Permit tests by state/New York
New York State DMV · knowledge test · free practice
New York DMV Permit Practice Test
- SignsScored as a separate section
- Free here20 questions, no signup
Free NY permit practice test for New York City and the rest of the state, with practice questions written from the NYS Driver's Manual (MV-21). This is practice, not the DMV's own online permit test.
How many questions are on the New York permit test, and what score passes?
The New York DMV Permit test has 20 questions. You need 14 correct (70%) to pass, so you can miss 6 questions.
Gauges
What the New York permit test covers
Each gauge is one topic's share of the 300 questions in this bank, written from the New York State Driver's Manual. Tap one to read its free questions.
The largest topics in the bank
How strict is New York?
New York asks for 70%. The average of the 36 states that publish a pass mark is 79%; no state asks for less.
- Lowest
- 70% New Mexico
- Average
- 79% 36 states
- Highest
- 88% Maryland
From each state agency’s own page; every state’s format.
Warning lights
New York permit test rules that fail people
What New York State DMV says ends an attempt.
4 of the 20 questions are about road signs, and at least 2 of those 4 must be correct — even with 14 right overall.
The online permit test (where offered) is scored differently: 80% overall and 50% of the road-sign questions.
Route planner
How to pass the New York permit test
A study plan built from the New York State Driver's Manual and the test's own rules, in the order to do it.
Treat road signs as their own test: miss 3 of the 4 sign questions and you fail even with 14 right
Learn the numbers the manual tests: 100 ft to signal, 15 ft from hydrants, 20 ft behind a school bus, 500 ft to dim high beams
Know the NY-only rules: no right on red in New York City, and stop for a school bus even across a divided highway
Practice 20-question sets until you score 18+ twice in a row — the real test allows only 6 misses
New York numbers the test asks about
- Speed limits55 mphMaximum where no limit is postedChapter 8 — Speed
- Distances100 feetSignal before a turn or lane change (and before an expressway exit)Chapter 5 — Turns
- Parking15 feetNo parking, stopping or standing near a fire hydrant (unless a licensed driver stays in the car)Chapter 7 — Parking Regulations
- Alcohol.05 / .08 / .18BAC evidence of impairment (DWAI) / intoxication (DWI) / aggravated DWIChapter 9 — Alcohol, Other Drugs and the Law
- Speed limits25 mphNew York City, unless another limit is postedChapter 8 — Speed
- Distances2 secondsFollowing distance — 3 to 4 in bad weather or behind large trucksChapter 8 — Allow Yourself Space
From the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) · Every number on one printable page
Practice
Free New York permit practice questions
Six of the 20 free questions, one topic at a time. Answer them in the quiz, or read every answer and its source on the questions page.
- Alcohol and drugsFor drivers 21 and older in New York, the per se DWI blood alcohol limit is:
- Defensive drivingThe NY manual's recommended minimum following distance in good conditions is:
- Intersections and turnsAt an all-way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, who goes first?
- ParkingWhen parking downhill next to a curb, you should turn your front wheels:
- Passing a school busA school bus with flashing red lights is stopped ahead on an undivided road. You must:
- Road signsAn octagonal red sign always means what?
Trip
New York permit test: booking, test day and after
From New York State DMV's own pages. Read it before you book.
Apply, Book and Take the Test
Complete the Application for Driver License (MV-44) and bring it to a motor vehicle office with your proof of name and date of birth, your Social Security number and the fee. You pass a vision test and the knowledge test there, and the DMV also runs an online permit test in some cases. Most drivers must also complete the approved 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course before the road test, so book it early.
What Happens After You Pass
When you pass the vision and written tests and pay your fees, your learner permit is issued and you can start to learn to drive. You must always be supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21, in the front seat, and holds a license valid for the type of vehicle you are driving. Drivers under 18 have additional restrictions on where and when they can drive and who can ride with them.
Before the road test the manual recommends at least 50 hours of practice, with at least 15 hours after sunset. Junior permit holders must hold the permit in valid status for a minimum of six months before the road test, and bring the 5-hour course completion certificate (MV-278) to it.
