New York State Permit Practice Test – 2026
#1. When passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, you must:
You must safely return to the right lane before any approaching vehicle comes within 200 feet.
#2. If your car stalls on railroad tracks and NO train is coming:
If a train approaches, release your seat belt, leave the vehicle, and get as far away as you can from the tracks. Run toward the general direction the train is coming from. If you run down the track in the same direction as the train, you can be hit with debris when the train hits your vehicle. If you are completely sure no trains are coming, open your window to listen for a train and try to start the engine. If that fails, shift your vehicle into neutral and push it from the tracks.
#3. True or false? You may park on a crosswalk if you are more than 20 feet from an intersection.
Parking on a crosswalk is not allowed.
#4. When may you drive at the maximum speed indicated by a speed limit sign?
The speed you can drive your vehicle depends on the posted speed limit, the road conditions, and the weather. The posted speed limit is the fastest speed you can legally drive under ideal driving conditions.
By law, you must drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. This is known as the basic speed rule.
Remember, a police officer can ticket you for driving at a speed not reasonable and prudent for existing conditions.
#5. A fire police is directing you to do a turn against a no-turn sign. What should you do?
Directions given by traffic officers take precedence over signs, signals, or pavement markings.
If a traffic officer signals you to stop at a green light, for example, you must stop. If an officer signals you to drive through a red light or stop sign, you must do so. Among those authorized to direct traffic are police officers, peace officers such as on-duty auxiliary or fire police, highway work area flag persons, and school crossing guards.
#6. When a traffic signal is showing a flashing yellow light, you must:
A flashing yellow signal light warns you to drive with caution. You do not need to stop for a flashing yellow light, but you must slow down and be especially alert before entering the intersection.
#7. What should you expect when you see this sign?
Two-way Traffic. This sign tells you that you are leaving a divided roadway and will be driving on a two-way highway. The sign may also be used along such a road to alert you to oncoming traffic on the same roadway.
#8. Which lane is closed for traffic going straight ahead?
Special above the pavement lights are sometimes used to indicate which lanes of a highway can be used at certain times:
- Steady red X: Do not drive in this lane.
- Steady yellow X: Move from this lane.
- Flashing yellow X: This lane can only be used for a left turn.
- Green arrow: You can use this lane.
#9. This red and white sign marks:
The Do Not Enter sign tells you that the road or street ahead is for one-way traffic traveling in the opposite direction. You may not enter this section of roadway from the direction you are traveling.
#10. When passing a tractor-trailer, you should avoid the following:
Always pass a large truck on the left side, and after you pass the truck, move ahead of it. Do not linger in the blind spots.
Do not cut abruptly in front of a large vehicle, make sure you can see the whole front of the vehicle before you return to your lane after you pass.
#11. If you eat before and while you drink alcohol:
Eating before or while you drink helps slow down alcohol absorption. It will not prevent you from getting intoxicated or being impaired.
#12. New York law requires that you turn on headlights:
The law requires you to use your headlights from one-half hour after the sun sets to one-half hour before the sun rises, when visibility is less than 1,000 feet (300 m) and when you use your windshield wipers to clear rain, snow, or sleet.
#13. This sign alerts you to:
Circular (round) signs mean there is a railroad crossing ahead. Use caution, and be prepared to stop.
#14. The risk of deer-vehicle collisions increases:
The risk of deer-vehicle collisions increases when deer movements increase during breeding season in October, November, and December. Two-thirds of all deer-vehicle collisions occur during the months of October, November, and December.
#15. The two-second rule is a way for you to determine:
Four of every 10 crashes involve rear-end collisions, normally because a person is following too closely (tailgating). Leave enough room between your vehicle and the one ahead so you can stop safely if the other vehicle stops suddenly. Brake early and gently when you prepare to stop or turn. It gives drivers behind you plenty of warning that you plan to decrease your speed.
For a good space cushion, use the two-second rule: Select an object near or above the road ahead like a sign, tree, or overpass. As the vehicle ahead passes it, count slowly, one thousand one, one thousand two. If you reach the same object before you finish the count, you are following too closely.
In bad weather and when following large trucks, increase the count to at least three or four seconds for additional space.
Remember, the two-second rule does not mean that you are able to stop within two seconds.
#16. When driving a car with airbags, you should grip the steering wheel by:
Keep your hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel, at the 3 and 9 clock positions, to keep them away if the airbag engages.
#17. What parts of a road might hold frost and ice while the rest is dry?
When sleet, freezing rain or snow begin to fall, remember that bridges, ramps, and overpasses will freeze first. They will also dry out last.
Also know that slippery spots may remain after road workers have removed the snow.
#18. Orange road signs give:
Diamond shaped orange warning signs are posted in advance of work zone areas. They notify drivers of unusual or potentially dangerous conditions near work areas.
#19. Under the influence of alcohol, you are more likely to:
As alcohol physically limits your ability to drive, it also makes you less aware of what is happening to your safe driving abilities. It becomes difficult for you to judge your condition. You can gain confidence about driving when you should not be driving at all. You are more likely to make a wrong decision and take a chance. Your slower reaction time, and a bad decision, could cause a crash.
#20. This sign means:
Slippery when wet. In wet weather, drive slowly. Do not speed up or brake hard. Make sharp turns at a very slow speed.
