The New York knowledge (permit) test
The knowledge test, often called the permit test, checks that you know New York's rules of the road, road signs, safe driving habits and alcohol and drug laws. You must pass it before you get a learner permit.
New York's test is short, but it has one twist that catches people out: a separate pass rule for road sign questions.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can state how many questions there are and how many you must get right.
- You can explain the road sign rule.
- You can name where to study and practice.
- You can explain the online and in-office test options.
- You can plan your study around the chapters the test covers.
What you need to know and understand
- The Class D test has 20 questions.
- You must answer at least 14 correctly to pass.
- Four questions are about road signs, and you must get at least two of those right.
- Topics: rules of the road, safe driving, road signs, and alcohol and drug laws.
- Class D tests are offered in 20 languages, on touch screen or on paper.
- Under-18s can take the test online; high school students from 15 years 11 months may use the school-based OKTA program where offered.
How the test is built
The written test has 20 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need at least 14 correct answers overall. But four of the questions are about road signs, and you must answer at least two of those four correctly. Score 16 out of 20 with only one sign question right and you still fail.
In the office, the test is usually taken on a touch screen, and paper versions are available. It is offered in 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Korean, Haitian Creole and Yiddish.
What to study
The questions come from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21). DMV offers practice quizzes for the rules-of-the-road chapters (Chapters 4 to 11) and the Road Signs You Must Know section. Focus especially on:
- Sign shapes and colors: red octagon STOP, yellow diamond warnings, orange work zone signs, green guide signs, blue service signs.
- Traffic lights, including turning on red and the New York City ban on right turns on red unless a sign allows it.
- Right-of-way at intersections, roundabouts and for emergency vehicles.
- Passing rules, school buses, parking distances and following distance.
- Alcohol, drugs, BAC limits and Zero Tolerance for under-21 drivers.
A simple study plan
- Read one manual chapter a day and answer its review questions out loud.
- Take the official practice quiz for that chapter and note every wrong answer.
- Spend a whole session on the road signs section, because of the 2-of-4 rule.
- Take full 20-question mock tests until you score 18 or more every time.
- Bring your documents and fee, and take the real test when you are consistently passing.
Practice resources on our site
We have two free 20-question New York practice tests and a guide to the 14-to-pass and road sign rules if you want extra drills.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the road sign questions. Two of the four must be right, whatever your total score.
- Studying only the practice quiz questions instead of the manual. The real test words things differently.
- Mixing up New York City's turn-on-red ban with the rest of the state.
- Rushing. Read every option before you choose.
Test yourself: The New York knowledge (permit) test
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Go deeper
Sources: New York State Driver's Manual and Practice Tests (MV-21), New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.ny.gov), Chapter 1: Driver Licenses and Road Signs You Must Know; Prepare For and Take Your Permit Test, New York State DMV. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the New York licensing agency.