Driving Tests

How Much Is a NY Learner Permit? DMV Fees by Age (2026)

informational·how to guide·Published June 22, 2026

How much does a learner permit cost in New York?

In New York, the fee for your learner permit and first Class D or DJ license depends on your age and county. The total is $64.25 to $102.50 (U.S. dollars). It is lowest at 21 and older ($64.25 to $67.50) and highest at 17 to 17 1/2 ($92.50, or $102.50 in the 12 MCTD counties). An Enhanced permit costs $30 more.

Where these New York fees come from

The fee table, the MCTD rule, the extra fees, the payment methods and the refund rule come from the New York DMV fees and refunds page. The Standard, REAL ID and Enhanced details come from the DMV Enhanced or REAL ID page, and the retest rules come from the DMV road test page. Other details come from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), the DMV application guide ID-44 and the DMV learner permit page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New York State DMV (dmv.ny.gov) before you drive.

What the New York permit and license fee includes

The fee for a New York learner permit and license in Class D or DJ is based on your age and date of birth. Class DJ is the junior operator license, and its minimum age is 16. The practice question on which license class a 17-year-old with driver education gets shows how the two classes differ. The total includes the application fee, the fee for the license type, the document fees and, if you live in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD), the MCTD fee. The DMV issues your permit after you pass the vision and written tests and pay your fees.

New York Class D and DJ permit and license fee by age (2026)

New York Class D and DJ permit and license fee by age (2026)
Your age when you apply	Total fee without MCTD	Total fee with MCTD
16 to 16 1/2	$80.00	$90.00
16 1/2 to 17	$76.75	$85.75
17 to 17 1/2	$92.50	$102.50
17 1/2 to 18	$89.25	$98.25
18 to 18 1/2	$80.00	$90.00
18 1/2 to 21	$76.75 to $80.00	$85.75 to $90.00
21 and older	$64.25 to $67.50	$73.25 to $77.50

What is the MCTD fee and which counties pay it?

Residents of 12 counties pay the MCTD fee: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), New York (Manhattan), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. The fee is $1.00 for every 6 months that your permit or license will be in effect, and the "with MCTD" column already includes it. If you live in any other county, use the "without MCTD" column. From age 18 1/2, the table shows a range, and the DMV sets the exact fee when it issues your document.

Extra New York DMV fees on top of the table

Enhanced permit or license: $30.00 more. The fee table does not include it, so add it to the total for your age and county.
REAL ID permit or license: no extra fee. You pay only the normal fees.
Replacement permit or license: $17.50.
Change of information (amendment) on a permit or license: $12.50.
Not in the table: commercial driver license (CDL) fees and non-driver ID card fees.

Standard, REAL ID or Enhanced: which permit to pay for

You need the permit only to drive and to show photo ID

A Standard permit works as photo ID and costs nothing extra.

You want to use your permit or license to board a domestic flight in the U.S.

Choose REAL ID (no extra fee) or Enhanced ($30 more). A Standard document cannot be used to board a domestic flight.

You want to cross into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico or some Caribbean countries by land or sea

Only an Enhanced document works for this. It costs $30 more, and only U.S. citizens who are New York State residents can get one.

You are not sure which type you can get

The type depends on the proofs you bring and the fee you pay. Check which documents and ID points to bring before your DMV visit.

How to pay the New York DMV fee

At a DMV office: cash, a personal check or a money order payable to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles".
Cards at a DMV office: most credit, debit and prepaid cards that do not need a PIN (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and VISA).
Split payment: you can pay part in cash and part by check.
Before you go: bring the permit test fee with your application and proofs, and use the fee table above to estimate the amount.

What you pay if you fail the road test

If you fail a non-commercial road test, your learner permit stays valid until its expiration date. You must wait at least 14 days before you take the test again. If you failed your first two road tests, you pay additional fees for the next test, and you can pay for additional road tests online. Our guide to the New York road test covers how to book the test and what to bring.

Can you get a refund of the license fee?

The DMV refunds part of the 8-year driver license fee if you qualify. The license must have been valid for 8 years when it was issued, and you must surrender it to the New York DMV or to another state during the first 4 years. It must not have been suspended or revoked at that time, or exchanged for a non-driver ID card. The most you get back is 50% (four years) of the 8-year license fee, without the application or document fees. Your first New York license is issued for no more than 5 years, so this refund applies to a later 8-year license.

Key takeaways

The fee for a New York permit and Class D or DJ license depends on your age and county: $64.25 to $102.50 in total, as of 2026.
In the 12 MCTD counties, use the "with MCTD" column. It includes $1.00 for every 6 months that the document is valid.
Add $30 for an Enhanced permit. REAL ID has no extra fee. A replacement costs $17.50, and a change of information costs $12.50.
After two failed road tests, you pay additional fees for the next test.
Next step: practice on the free New York Class D permit practice test.

New York permit and license fees: common questions

Is a New York learner permit cheaper if you are 21 or older?

Yes. At 21 and older, the Class D total is $64.25 to $67.50, or $73.25 to $77.50 if you live in an MCTD county. These are the lowest totals in the DMV fee table. The highest totals apply at 17 to 17 1/2: $92.50, or $102.50 with the MCTD fee.

Do I pay the MCTD fee if I live in Albany or Buffalo?

No. Only residents of the 12 MCTD counties pay it: the five New York City counties plus Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. Albany County and Erie County (Buffalo) are not on the list, so use the "without MCTD" column of the fee table for your age.

How much does it cost to replace a lost New York permit?

A replacement permit or license costs $17.50. If your permit has not expired, you can replace it online, by mail or in person at a DMV office. The extra $30 Enhanced fee is not added when you replace an Enhanced document.

Do I need a REAL ID permit to drive in New York?

No. A REAL ID is optional, and you do not need one to be licensed to drive. If you want one, it has no extra fee: you pay only the normal fees from the table. You must go to a DMV office to get a REAL ID.

How do I get a license fee refund after I move out of New York?

If your 8-year New York license qualifies, apply online and attach an image of your out-of-state driver license. You can also mail form MV-215 (Request for Refund); allow up to 12 weeks for processing. Apply no later than 51 months after your New York license was issued.