New York DMV Knowledge Test
Quick facts about your DMV driver’s license and learner’s permit test in the State of New York:
| Number of Questions: | 20 |
| Correct answers needed: | 14 |
| Passing score: | 70 percent |
| Time limit: | None |
| Earliest retest upon failure: | Same day |
500 Practice Questions for Your New York Driver’s License
With 20 random practice questions from a large pool of exam questions, you can prepare for your NYS DMV test and pass the first time.
Use the New York Driver’s Manual and its study questions together with this practice test, and you will likely pass the exam the first time.
After each question on this practice test, you will know whether your answer was correct. There are also short explanations if you get something wrong.
As you probably already know, all exam questions are based on the New York Driver’s Manual information. You can get a copy from your DMV office or download a PDF-version online. Read the manual before you start practicing. It would be best if you had a good understanding of the content before you take the test and before you start driving.
This practice test does not include all questions that may appear on your test but covers all essential items. If you get a full score on more than a handful of tests, you will probably pass the actual exam easily, and it is better than any other New York permit test cheat sheet.
New York Driver’s License and Permit Test
The real NY knowledge exam consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. To pass the exam, you must correctly answer 14 questions and reach a passing score of 70%. In addition, you must get two of the four road signs questions right. If you miss three road signs, you will fail the exam, regardless of your score on the other questions.
There is no time limit when you take the test, but it rarely takes more than 5-10 minutes to complete.
You have a lot of time to carefully read every question and the choices. There are no trick questions, and only one answer is correct.
Should you fail the test the first time, you can retake it the same day if the examiner allows you to. You can take it as many times as you need to pass. But if you fail, there are many things you have missed. To improve your chances of becoming a good driver, you should wait a few days and study the manual again before you make another attempt.
There is no new fee when you retake the test.
Teenagers will usually take the test as part of a driving course at high school. This online test is only available in Spanish and English.
You must visit a DMV office to take the test in any other language. The regular knowledge test is available in the following languages:
Arabic
Bengali
Bosnian
Chinese
Greek
Hebrew
Italian
Japanese
Nepali
Polish
Russian
Spanish
Is the NY Knowledge Test Hard?
The knowledge test in the State of New York is known to be one of the easiest in the United States. It has 20 questions, the passing score is 70%, and the failure rate is about 10%.
The New York Driver’s Manual gives many study questions to help you understand what will appear on the exam.
First-time Applicants under 18 Years
Young and newly licensed drivers are much more likely to be involved in crashes than experienced drivers, so New York and other states have adopted Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.
The GDL system allows drivers in this at-risk age group to gain experience and gradually display their safe driving ability.
There are three phases of licensing in the GDL system:
| Phases | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Junior Permit | 16 years |
| Step 2: Junior License | 16 years, six months |
| Step 3: Full Driver’s License | 17 years |
All first-time applicants under 18 must follow the GDL program and complete a pre-licensing or driver education course (also called the “5-hour course”) before being eligible for a Junior License.
New York Junior Permit
The Junior Permit, also known as a learner’s permit, is the first step in the GDL program. To get your learner’s permit, you must:
be at least 16 years or older,
apply in person at a DMV office,
show proof of full name, age, residence, and Social Security Number,
have parental approval if under 18 years, and
pass a vision screening and knowledge test.
Parental consent is required unless you are 17 and have a Driver Education Certificate of Completion.
With a Junior Permit, you can start your driving practice, and you may drive only under the supervision of a licensed driver.
During daylight hours (5 am – 9 pm), you can drive under the supervision of any driver who is 21 years or older and holds a New Your Driver’s License. The supervising driver must always sit in the front seat beside you.
At night (9 pm – 5 am), you can only drive under the supervision of an NYS license holder who is a parent, guardian, driver education teacher/driving school instructor, or a person who is 21 years or older and approved by your parent or guardian.
If the supervising driver is not a parent or guardian, you can only drive with one passenger under 21 years unless passengers are immediate family.
Before Moving on to Phase Two
Before you can move on to the next phase, a Junior License, you must:
hold your permit for at least six months,
complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course,
complete 50 hours of driving practice, of which 15 hours must be at night, and
pass a road skills test.
New York Junior License – Restrictions
The Junior License, a probationary license, is the second step in the GDL program. This is when you can start driving independently without a supervising driver.
Night Curfew
You may always drive without supervision from 5 am to 9 pm. In addition, you may drive at night (9 pm to 5 am) if you drive to and from work or school activities. Remember that you must have proper documentation showing that you must drive to and from these activities. You cannot drive unsupervised at night while you work, to and from social events, sports training, etc.
Passenger Restrictions
You can drive with only one passenger under 21 years unless passengers are immediate family or unless you drive with a “supervising driver.”
All Passengers Must be Restrained
A safety belt or child safety seat must properly restrain all occupants.
Area Restrictions
If you have a Class DJ or MJ junior license, you cannot drive within the five boroughs of New York City under any circumstances.
For more about driving restrictions in New York, visit dmv.ny.gov
No Cell Phone Use
You cannot use a hand-held mobile telephone or portable electronic device while you drive. Illegal activity includes holding a portable electronic device and
talking on a handheld mobile telephone,
text messaging,
browsing webpages,
viewing, taking, or transmitting images, and
playing games.
Remember, using any electronic device while driving is against the law for all drivers.
New York Driver’s License
You can apply for a full license when you are 17 or older, have your Student Certificate of Completion from an approved driver education course, and pass the road skills test.
If you don’t apply for your license at 17 years, you are still considered a junior license holder and must continue to follow GDL restrictions.
At age 18, your junior license is automatically converted to a full driver’s license.
