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New York Learner's Permit (Car) Practice Test
Practice the full Learner's Permit (Car) question set for the New York knowledge test, written from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) - not from a generic national bank. Every question comes with an instant explanation and its handbook topic, so you learn the rule behind the answer instead of memorizing letters.
Free and unlimited. Every answer is explained, and your progress is saved only in your browser — no account needed.
How it works
Answer one question at a time. You will see immediately whether you were right, plus a short explanation and the manual topic for every question. At the end you get your score and can re-drill only the questions you missed.
200 questions · Topics: Road Signs & Traffic Signals, Speed Limits & Following Distance, Right-of-Way & Intersections, Lane Use, Turning & Passing, Alcohol, Drugs & DUI Penalties, Seat Belts, Child Restraints & Distractions, Sharing the Road, Parking & Stopping Rules, Adverse Conditions & Emergencies, Licensing, Insurance & Vehicle Requirements.
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About this practice test
This set drills the Learner's Permit (Car) topics from the official New York handbook: road signs & traffic signals, speed limits & following distance, right-of-way & intersections, lane use, turning & passing, alcohol, drugs & dui penalties, seat belts, child restraints & distractions, sharing the road, parking & stopping rules, adverse conditions & emergencies, licensing, insurance & vehicle requirements. The real New York test is given by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV); its format is summarized on the New York state page.
When this set feels easy, switch to the New York Exam Simulator for a timed run at the real question count, or review with New York flashcards.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the New York Learner's Permit (Car) test?
The New York permit test has 20 questions. You need 14 correct overall AND at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions correct - the sign questions are a separate pass/fail hurdle. There is no time limit, and written-test retakes are free.
What score do I need to pass?
You need at least 14 of 20 questions correct (70%). There is also a separate road-sign hurdle: at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions must be correct, or the test is failed regardless of the total.
How much does the New York test cost?
Learner permit fee varies by age and county (including MCTD counties): about $64.25-$102.50 in total.
Are these the actual test questions?
No. These are original practice questions written from the same public handbook the real test covers. They are designed to teach the material, not to reproduce the exam.
Exam facts on this page come from: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) and NY DMV permit pages.
Browse all 200 questions in this set
- A sign is shaped like an octagon (eight sides) and is red with white lettering. What does it mean?
- A sign is an upside-down triangle, red and white, with the word YIELD on it. What must you do?
- A white X-shaped crossbuck with the words RAILROAD CROSSING appears ahead. What does it mark?
- A five-sided sign (a pentagon, like a house shape) in yellow or yellow-green shows two figures walking. What area does it warn about?
- Most warning signs in New York are what shape and color?
- A square white sign with black lettering reads SPEED LIMIT 40. What kind of sign is this?
- A red circle with a white horizontal bar across the middle is posted at a street entrance. What does it mean?
- A rectangular red-and-white sign reads WRONG WAY. You see it while driving. What should you do?
- A white sign shows a black U-shaped arrow with a red slash through it. What is prohibited?
- On a New York road you see a yellow diamond sign showing a car with wavy skid marks behind it. It warns that:
- A yellow diamond shows two lanes merging into one, with one arrow curving into the other. What should you expect?
- A yellow diamond shows a black arrow curving sharply, with a small sign below reading 20 MPH. What does the small sign mean?
- A green sign with white lettering lists place names and distances. What is its purpose?
- An orange diamond sign appears near cones and barrels. What does the orange color tell you?
- A yellow-green diamond shows a person walking in a crosswalk. What does it warn of?
- A yellow diamond shows a deer leaping. What should you do in that area?
- At an intersection, the traffic light is flashing red. How must you treat it?
- The traffic light facing you is flashing yellow. What does it mean?
- The light turns steady yellow as you approach an intersection. What does it mean, and what should you do?
- A green arrow appears along with a red light. What may you do?
- Unless a lower limit is posted, what is the maximum speed limit anywhere in New York State?
- Unless a different limit is posted, what is the speed limit in New York City?
- Posted speed limits tell you:
- You are driving in heavy rain and visibility is poor. What should you do about your speed?
