New York permit practice test/Free questions
New York State DMV knowledge test · 20 free questions
Free New York DMV Permit practice questions
Every free question with its answer, the reason and where it comes from in the New York State Driver's Manual. Tap an answer to check yourself, or print the page.
- Pass mark
- 70%
- Questions on the test
- 20
- Correct to pass
- 14
- Free here
- 20
Road signs questions4
- 01Road signs
An octagonal red sign always means what?
Answer: D, Stop. An octagon is reserved for one meaning: stop. Bring the vehicle to a complete halt at the limit line or before entering the intersection, then proceed only when safe. Other shapes carry different jobs — a triangle yields, a diamond warns — so shape alone is a reliable clue when paint is faded or snow-covered.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Road Signs You Must Know — Regulatory signs
- 02Road signs
A sign shaped like an inverted triangle (point down) tells you to:
Answer: D, Yield the right-of-way. The upside-down triangle is the yield sign. Slow down, give the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians in or approaching the intersection, and stop only if needed. It is the only standard sign with this shape, so even when the legend is unreadable the outline still communicates yield rather than stop.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Road Signs You Must Know — Regulatory signs
- 03Road signs
A red circle with a white horizontal bar (DO NOT ENTER style) means:
Answer: C, No vehicles may enter this way. DO NOT ENTER and the red no-entry symbol prohibit vehicles from entering one-way streets or exit ramps in that direction — the classic wrong-way trap. Entering against the sign risks a head-on collision. If you see both after turning, stop safely and leave the way you came rather than continuing forward.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Road Signs You Must Know — Regulatory signs
- 04Road signs
What does a yellow diamond with a black curving arrow warn about?
Answer: B, Curve ahead. A curving arrow on a yellow diamond warns the road bends ahead, showing the curve's direction. Slow before the bend, avoid passing, and keep control on wet or icy surfaces. Warning signs give advance notice so you adjust speed early rather than braking hard mid-curve when grip is lowest.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Road Signs You Must Know — Warning signs
New York DMV Permit alcohol and drug questions2
- 05Alcohol and drugs
For drivers 21 and older in New York, the per se DWI blood alcohol limit is:
Answer: A, 0.08%. At 0.08% BAC or higher, a driver 21 or older is per se guilty of driving while intoxicated — no other proof of impairment needed. Lower levels still support DWAI charges when ability is impaired. Because impairment begins with the first drink, the only safe choice is a sober ride planned before drinking starts.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 9: Alcohol and Other Drugs — Alcohol, Other Drugs and the Law
- 06Alcohol and drugs
Under New York's Zero Tolerance law, a driver under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% to 0.07% faces:
Answer: A, License suspension and civil penalties. Under New York's Zero Tolerance law, a driver under 21 with a measurable BAC of .02 to .07 has the license suspended for six months after a DMV hearing, and must pay a $100 suspension termination fee and a $125 civil penalty to be relicensed. A second violation means revocation for at least one year or until age 21. At .08 or more, regular DWI charges apply.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 9: Alcohol and Other Drugs — Alcohol, Other Drugs and the Law
Defensive driving questions2
- 07Defensive driving
The NY manual's recommended minimum following distance in good conditions is:
Answer: A, Two seconds. New York teaches the two-second rule: pick a fixed marker, start counting when the vehicle ahead passes it, and you should reach it no sooner than two seconds later. Double the gap in rain, snow, or behind trucks. Tailgating converts every routine stop ahead into your emergency — space is the cheapest insurance on the road.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Allow Yourself Space
- 08Defensive driving
You may use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in New York when:
Answer: C, To call 911 in a true emergency. In New York it is a traffic infraction to talk or listen on a hand-held mobile phone while driving; a first offense can bring a fine up to $200 and five license points. The phone may be held only to activate, begin or end a call, and calls in emergencies are exempt. A hands-free phone may be used at any time. Texting is banned separately, and junior drivers face a 120-day suspension.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — Using a Cellular Telephone
Intersections and turns questions2
- 09Intersections and turns
At an all-way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, who goes first?
Answer: B, The driver on the right. When arrival is simultaneous at an all-way stop, the driver on the right has the right-of-way. Size, impatience, and signaling do not change that rule. If you arrived clearly first, you proceed first. Take turns visibly and never assume the other driver will yield correctly — hesitation with a clear plan beats aggressive guessing.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 5: Intersections and Turns — Right-of-Way
- 10Intersections and turns
Before turning left at a green light, you should:
Answer: D, Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn when safe. A left turn is allowed only when you can complete it without conflicting with oncoming vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians. Signal early, position safely, wait for a clear gap, and never assume oncoming traffic will slow. A green light permits the turn but gives you no priority over those already lawfully in the intersection.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 5: Intersections and Turns — Turns
Parking questions2
- 11Parking
When parking downhill next to a curb, you should turn your front wheels:
Answer: D, Toward the curb. Park downhill with the front wheels turned toward the curb so a rolling vehicle is caught by the curb rather than rolling into traffic. Uphill with a curb, angle them away so a rollback wedges the tire. Always set the parking brake. The curb is your backup if the transmission or brake fails.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 7: Parallel Parking — How to Park on a Hill
- 12Parking
In New York you must not park within what distance of a fire hydrant?
