RoadVisa Beta

How to get a driving licence in New York

Getting a car licence from scratch, country by country.

Car licence, Class D

Getting your licence in New York

Knowledge test questions20
Pass mark, incl. 2 of 4 road signs14 correct
Time for the knowledge testNo limit
Permit fee (21+), includes the test$64.50
Road test fee$10
Road test length~15–20 min

Under 21 the permit costs $80.50. The 5-hour course costs extra.

Before you start driving

2
Learner permitRequired before you practise. Pass the knowledge and vision tests.
Medical checkNo doctor's exam. The DMV tests your vision.

Required lessons

2
5-hour courseA pre-licensing course, required for everyone before booking the road test.
Supervised practice (under 18)50 hours, 15 of them at night, or driver education plus 20 hours.

Good to know

7
Minimum ageLearner permit from 16. Junior licence at 16½ after 6 months. Full licence at 18 (17 with driver education).
Licence validity8 years.
Exam languagesKnowledge test in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Russian and more.
If you failYou can retake the knowledge test. Road test: book and pay again.
Automatic or manualNo restriction.
New driversEvery new licence holder, of any age, has a 6-month probation period. Junior licence (under 18): no driving in New York City, no driving 9 pm–5 am elsewhere, and only 1 passenger under 21 who isn't family.
Already have a licence from abroad?No exchange. You take the knowledge test, the 5-hour course and the road test, and surrender your foreign licence.

Step by step

  1. Learner permitKnowledge test (20 questions) and vision test.
  2. 5-hour courseTake it at an approved driving school.
  3. PractiseWith a licensed driver 21+. Under 18: 50 hours.
  4. Road testIn a registered, insured car, with a licensed driver 21+ with you.

Tips

  • Learn the road signs: missing more than 2 of the 4 sign questions fails the test.
  • Learner permits can't be used on some New York City roads, so practise outside the city first.

Official links

NY DMV: Driver's Manual ↗NY Vehicle and Traffic Law ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026
Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

Is RoadVisa official?

No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

Is RoadVisa free?

Yes, RoadVisa is free to use.

I found a mistake. What should I do?

Use "Wrong information? Help us fix it" above. We check every report against the official sources and correct the answer.

About RoadVisa and disclaimerWho we are, and how to use this information.

An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

Information only, not legal advice. RoadVisa sums up official rules in plain English. It does not replace the official rules, and it is not a decision about your case. Only the authority that handles your application can decide that.

Rules change. Every answer shows when it was last checked and links to the official source. Check that source before you drive, book a test, move or apply. If RoadVisa and the official source differ, follow the official source.

Your situation matters. The answer can depend on your residence status, licence category, age and when your licence was issued. If you're unsure, ask the licensing authority or your embassy.

Car hire and insurance. Car hire companies and insurers can set their own rules, for example asking for an International Driving Permit even where it isn't required. Check with them too.

Our responsibility. We work hard to keep RoadVisa correct, but we can't promise it is complete or up to date. As far as the law allows, we are not responsible for fines, refused applications, costs or other losses that come from relying on it.

Links to other sites. We link to official and other websites for your convenience. We don't control them and aren't responsible for their content.

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