- Under ideal conditions, what minimum following distance should you keep behind the vehicle ahead?
- When should you use a following distance greater than 2 seconds?
- The vehicle ahead passes a shadow on the road. You reach the same shadow almost immediately. What does that tell you?
- Why is driving too slowly also a problem on a highway?
- You are driving on a snow-covered road at the posted limit and begin to slide when braking. The lesson is:
- In a work zone with workers present, the safest approach is to:
- What does increasing your speed do to your stopping distance and crash severity?
- Fog has cut your visibility to a short distance ahead. What is the best response?
- On a wet road at higher speeds, your tires can ride up on a layer of water and lose grip. To reduce this hydroplaning risk, you should:
- A school bus, a truck, and a motorcycle are ahead of you on different trips. Behind which should you allow the most extra following space?
- You are being tailgated by the driver behind you. What is the safest response?
- The driver ahead of you brakes often and unpredictably in stop-and-go traffic. Your best strategy is to:
- Why should you not rely only on the posted limit when entering a sharp curve on a mountain road?
- At night, how should your speed relate to your headlights?
- Two drivers travel the same road: one at a steady, lawful speed, the other repeatedly speeding up and slowing down. Who arrives more safely and usually just as fast?
- You feel drowsy on a long drive and catch yourself drifting. The safest action is to:
- You arrive at an intersection with no signs or signals. Another car reaches it from your right at the same time. Who goes first?
- You are turning left at a green light. Oncoming traffic is coming straight through. Who has the right-of-way?
- You are driving in New York and a pedestrian is crossing in a marked crosswalk that has no traffic light. What must you do?
- A school bus ahead has stopped with its red lights flashing. What must you do?
- You hear a siren and see flashing lights in your mirror: an emergency vehicle is coming up behind you on a New York road. What must you do?
- You are entering an expressway from an entrance ramp. Who has the right-of-way?
- A pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog is waiting to cross. What should you do?
- You reach a four-way stop at the same time as a driver facing you who is going straight while you turn left. Who should go first?
- A vehicle already inside a traffic circle (roundabout) is approaching your entry point. What must you do?
- You are backing out of a driveway into the street. Who must you yield to?
- An oncoming school bus on the opposite side of a divided highway has flashing red lights. In New York, you must:
- A bicyclist is riding in the lane ahead and a pedestrian is in the crosswalk at the next corner. As a driver, you must:
- At a T-intersection, you are on the road that ends while traffic on the through road passes. Who has the right-of-way?
- You stop at a red light and a pedestrian starts crossing with the walk signal. The light turns green while they are still in the crosswalk. What must you do?
- A funeral procession or a line of vehicles with headlights on is passing through an intersection. The best practice is to:
- You arrive at a stop sign at the same time as a pedestrian stepping into the crosswalk and a car to your right. Your first obligation is to:
- A driver in the lane next to you has stopped at a crosswalk, but you cannot see why. What should you do?
- You want to make a right turn at an intersection where a bicyclist is riding straight ahead on your right. What must you do?
- Two vehicles approach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time. The other vehicle is on your right. What does the yield-to-the-right rule require?
- Even when you legally have the right-of-way, New York's manual stresses that you should:
- How far before your turn must you signal, at minimum, in New York?
- You are driving in New York City and face a red light. You want to turn right. What is the rule?
- You are driving upstate, outside New York City, at a red light with no prohibiting sign. A right turn on red is:
- A solid double yellow line separates the two directions of traffic. What does it mean for passing?
- A single broken yellow line is in the center of a two-way road. This means:
- Before passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, the most important check is:
- After passing a vehicle, when should you return to your lane?
- You are driving on a multi-lane highway. Which lane is meant for normal through travel, and which for passing?
- A lane in the center of a road is marked with both yellow lines and white left-turn arrows. This shared center lane is for:
- Under what condition may you legally pass another vehicle on the right?
- Where is passing prohibited regardless of how clear the road looks?
- You plan to turn left from a two-way road into a driveway. Oncoming traffic is clear. When may you cross the double yellow lines?
- At an intersection with a dedicated left-turn lane and a green arrow, you should:
- Your turn signal is broken. How can you legally signal a left turn?
