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To get a New Mexico instructional permit you must be at least 15, be enrolled in (or have finished) an approved driver education course with a DWI component, and pass a vision test and the MVD knowledge exam. The exam needs a score of 70% or better. This post is for New Mexico teens and parents getting ready for the permit visit.
New Mexico permit at a glance
- Minimum age: 15.
- Driver ed: you must be enrolled in and attending, or have completed, a course approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau that includes DWI prevention and education.
- Knowledge exam pass mark: 70% for Class D.
- Vision: 20/40 or better in at least one eye, with or without glasses.
- Who issues it: the MVD. Driver ed schools cannot issue new or renewal permits.
- Valid for: four years.
- Minimum time on the permit: six months before a provisional license, plus 30 days for each traffic conviction.
What to bring to MVD for a New Mexico learner’s permit
- Proof of driver ed enrollment or completion: a Driver Education Referral Card or Certificate of Completion.
- Proof of identity, proof of identification number and two proofs of New Mexico residency. Which documents count depends on whether you want a REAL ID or a Standard credential. See REAL ID and your first license.
- A consent form signed by your parent or guardian if you are under 18.
- The permit application fee. Check the current amount on the MVD website.
Bring original or certified documents. Photocopies are not accepted.
How the New Mexico knowledge exam works
What it covers
Questions come from the New Mexico Driver Manual: traffic signals, signs and pavement markings, right-of-way, speed limits, parking, sharing the road, emergencies, and alcohol and the law. The New Mexico pillar guide maps every manual section to a study post.
Pass mark
70% or better for Class D and Class M tests. Check the question count with MVD, and plan to know the whole manual rather than a set number of answers.
Where you can take it
At an MVD office, or through an MVD-contracted driver education school that offers the exam.
Languages
An MVD notice lists English, Spanish, Tagalog, Italian, German, French, Vietnamese and Chinese.
If you fail
A 2016 MVD policy notice says non-commercial knowledge exams can be taken twice a week. After a third failure you wait six months from the first attempt. Confirm the current retake rule with MVD before you plan around it.
Study checklist for the New Mexico permit test
- Read the whole New Mexico Driver Manual once, then reread the Rules of the Road and alcohol sections.
- Learn signs by shape and color: US road signs explained.
- Know who goes first at intersections: four-way stops.
- Use the MVD mobile practice exam.
- Compare formats in other states with permit test by state.
Driving on a New Mexico instructional permit
You may drive only with an approved driving instructor beside you, or with a licensed driver who is 21 or older and has been licensed at least three years in any state. The supervisor must sit in the right front seat. Use this time to log the 50 hours (10 at night) needed for the provisional license. See driver’s ed and the 50-hour log.
Common questions
How many questions are on the New Mexico permit test?
Ask MVD for the number. The pass mark is 70%.
Can I take the New Mexico permit test online?
MVD offers a mobile practice exam. The real exam is given at an MVD office or an MVD-contracted driver education school.
Can I get a permit before I start driver’s ed?
No, not if you are under 18. You must already be enrolled in and attending the approved course.
How long is a New Mexico permit valid?
Four years.
Do I need a parent with me at MVD?
Under-18 applicants need a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. Ask your MVD office whether the parent must attend in person.
What vision score do I need?
20/40 or better in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
Sources
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “Chapter 3: Instructional Permit” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “Apply for a Learner’s Permit” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “What tests are required to get a New Mexico driver license?” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “Knowledge (Written) Examination Changes” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “MVD Procedures Manuals” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “Apply for a New Driving Credential” (mvd.newmexico.gov)