Getting your New York learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list what to bring to a DMV office to apply.
• You can explain the six-point proof of name system.
• You can describe the vision standard you must meet.
• You can explain how fees depend on age and where you live.
• You can describe the online permit test option for under-18s.

What you need to know and understand

• Minimum age for a permit is 16.
• You complete an Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44).
• Proof of name must total at least six points, and at least one document must show your signature.
• You must also prove your date of birth and provide your Social Security number (or follow the Green Light Law route if you have none).
• Vision standard: 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without glasses or contacts.
• Total fees for a first Class D or DJ permit and license vary with age and location, roughly $64 to $103.

What to bring to the DMV office

Apply in person at a state or county DMV office. Use DMV's online pre-screening tool first: it tells you which documents fit your situation and lets you fill in a printable application.

• A completed MV-44 application.
• Documents proving your name worth six points or more, such as a U.S. passport (4 points) plus other approved proofs.
• Proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport.
• Proof of New York residence.
• Payment for the permit test and license fee.
• If you are under 21, a parent or guardian may complete form MV-45 in front of DMV staff to count as 4 points.

The tests on the day

You will take a vision test. You need 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses. If you wear glasses or contacts, your permit will show that you must wear them when driving.

You then take the 20-question knowledge test unless you already passed it online. Under-18s can take the permit test online; DMV needs three business days to review the result and documents before your office visit, or you will be asked to retest.

Standard, Enhanced or REAL ID

Your permit can be Standard, Enhanced or REAL ID, depending on the documents you bring and the fee. An Enhanced document costs $30 extra and can be used at land and sea border crossings with Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. A Standard document is marked not for federal purposes.

Fees depend on your exact age and whether you live in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (the five boroughs plus Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester), which adds a small fee. Check the current DMV fee chart before you go. Our site has a full permit documents checklist if you want a printable list.

Common mistakes

• Bringing too few points of ID. Add up your documents before you leave home.
• Signing the MV-45 parent form at home. It must be signed in front of a DMV representative.
• Visiting the office within three business days of an online test. You would have to retake the test.
• Forgetting glasses for the vision test if you normally wear them.

Test yourself: Getting your New York learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

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