New York Road Signs & Permit Knowledge Test Exam Guide
At a glance
- Questions
- 20
- Passing score
- 14 of 20 correct, and at least 2 of the 4…
- Exam fee
- $0
- Governing body
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
The New York permit knowledge test covers road signs, traffic signals, right-of-way and the alcohol rules that apply to drivers under 21. New York State residents 16 and older can apply for a learner permit.
Most of what the test asks is national — sign shapes and line colours come from a uniform standard. What catches candidates out is the handful of places where New York has made a different choice from the states around it, and those are worth identifying before you study anything else.
Overview
Four New York rules reverse what a driver might have learned elsewhere. Right turn on red is permitted statewide after a full stop but prohibited in New York City unless a sign allows it. Drivers must stop for a stopped school bus from either direction even on a divided highway, on all roadways in the state. The under-21 alcohol band runs from .02 to .07 rather than starting at zero or at the adult .08. And a school bus carrying pupils may not turn right on any red light, anywhere.
Each of those is a place where the correct answer learned in a neighbouring state becomes the wrong answer here.
Cost and registration
Permit and licence fees are set by the New York DMV and vary with the length of the licence term and the county. A licence history and other document requests carry their own fees.
The costs worth planning around are the ones attached to getting it wrong. A first conviction for illegally passing a stopped school bus carries a fine of $250 to $400, five points on the driving record, and up to 30 days in jail. A first zero tolerance finding for an under-21 driver means a six-month suspension plus $225 in fees — a $100 suspension termination fee and a $125 civil penalty — before relicensing.
Exam format
The test is multiple choice and covers signs, signals, markings, right-of-way, safe driving practice and the alcohol and drug rules. Sign recognition is generally the fastest section to secure, because shape and colour are designed to be legible before any text resolves — no two messages share a shape.
The state-specific material is where preparation pays. U-turn restrictions, the 100-foot signalling requirement, work zone limits as low as 25 mph and the zero tolerance penalties are all New York figures rather than national ones.
Frequently asked questions
Can you turn right on red in New York?
Statewide, yes — after a complete stop and after yielding to traffic and pedestrians. In New York City, no, unless a sign specifically permits it. The default inverts at the city line, so inside the five boroughs the absence of a sign means the turn is prohibited rather than allowed. A school bus carrying pupils may not turn right on any red light anywhere in the state.
Do you have to stop for a school bus on a divided highway in New York?
Yes. This is where New York departs from most states, which release oncoming traffic when a physical median separates the roadways. New York recognises no such exception: traffic approaching from either direction must stop, on all roadways in the state, including directly in front of a school and inside school parking lots.
What happens if you pass a stopped school bus in New York?
A first conviction carries a fine of $250 to $400, five points on the driving record, and up to 30 days in jail. The five points are the part worth remembering, because points accumulate toward a suspension threshold in a way a one-off fine does not.
What is the alcohol limit for a driver under 21 in New York?
New York's zero tolerance law covers a measurable band from .02 to .07 — below the adult limit of 0.08 and above absolute zero. A 19-year-old at .04 is therefore in violation even though that reading is half the adult limit and happens to match the commercial threshold exactly.
What are the penalties for a zero tolerance violation in New York?
A first finding suspends the licence for six months and requires two payments before relicensing — a $100 suspension termination fee and a $125 civil penalty, $225 in total. A second violation revokes the licence for at least one year or until the driver turns 21, whichever is longer, which for a 17-year-old is by far the longer of the two.
How old do you have to be to get a learner permit in New York?
New York State residents 16 and older can apply. That is the age for the permit itself, which is separate from the age at which restrictions on the resulting licence lift. Neighbouring states set the permit age differently, so a figure carried over from another state is a common source of error.
Sources
- 1.School Bus Safety — NY DMV — New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (accessed Jul 31, 2026)
- 2.Penalties for Alcohol or Drug-Related Violations — NY DMV — New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (accessed Jul 31, 2026)
- 3.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (accessed Jul 31, 2026)
- 4.Get a Driver License — NY DMV — New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (accessed Jul 31, 2026)
Official sources
Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.
- New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic ControlNew York State Department of Motor Vehiclesdmv.ny.gov
- New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 5: Intersections and TurnsNew York State Department of Motor Vehiclesdmv.ny.gov
- School Bus Safety — NY DMVNew York State Department of Motor Vehiclesdmv.ny.gov
- Penalties for Alcohol or Drug-Related Violations — NY DMVNew York State Department of Motor Vehiclesdmv.ny.gov
- Get a Driver License — NY DMVNew York State Department of Motor Vehiclesdmv.ny.gov
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