How to study for the written test, what to bring to the DMV, and what to do the day your permit is issued. Written for new drivers in Nassau and Suffolk.
Every question on the written test comes from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21). Read it chapter by chapter over a couple of weeks instead of skimming it the night before, and give extra time to traffic control, intersections and turns, and alcohol and other drugs. Those rules come up again and again. The online manual has a short quiz after each chapter, so you can check yourself as you go.
The test always includes road sign questions, and you can often identify a sign before you can read it. Learn the shapes first: an octagon is always a stop sign, a downward-pointing triangle means yield, a diamond warns of a hazard ahead, a pentagon marks a school zone, and a round sign means a railroad crossing is ahead.
Then learn the colors: red for stop, yield, and prohibited actions, yellow for general warnings, orange for work zones, green for directions and distances, blue for motorist services, and brown for parks and recreation.
Most wrong answers come from a handful of topics: who has the right of way at intersections and traffic circles, what to do when a school bus stops with its red lights flashing, how to respond to emergency vehicles, and the alcohol and drug laws for drivers under 21. Keep a short list of the rules you miss in practice and review it every day until you get them right without thinking.
Use the DMV's chapter quizzes and practice tests, and keep going until you are scoring well above the passing mark, not just scraping by. When you miss a question, go back to that section of the manual and read why the right answer is right. Understanding the rule sticks far better than memorizing an answer.
The DMV is strict about proof of identity, and a missing or photocopied document can end your visit before the test starts. Check the current list on the DMV's learner permit page, bring original documents, and make sure your name matches across all of them.
You apply with the Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID (MV-44). Fill it out at home so nothing is rushed at the counter. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the consent section, so plan your visit for a time they can sign. Many DMV offices on Long Island work by reservation, so book your visit in advance.
The written test has 20 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need at least 14 correct answers, and at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions must be right. You could answer every other question correctly and still fail on signs, so don't skip tip 2.
You take a vision test when you apply. If you wear glasses or contact lenses to see at a distance, wear them to the DMV. If you need them to pass, your permit will say that you must wear corrective lenses whenever you drive.
With a learner permit, you may drive only with a supervising driver who is 21 or older and holds a valid license for the type of vehicle you are driving. Keep your permit with you every time you get behind the wheel.
If you are under 18, you hold a junior learner permit, and New York sets different rules by region. Long Island has its own limits on when and where junior drivers can practice, and New York City is stricter still. Read the DMV's Graduated License Law page before you start practicing.
Drivers under 18 need at least 50 hours of supervised practice, including 15 after sunset, certified by a parent or guardian on the MV-262. Keep a simple log from your very first drive. Hours with a driving school instructor count toward the total, and they are the best way to make sure your early habits are good ones.
You need a learner permit to take the 5-hour pre-licensing course, and most new drivers must complete it (or a high school or college Driver Education course) before scheduling a road test. The certificate is valid for one year, so the first few months of your permit are a good time to get it done, and what it covers makes your practice drives safer. We run the 5-hour course every Saturday, in person or on Zoom.
The first few hours behind the wheel shape every habit that follows. Starting with an NYS DMV-certified instructor in a dual-control car takes the pressure off parents and gives you a clear plan for practice at home. You can book as soon as you have your permit. Bring it to your first lesson. See lessons and packages.
If you are under 18, you must hold your permit for at least six months before you can schedule your road test. Write that date down the day your permit is issued, then work backward from it to plan your lessons, supervised hours, and the 5-hour course. When the date gets close, our road test tips pick up where this page leaves off.
The written test has 20 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 14 correct answers to pass, including at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions.
A supervising driver must be 21 or older and hold a valid license for the type of vehicle being driven. Drivers under 18 also follow junior permit rules, which differ by region. See the DMV Graduated License Law for Long Island.
Yes. You can start as soon as you have your permit, and hours with a driving school instructor count toward the 50 supervised hours drivers under 18 need. See lessons and packages.
Yes. You need a learner permit to take the 5-hour pre-licensing course. Bring it to class.
If you are under 18, you must wait at least six months from the date your learner permit was issued before you schedule your road test.
Requirements come from the NYS DMV and can change. Confirm current rules on the DMV learner permit page, and see our driver resources for more official links.
Book your first lesson or the 5-hour course in Hicksville or Ronkonkoma.