Answer: C, 15 feet. New York prohibits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant so hose crews can connect without delay. The setback is measured from the hydrant in both directions along the curb. Blocking hydrant access earns tickets and towing, and in a fire the seconds lost to a blocked hydrant can cost lives and property.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 7: Parallel Parking — Parking Regulations
Passing a school bus questions2
- 13Passing a school bus
A school bus with flashing red lights is stopped ahead on an undivided road. You must:
Answer: D, Stop and stay stopped until the bus moves on or the driver or an officer signals you to go. When a stopped school bus flashes its red lights, traffic from either direction must stop before reaching it, ideally at least 20 feet away. The manual says you cannot drive again until the bus starts moving or the bus driver or a traffic officer signals that you can proceed. This applies on all New York roadways, even on the opposite side of a divided highway and in school parking lots.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 6: Passing — School Buses
- 14Passing a school bus
Before passing on a two-lane road, you must be sure:
Answer: D, The way is clear, the zone allows it, and you can return safely. Legal passing needs all three: a permitted zone (broken line on your side, no signs), full sight distance past hills and curves, and room to complete the pass and return before oncoming conflict. Signal, pass decisively without exceeding the limit, and return only when you see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your mirror.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 6: Passing — How to Pass on the Left
Sharing the road questions2
- 15Sharing the road
When passing a cyclist on a road with no bike lane, you should:
Answer: C, Wait until you can leave safe clearance, then pass wide. Cyclists hold the same lane rights as motor vehicles. Pass only with generous clearance — handlebar wobble, gusts, and potholes move riders sideways without warning — then return without cutting back sharply. Do not require cyclists to use sidewalks. Patience and space prevent the right-hook and sideswipe crashes that injure riders.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 11: Sharing the Road — Bicyclists
- 16Sharing the road
A blind pedestrian with a white cane is crossing at an intersection. You must:
Answer: C, Yield fully and wait until they clear your path. Drivers must yield to pedestrians using white canes or guide dogs and wait until they are safely clear, regardless of signal phase. Do not honk — sudden noise can disorient someone navigating by sound. Patience here is both a legal duty and a basic obligation toward travelers who cannot see your vehicle.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 11: Sharing the Road — Pedestrians
Special conditions questions2
- 17Special conditions
When you see a roadway worker with a flagger paddle showing SLOW/STOP, you must:
Answer: A, Obey the flagger's directions exactly. Flaggers replace signal heads with human control in work zones: watch the paddle, stop or proceed exactly as directed, and never argue the sequence. Fines for speeding in work zones are doubled, and can be higher when workers are present. Their authority keeps crews alive where lights are not installed — compliance is not optional.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 8: Defensive Driving — How to Drive Safely in Work Zones
- 18Special conditions
If your vehicle begins to hydroplane on wet pavement, you should:
Answer: B, Ease off the accelerator and steer straight without sudden inputs. Hydroplaning means your tires ride on water, not pavement: release the accelerator gently, keep the wheel straight, and avoid braking or sharp steering until grip returns. Sudden inputs spin the car once tires reconnect. Prevention works best — slow before standing water, keep good tread, and never use cruise control in heavy rain.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 10: Special Driving Conditions — Driving in Rain, Fog, or Snow
Traffic signals and markings questions2
- 19Traffic signals and markings
A steady yellow traffic light means:
Answer: B, The signal is about to turn red — stop if you can do so safely. Yellow warns the green phase is ending: stop if you can do so safely, and proceed only when stopping would be unsafe or you already entered. It is not an extension of green. Racing yellows trains you into red-light running, and the few seconds saved never justify the angle-crash risk at the cross street's fresh green.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals
- 20Traffic signals and markings
A yellow pennant-shaped NO PASSING ZONE sign on the left roadside means:
Answer: C, The zone ahead prohibits passing — do not start the maneuver. The sideways-triangle pennant marks the start of a no-passing zone, reinforcing the solid center line — do not begin passing here even if the road looks empty. The restriction covers hills, curves, and intersections where sight distance fails. Wait for the broken line and clear view to resume.
Source: NY Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs