New York Learner Permit

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A New York learner permit is the first step toward a Class D or Class DJ license. Teens can apply at 16 with a parent's signature, and adult applicants can apply at any time. The permit is issued the same day at most DMV offices once the applicant passes the 20-question knowledge test.

Eligibility

The minimum age for a New York learner permit is 16. Applicants under 18 need an MV-44 with parent or guardian signature in section 6. Applicants of any age must pass the written knowledge test, a vision screening (20/40 minimum acuity in at least one eye), and meet the same six-point identity standard used for the full license.

Documents

A completed MV-44 application, signed in front of the clerk.
Proof of identity worth at least six points (combinations vary; a U.S. passport plus a SSN card and utility bill is the cleanest stack).
Proof of New York residence dated within the last 12 months.
A vision-test result — performed at the office, or submitted from a licensed optometrist via form MV-619.
Permit fee of $80-$90 depending on county.

The written knowledge test

Twenty multiple-choice questions, drawn from the current Driver's Manual. You need 14 correct, including at least two of four traffic-sign questions, to pass. Most New York DMV offices and county clerks let you take the test on the same day you apply. The test is also offered online to first-time applicants under the DMV Now system, with the in-office vision and document review still required.

Supervised-driving requirements

Permit holders must always be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older in the front passenger seat (or 18+ if the supervisor is a driver-education instructor or police officer). Permit holders under 18 are subject to additional graduated licensing rules:

50 hours of supervised driving must be logged before the road test, with at least 15 of those hours after sunset.
The supervisor must remain awake, alert, and free of impairment.
No driving on any street within New York City between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
No driving on any of the parkways listed in the New York City permit-restriction map (limits change periodically).

Downstate (NYC) restrictions

Permit holders in New York City face the country's strictest local restrictions. They cannot drive on any of the parkways under New York City Department of Transportation jurisdiction, cannot operate within Central Park or Prospect Park drives, and cannot use a permit on most one-way streets in lower Manhattan. The DMV's downstate restriction sheet lists every road that is off-limits for permit drivers.

How long the permit is valid

A New York learner permit is valid for five years — the longest in the country. There is no minimum holding period before applying for the road test, but applicants under 18 must hold the permit for at least six months before the test. Adult applicants can take the road test immediately after completing the 5-hour pre-licensing course.

Failing the road test

A failed road test does not invalidate the permit. The applicant can reschedule a new test online with no waiting period. The permit also does not roll over into the full license; you have to bring it (along with the MV-285 5-hour course certificate) to the road-test appointment for it to be exchanged for an interim driver license. See the Class D license page for the full upgrade procedure.

Out-of-state permits

If you arrive in New York with a valid permit from another state, you cannot continue to drive on it — New York does not recognize out-of-state permits, only out-of-state full licenses. New residents under 18 should plan to apply for a New York permit on arrival; adults can usually skip directly to the Class D test if they have an unexpired full license from another U.S. state. The transfer process is covered on the national license guide.