system, commonly a booster seat used with a lap and shoulder belt.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Seat Belts, Child Safety Seats, and Air Bags
• The driver must be properly restrained by a seat belt and can face a fine of up to $50 for failing to buckle up.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Seat Belts, Child Safety Seats, and Air Bags
• Before a trip, schedule regular stops for every 100 miles or two hours, get enough sleep, and plan long trips with a companion.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Drowsy and Fatigued Driving
• A flagger has the same authority as a sign, which means you can receive a ticket for disobeying their directions.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — How to Drive Safely in Work Zones

Common mistakes

• Turning right on red in New York City. It's not allowed unless a sign permits it.Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Steady Red
• Getting 14 right but missing 3 of the 4 sign questions — that's still a fail. Learn sign colors and shapes.Chapter 1: Driver Licenses — Vision and Knowledge Tests
• Assuming work-zone fines only double when workers are present. They double even when workers aren't there.Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Work Zones
• Forgetting that a traffic officer's direction overrides signals, signs and markings.Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Officers

Test types

New York permit test FAQ