Driving Tests

How to Get a Learner Permit in New York (2026 Steps)

informational·how to guide·Published June 30, 2026

How do you get a learner permit in New York?

You must live in New York State and be at least 16 years old. Study the Driver's Manual, bring proof of age, identification and residence plus form MV-44 to a DMV office, pass the vision test (20/40 in at least one eye) and the written test (at least 14 of 20 correct), and pay the fee. Applicants under 18 can take the permit test online.

Where these steps come from

The steps come from the New York State DMV pages Get Your Learner Permit and Driver License and Prepare For and Take Your Permit Test, and from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21). The document rules come from the DMV guide ID-44, the fees from the DMV fee page, the driving limits from the DMV learner permit restrictions page, and the course and road test rules from the DMV pages on pre-licensing requirements and road tests. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New York State DMV (dmv.ny.gov) before you drive.

Steps to get a New York learner permit

1
Check your age and residence
You must live in New York State and be 16 or older. These steps are for a Class D (car) permit.
2
Study the Driver's Manual
Read the manual and take the DMV practice quizzes. Chapters 4 through 11 hold the material for the Class D permit test. Part 1 is not on the written test.
3
Collect your documents
You must show proof of age, identification and residence. The DMV pre-screening tool tells you which forms and documents to bring, and it lets you complete a downloadable permit application.
4
Complete the permit application (MV-44)
Fill in the Application for a Permit (MV-44) and bring it to your DMV office with your proofs and the permit test fee.
5
Pass the vision test and the written test
Every permit applicant must pass both. The written test is given in 20 languages, on a touch screen or on paper. If you are under 18, you can take the permit test online instead.
6
Pay the fee
You can pay with a credit card, cash, or a check or money order payable to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles". When you pass both tests and pay, the DMV issues your learner permit.

How old do you have to be for a New York learner permit?

You can apply at 16. At 16 or 17, you need a parent's consent, unless you are 17 and have a Driver Education Certificate of Completion (MV-285). If you are under 18, you get a junior learner permit (Class DJ). It has extra limits on where and when you drive and who can ride with you, and these limits differ for New York City, Long Island and upstate New York.

What documents do you need for a New York permit?

You need proof of age, identification and residence. Your proof of name points must total at least 6. A Standard permit needs 1 proof of residence, and an Enhanced or REAL ID permit needs 2. If you are under 21, a parent or guardian can complete form MV-45 to give 4 points of proof of identity. That person must go with you and sign the form in front of a DMV representative. Our guide to the 6 points of ID at the New York DMV shows how the points add up.

Where do you take the permit test?

You are 18 or older

You take the written test at a DMV office. The online permit test is only for applicants under 18.

You are under 18 and want to test online

Take the online permit test, then make an appointment at a DMV office. The DMV needs 3 business days to review your exam results and identity documents.

You are under 18 and go to the office before 3 business days pass

You must retake and pass the permit test in the office before you finish your transaction.

What you need to pass the permit tests

What you need to pass the permit tests
Test	What you need to pass
Vision test	20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses
Written test	At least 14 of 20 questions correct, including 2 of the 4 road sign questions

What does a New York learner permit cost?

The fee depends on your age when you apply and where you live. For a Class D or DJ, the DMV fee table shows $80.00 at age 16 to 16½. Across all ages, the total is $64.25 to $92.50, or $73.25 to $102.50 if you live in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD): the five boroughs of New York City and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. An Enhanced permit costs $30.00 more. Our guide to New York permit and license fees has the fee for each age.

Rules for driving with a New York learner permit

At any age, a supervising driver who is 21 or older, with a valid license for your vehicle, must sit in the front seat with you. The practice question on who may supervise a 16-year-old tests this rule.
You may not drive on any street within a park in New York City, on a Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority bridge or tunnel, on the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River or Taconic State parkways in Westchester County, or in a DMV road test area.
With a junior permit in New York City, you may drive from 5 AM to 9 PM only with a parent, guardian, driver education teacher or driving school instructor, in a car with dual brakes. You cannot drive there from 9 PM to 5 AM.
With a junior permit, you also cannot drive in Nassau and Suffolk counties from 9 PM to 5 AM.

Supervised practice for junior permit holders

If you hold a junior permit (Class DJ or MJ), you need at least 50 hours of supervised practice before the road test, with at least 15 hours after sunset. A parent or guardian completes the Certification of Supervised Driving (MV-262). If you are under 18, you give it to the examiner at the road test. The practice question on supervised practice hours tests this rule.

From learner permit to road test

1
Take the 5-hour pre-licensing course
All new drivers must complete it before the road test, unless they complete a 48-hour Driver Education Program through their high school or college.
2
Wait 6 months if you are under 18
If you are under 18, you must wait at least 6 months from the date you received your permit to schedule your road test.
3
Schedule your road test
You need your permit and the original, unexpired course certificate (MV-278) or a Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285). The earliest date is usually within 3 to 5 weeks, and up to 10 weeks at peak times in summer and school breaks.
4
Take the road test
With a junior permit, a pass gets you a junior license (Class DJ or MJ). If you fail, your permit stays valid until its expiration date, and you must wait at least 14 days to test again. A new driver's permit can be valid for more than one year.

Key takeaways

You can apply for a New York learner permit at 16 if you live in New York State. At 16 or 17, you need a parent's consent.
Bring proof of age, identification and residence, plus form MV-44, to a DMV office.
Pass the vision test (20/40 in at least one eye) and the written test, then pay the fee.
With any learner permit, a supervising driver who is 21 or older must be with you.
Next step: practice on the free New York Class D permit practice test (in English only).

New York learner permit: common questions

Can I get a learner permit in New York if I am over 18?

Yes. Any New York State resident who is 16 or older can apply. You take the written test at a DMV office, because the online permit test is only for applicants under 18. You must still complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course before your road test.

Does my parent have to come to the DMV with me?

At 16 or 17, you need a parent's consent, unless you are 17 and have a Driver Education Certificate of Completion (MV-285). If your parent or guardian uses form MV-45 to give proof of your identity, that person must go with you to the DMV office. Do not sign the form before the visit: it is signed in front of a DMV representative.

Can I start driving before I take the 5-hour course?

Yes. When you pass the vision and written tests and pay the fee, the DMV issues your permit, and you can start to learn to drive with a supervising driver. The 5-hour pre-licensing course is required before the road test.

Can I drive outside New York State with my learner permit?

Yes, if the laws of the other state allow it. You must obey the junior permit rules that apply in that state. Before the trip, check with the police or the motor vehicle authority of the state that you will visit.

Is there a probation period after I get my license?

Yes. All new license holders, at any age, have a 6-month probation period. During this time, the license can be suspended or revoked for certain driving-related convictions. If you are under 18 and have a junior license (Class DJ or MJ), you must also obey the rules for junior drivers.