Sources: NY DMV — Prepare for and take your permit test · NY DMV Driver's Manual (MV-21)
Test drive
New York permit mock test, timed
20 questions on a 20-minute practice clock, one at a time, scored at the end like the real test.
- No feedback until you hand in, like the DMV’s screen
- Flag questions and come back to them
- A score for every topic, measured against the 70% pass mark
The free mock is 20 questions from the free set.
Take the free 20-question mockGlovebox
Free New York permit study tools
Service record
How every question is checked
- Source
- Written from the New York State Driver's Manual, never copied from a real test
- Answer
- Every explanation says why the right answer is right and cites where it comes from
- Machine
- No duplicates, no missing explanations, no answer given away by its length
- Date
- Checked October 15, 2026
Spot an error? [email protected] · Editorial policy · Not affiliated with or endorsed by New York State DMV.
Start the free New York permit practice test
20 free questions written from the New York State Driver's Manual, each with the answer and where it comes from.
New York permit test FAQ
Answered from New York State DMV’s own pages and the New York State Driver's Manual.
20 multiple-choice questions. You need 14 correct (70%), and at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions must be right — a strong overall score still fails if you miss 3 sign questions.
The Driver's Manual says the written test examines the rules of the road, safe driving techniques, road signs, and the laws on alcohol and drug use while driving — covered in its chapters on traffic control, intersections and turns, passing, parking, defensive driving, alcohol and drugs, special driving conditions, and sharing the road.
No. The NYS DMV's online learner permit test requires 80% overall and 50% of the road-sign questions. Practice to the higher bar and you are covered either way.
No. They are original questions written from the NYS Driver's Manual (MV-21) and checked against its text, with the manual section cited on every answer. QuizCram is not affiliated with the NYS DMV.
Here, with no signup: 20 free New York DMV Permit practice questions, each with the correct answer, why the other options are wrong and the source it comes from. You can answer them one by one, read them all with answers on the questions page, or sit a timed mock test of 20 questions that scores you in each exam area.
Permit tests by state
Find your state’s permit test
42 states: the knowledge test format, the pass mark, how long you wait to retake it, and practice questions from the state’s own handbook.
- AK
- Maine permit test, 80% to pass
- Vermont permit test, 80% to pass
- New Hampshire permit test, 80% to pass
- Washington permit test, 80% to pass
- Idaho permit test, 85% to pass
- MT
- ND
- Minnesota permit test, 80% to pass
- Illinois permit test
- Wisconsin permit test, 80% to pass
- Michigan permit test
- New York permit test, 70% to pass
- RI
- Massachusetts permit test, 72% to pass
- Oregon permit test, 80% to pass
- Nevada permit test, 80% to pass
- WY
- South Dakota permit test, 80% to pass
- Iowa permit test, 80% to pass
- Indiana permit test, 80% to pass
- Ohio permit test, 75% to pass
- Pennsylvania permit test, 83% to pass
- New Jersey permit test, 80% to pass
- Connecticut permit test, 80% to pass
- California permit test, 83% to pass
- Utah permit test, 80% to pass
- Colorado permit test
- NE
- Missouri permit test, 80% to pass
- Kentucky permit test, 80% to pass
- West Virginia permit test, 76% to pass
- Virginia permit test, 80% to pass
- Maryland permit test, 88% to pass
- Delaware permit test, 81% to pass
- Arizona permit test, 80% to pass
- New Mexico permit test, 70% to pass
- Kansas permit test
- AR
- Tennessee permit test, 80% to pass
- North Carolina permit test, 80% to pass
- South Carolina permit test, 80% to pass
- DC
- Oklahoma permit test, 75% to pass
- Louisiana permit test, 80% to pass
- MS
- Alabama permit test
- Georgia permit test, 75% to pass
- Hawaii permit test
- Texas permit test, 70% to pass
- Florida permit test, 80% to pass
Road signs
Signs the permit test asks about
31 signs, each with its meaning and real questions. Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Virginia test road signs as a separate section, so learn them on their own.