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The New York DMV permit test has 20 multiple-choice questions, and you pass by getting at least 14 right. There is a catch: 4 of the questions are about road signs, and you must get at least 2 of those right, whatever your overall score. This guide covers what the Class D written test asks, where and how you can take it, what to bring and what it costs in New York.
Key facts
- 20 questions, 14 correct to pass (70%).
- At least 2 of the 4 road sign questions must be correct.
- Vision test at the same visit: 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
- Offered in 20 languages at DMV offices.
- Under 18: you can take the permit test online before your office visit.
- Minimum age for the permit itself: 16.
How many questions are on the New York permit test?
Twenty. The written test for Class D, DJ, M, MJ and E licenses checks your knowledge of:
- rules of the road
- safe driving techniques
- road signs
- laws on alcohol and drug use while driving
The road sign rule, worked example
| Total correct | Sign questions correct | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 18 of 20 | 2 of 4 | Pass |
| 16 of 20 | 1 of 4 | Fail |
| 14 of 20 | 3 of 4 | Pass |
| 13 of 20 | 4 of 4 | Fail |
Signs are a quick win. The manual’s “Road Signs You Must Know” page and Chapter 4 cover them, and US road signs by shape and color explains the system behind them.
What to study
- The New York State Driver’s Manual (MV-21), especially Chapters 4 to 11 and the road signs page. These are the parts with practice quizzes.
- The end-of-chapter questions. Each chapter closes with a short list of questions you should be able to answer.
- Chapter 9 numbers: BAC levels and Zero Tolerance for drivers under 21.
- Chapter 7 parking distances, such as 15 feet from a hydrant and 30 feet from a traffic light, STOP sign or YIELD sign.
Where can you take the New York permit test?
At a DMV office
Class D knowledge tests are given on touch screen test stations or on paper, in 20 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Yiddish.
Online, if you are under 18
The DMV’s pre-screening tool lists the documents you need, and under-18s get the option to take the permit test online. After you pass, you book an office appointment to finish the permit.
Watch the three-day rule: the DMV needs three business days to review your online result and documents. If you go to an office within those three business days, you must retake and pass the test in the office.
At school through OKTA
Students aged at least 15 and 11 months can take the written test at a participating high school through the Online Knowledge Test Application (OKTA) program, in English or Spanish. The school does not need a driver education program. Pass, and you get a receipt and the forms to apply for a permit at any DMV office once you are 16. Fail, and you can retake it as many times as the school allows.
What to bring to the DMV office
- A completed Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44).
- Proofs of identity, age and residence. Name proofs must add up to 6 points or more, with at least one signed document. The full list is on form ID-44.
- If you are under 21 and using a parent’s Statement of Identity (MV-45), your parent or guardian must come with you and sign it in front of DMV staff.
- Your Social Security number.
- Glasses or contacts for the vision test, if you wear them.
- The fee.
Your permit can be Standard, Enhanced or REAL ID, depending on the proofs you bring. See REAL ID and your first license.
How much does the New York permit test cost?
There is no separate test fee. You pay one total fee that covers the permit and your first license, based on your age and whether you live in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD). For Class D or DJ, as of November 2026:
| Age | Outside MCTD | Inside MCTD |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 16.5 | $80.00 | $90.00 |
| 16.5 to 17 | $76.75 | $85.75 |
| 17 to 17.5 | $92.50 | $102.50 |
| 17.5 to 18 | $89.25 | $98.25 |
| 18 to 18.5 | $80.00 | $90.00 |
| 21 and older | $64.25 to $67.50 | $73.25 to $77.50 |
An Enhanced permit or license is $30 extra. The MCTD covers the five NYC boroughs plus Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
Common questions
What happens if I fail the New York permit test?
Ask your DMV office when you can retake it. OKTA students can retake it as many times as their school allows.
Is the New York permit test multiple choice?
Yes. You answer on a touch screen or on paper.
Can I take the permit test at 15?
Only through OKTA at a participating school, from 15 years and 11 months. The permit itself is issued at 16.
Can adults take the permit test online?
The DMV page offers the online permit test option to applicants under 18. Adults take it at a DMV office.
What happens after I pass?
You get your learner permit and can start practicing under the New York learner permit rules.
How does New York compare with other states?
Back to the full New York learning to drive guide.
Sources
- New York State DMV, “New York State Driver’s Manual and Practice Tests: Chapter 1, Driver Licenses” (dmv.ny.gov)
- New York State DMV, “Prepare For and Take Your Permit Test” (dmv.ny.gov)
- New York State DMV, “Driver License and Learner Permit Fees and Refunds” (dmv.ny.gov)
- New York State DMV, “Get Your Learner Permit and Driver License” (dmv.ny.gov)