New York driver license guide

Minimum age for a learner permit

16Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Parental consent

Required at 16 or 17, unless you are 17 and hold a Driver Education Certificate of Completion (MV-285).Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Fee for first permit / Class D license

Varies by age and county. Class D/DJ total: $80.00 at 16 to 16½ ($90.00 in the MCTD counties); $64.25-$67.50 at 21 and older ($73.25-$77.50 in the MCTD). MCTD = NYC boroughs plus Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

MCTD surcharge

Residents of the 12 MCTD counties pay an extra $1.00 per 6 months of permit/license validity.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Written test questions

20 multiple-topic questions, 4 of them on road signs.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Passing score

At least 14 of 20 correct, including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Which manual chapters are tested

Chapters 4 through 11 of the Driver's Manual (plus road signs); Part 1 is not on the permit test.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Written test languages

20 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, Yiddish.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Reservation at DMV offices

Strongly encouraged; when an office is busy only people with a reservation are let in. Not every office offers appointments.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Online permit test

Applicants under 18 can take the permit test online through the DMV pre-screening tool; wait 3 business days after passing before the office visit or you must retake the test in the office.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

After passing the online permit test

DMV needs three business days to review results and documents before you finish at an office.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Documents for a first permit

Application MV-44, proofs of identity, age and residence (per form ID-44), and the fee. Proofs of name must total at least 6 points; Standard needs 1 proof of residency, REAL ID/Enhanced need 2 plus Social Security and citizenship/lawful-status proof.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Originals required

Bring original or agency-certified documents; expired documents are generally not accepted.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Vision test

Permit and license applicants must pass a vision test (20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses).Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Pre-licensing course

All new drivers must complete the Pre-Licensing (5-Hour) Course before the road test, unless they complete a 48-hour high school/college Driver Education Program.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Course certificate validity

Pre-licensing certificate (MV-278) is valid 1 year; a Driver Education Student Certificate of Completion is valid 2 years.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Supervised practice (junior permit)

Class DJ/MJ permit holders need at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 15 after sunset, certified on form MV-262.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Wait before road test (under 18)

At least 6 months after receiving the learner permit.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Retake after failing the road test

Wait at least 14 days; extra fees apply after two failed road tests.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Deadline to exchange an out-of-state license

Within 30 days of becoming a New York resident (living in NY for 90 days is presumptive evidence of residency).Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Tests for license transfers

Written and road tests may be waived if the out-of-state license has been in effect 6 months and is not expired more than 2 years; a vision test is still required.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

When you can renew

From 1 year before to 2 years after expiration; after 2 years expired you must apply as a new driver (vision, written, course, road test).Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Online renewal

Yes - available if you keep the same document type (Standard, REAL ID or Enhanced); requires a vision test from an approved provider or form MV-619.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Renewal fee (Class D/DJ)

$64.50, or $80.50 in the MCTD counties; Enhanced adds $30, REAL ID adds nothing.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Replacement license/permit fee

$17.50 (free if lost/stolen in a crime and you have police form MV-78B).Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Standard vs REAL ID vs Enhanced

Standard: valid for driving/photo ID but not for federal purposes. REAL ID: accepted for domestic flights and federal buildings, no extra fee. Enhanced: same plus land/sea border crossings from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries, U.S. citizens only, $30 extra. First issue or upgrade requires an office visit.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

REAL ID / Enhanced extra cost

REAL ID: no additional fee. Enhanced: $30.00 added to the normal transaction fee.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

Residency proofs for REAL ID / Enhanced

Two proofs of New York residency, issued within the last year, no P.O. boxes.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

How to tell if your card is REAL ID compliant

A star (REAL ID) or flag (Enhanced) on the card; without either it is not REAL ID compliant.Source: dmv.ny.gov · checked Nov 14, 2026

These links open official government websites. USA DMV is an independent study site and is not affiliated with any of them.