Supervised practice and driver education in New York

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state the practice hours an under-18 driver must certify.
• You can explain who can supervise in each region.
• You can list the roads and areas where permit holders cannot drive.
• You can explain the 5-hour pre-licensing course and the driver education alternative.
• You can plan a practice schedule that covers night and heavy traffic.

What you need to know and understand

• Junior permit holders need at least 50 hours of supervised practice, including at least 15 hours after sunset.
• A parent or guardian certifies the hours on the Certification of Supervised Driving (MV-262).
• DMV recommends at least 10 hours in moderate to heavy traffic.
• A supervisor must be at least 21, licensed for the vehicle and seated in the front.
• All new drivers must complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course (MV-278 certificate) or a 48-hour driver education program (MV-285).
• A point and insurance reduction (defensive driving) course does not count.

Hours and paperwork

If you hold a junior permit, you must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with at least 15 of those hours after sunset. DMV recommends at least 10 hours in moderate to heavy traffic, and practice on expressways and other highway types, even though road tests are held on local streets.

Your parent or guardian signs form MV-262 to confirm the hours. You hand it to the license examiner each time you take a road test. We have a separate guide to the MV-262 on our site.

Who can sit beside you

Every supervisor must be at least 21, hold a license valid for the vehicle and sit in the front seat. With a junior permit, the supervisor is the only person allowed in the front.

• New York City, 5 AM to 9 PM: parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor, in a car with dual brakes. No driving 9 PM to 5 AM.
• Long Island, 5 AM to 9 PM: the same list, plus an adult your parent named in writing. No driving 9 PM to 5 AM.
• Upstate, 5 AM to 9 PM: any licensed driver aged 21 or older. 9 PM to 5 AM: only a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or driving teacher or instructor.

Places permit holders cannot drive

• DMV road test areas.
• Streets within any New York City park.
• Bridges and tunnels run by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
• The Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River and Taconic State parkways in Westchester County.

The 5-hour course or driver education

Before you can book a road test you must finish an approved safe driving course. Most people take the 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course at a driving school, which covers driver habits, risk-taking, and alcohol and drugs, and receive an MV-278 certificate. Completing a high school or college driver education course meets the requirement instead and also opens the route to a senior license at 17.

Common mistakes

• Saving all the night hours for the last week. Spread the 15 hours after sunset across the permit period.
• Practicing at a road test site. It is not allowed.
• Letting a friend aged 19 supervise. Supervisors must be at least 21.
• Assuming a PIRP defensive driving course replaces the 5-hour course. It does not.

Test yourself: Supervised practice and driver education in New York

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

Go deeper

• MV-262 Form
• NY Senior License at 17
• New York Permit Practice Test