- When preparing for a right turn, where should your vehicle be positioned?
- A vehicle is stopped in the left lane of a highway with its hazard lights on and traffic is backing up. The safest lane behavior is to:
- You miss your exit on an expressway. What should you do?
- When changing lanes, the correct sequence is:
- On a road with a solid white line between lanes going the same direction, you should:
- Dimming your headlights: New York requires you to switch from high beam to low beam within what distances?
- For a driver age 21 or older in New York, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of what level or higher is per se illegal?
- New York's Zero Tolerance law applies to drivers under 21. A BAC in what range triggers administrative penalties for them?
- A first-offense DWI conviction in New York can result in license revocation for at least how long?
- Besides fines and revocation, a DWI conviction in New York can also include:
- Which statement about alcohol and driving ability is correct?
- A friend insists they are fine to drive after several drinks because they 'feel sober.' The truth is:
- Which of these can impair driving in the same way alcohol does?
- You take a prescribed medication whose label warns it may cause drowsiness. What should you do before driving?
- What is the only reliable way to lower your BAC after drinking?
- Your group is going out where alcohol will be served. The strategy New York promotes to prevent DWI is to:
- If you are convicted of DWI, the effect on your driving record and insurance is typically:
- Which factor determines how quickly alcohol affects a driver?
- A driver under 21 is stopped and registers a BAC of 0.04. Under New York's Zero Tolerance law, the result is:
- Why are DWI penalties in New York so severe compared with ordinary traffic tickets?
- You are at a gathering and the person who drove you has been drinking heavily. The safest choice is to:
- Which statement about mixing alcohol with other drugs before driving is true?
- If a police officer suspects you of DWI and you are arrested, refusing a chemical test in New York can lead to:
- After two drinks in one hour, a driver says they will be fine because the legal limit is 0.08. The flaw in that reasoning is:
- Hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving are in New York:
- Accumulating points from violations such as DWI-related and other offenses matters because in New York:
- Under New York law, who must wear a seat belt in a passenger vehicle?
- In New York, a child under what age must ride in a federally approved child safety seat?
- Where should children under age 13 ride, according to New York guidance?
- How should a seat belt be worn for it to protect you properly?
- How many points can improper cell phone use add to a New York driving record?
- You receive an urgent text while driving. What should you do?
- Which of these is a distraction that should be handled before you start driving?
- Why must rear-seat passengers wear seat belts in New York?
- A driver who is eating, grooming, and reaching for items while moving is mainly at risk because they are:
- What is the correct relationship between air bags and seat belts?
- You are making a very short trip around the block. What does New York law require about seat belts?
- Why is the rear seat safer for a child in a child safety seat?
- Your phone rings while you are driving in heavy traffic. What is the safest response?
- Why is checking your phone while stopped at a red light still a problem?
- You feel drowsy on a long drive. What should you do?
- A passenger is showing you photos on a phone and urging you to look. What should you do?
- Which action best prevents distraction from a navigation app?
- If a child safety seat is installed incorrectly, what is the main concern?
- What can happen to an unbelted occupant in a sudden stop or crash?
- What is the safest way to deal with a hands-free phone conversation while driving?
- What are the large blind spots around a big truck commonly called?
- How much of your lane should you allow a motorcyclist?
- When you pass a bicyclist, what should you do?
- A pedestrian is crossing at a marked crosswalk where you are turning. What must you do?
- You are on a divided highway and a school bus on the other side stops with red lights flashing. In New York, what must you do?
- An emergency vehicle with flashing lights and a sounding siren is approaching from the opposite direction on a two-lane New York road. What should you do?
- Under New York's Move Over law, what must you do for a stopped emergency or hazard vehicle displaying flashing lights?
- You approach a person riding a horse on the roadside. What is the safest action?
- You come up behind a slow-moving farm vehicle on a rural road. What should you do?
- Why should you allow extra space when following a motorcycle?
- A large truck ahead signals and begins a right turn by swinging wide to the left. What should you do?
- How many points does failing to stop for a school bus carry in New York?
- A pedestrian carrying a white cane or using a guide dog is crossing the street. What does this indicate and what should you do?
- What do a school bus's flashing red lights mean?
- A school bus ahead displays flashing yellow or amber lights. What does that tell you?
- Why is cutting in closely in front of a large truck after passing especially dangerous?
- Before turning right, why must you check for bicyclists on your right?
- An emergency vehicle is stopped ahead with flashing lights and a hazard vehicle is stopped beside it. The Move Over law in New York applies to:
- An emergency vehicle with siren on is behind you inside an intersection. What should you do?
- Why do motorcycles sometimes appear to be farther away or moving slower than they are?
- How close to a fire hydrant may you legally park in New York?
- How far from a crosswalk at an intersection must you keep your parked vehicle in New York?
- How close to a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal may you park in New York?
- When you park parallel to a curb, how close to the curb must your vehicle be?
- Parallel parking in New York is important for a learner driver because:
- What is double parking, and what is the rule about it?
- You park facing uphill on a street with a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
- You park facing downhill on a street with a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
- After parallel parking on a busy New York City street, what should you do before opening your door into traffic?
- You may not park, stop, or stand a vehicle:
- When parallel parking, when should you first signal?
- Which of these locations is a place where parking is prohibited?
- You stop to drop off a passenger at a curb where a sign prohibits standing. What does that mean for you?
- After you finish parallel parking, what should you do before leaving the vehicle on a hill?
- Why must you not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant even if you remain in the driver's seat?
- You want to park near an intersection that has a crosswalk. The closest legal position must be at least:
- When backing into a parallel parking space, what should you check continuously?
- Parking on the wrong side of the street, facing against the direction of traffic, is:
- A 'No Parking' sign means you may:
- How far from a traffic signal at the side of the road may you park?
- When must you use your headlights in New York besides at night?
- What are the required headlight hours in New York around sunrise and sunset?
- At what distance must you dim your high beams for an oncoming vehicle?
- At what distance must you dim your high beams when following another vehicle?
- Your vehicle begins to skid on snow. What should you do?
- How should your following distance change on snow or ice compared with dry pavement?
- In fog, which headlight setting gives you the best visibility without blinding glare back at you?
- Your vehicle breaks down on an expressway. What should you do first?
- At night, what is the main risk of driving at a speed that is legal but too fast for conditions?
- You are in a crash in which someone is injured. What is your first duty at the scene?
- After a crash with no injuries, what information should drivers exchange?
- Rain makes the road most slippery:
- On a wet New York highway, what is happening when a vehicle hydroplanes?
- Which surface is most likely to freeze first and stay icy when temperatures hover near freezing?
- A tire blows out while you are driving. What should you do?
- Your brakes fail while you are moving. Which action can help you slow the vehicle?
- In winter driving, which preparation best improves safety before you start a trip?
- While driving in heavy rain, your wipers are on. What else does New York law require?
- You witness a serious crash ahead and stop to help. What should you avoid doing?
- If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks and a train is approaching, what should you do?
- What is the minimum age to apply for a New York learner permit?
- How many questions are on the New York learner permit written test, and how many must you answer correctly?
- What happens if you do not pass the New York permit test the first time?
- About how much does a New York learner permit cost?
- In how many languages is the New York permit test offered?
- With a learner permit in New York, when may you drive?
- How much supervised practice driving must a new driver complete before the road test?
- What is form MV-262 used for by applicants age 16 and 17?
- Accumulating how many points in 18 months can result in a suspended New York license?
- What are New York's minimum liability insurance limits for bodily injury?
- What is the minimum property damage liability limit in New York, and what no-fault coverage is also required?
- Under New York's point system, reckless driving adds how many points?
- How many points does following too closely (tailgating) carry in New York?
- Speeding points in New York vary by how far over the limit you drive. What is the range?
- A junior license in New York is best described as:
- What must a vehicle owner in New York maintain for a registered vehicle to be driven legally?
- Which agency issues driver licenses and learner permits in New York State?
- What is the general maximum speed limit in New York if no limit is posted?
- What is the speed limit in New York City if no limit is posted?
- What is the minimum safe following distance in New York under normal dry conditions?