New York motorcycle practice test
20 questions on riding technique plus New York licensing rules. Each answer is tied to the rule it tests. No signup, no email.
20 questions, 30 minutes. The timer starts when you begin, and answers are shown at the end.
How the real New York exam is graded
New York DMV grades the written test on two conditions, and a paper has to meet both: at least 14 of the 20 questions right, and at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions right. A score of 14 or more still fails if 3 of the 4 sign questions are wrong. The car exam simulator here holds you to both, drawing exactly 4 road sign questions into every 20 question sitting. Class M uses the same 20 and 14, which is what the motorcycle paper runs at; it has no drawn sign questions to apply the sign condition to, so it is marked on the overall count only. DMV publishes no time limit for the office test and no rule ending it early, so the allowance on each paper is ours.
This paper allows 30 minutes. That allowance is ours, not New York DMV's, because no published limit exists for this test.
What is specific to New York
New York grades its written test on two conditions at once, the overall count and the road sign questions, and its graduated license rules change with geography. A junior license (Class DJ) cannot be used anywhere in the five boroughs of New York City, and a junior permit works there only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a parent, guardian or instructor, in a car with dual controls; the same law gives Long Island and upstate different hours and supervisors again. Every new driver, adults included, completes the 5-hour pre-licensing course or a 48-hour high school or college driver education program before a road test can be booked. New York City also reverses the statewide turn on red default under Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1111: no turn on red there unless a sign allows it. A driver under 21 with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 to 0.07 faces a six month suspension under Zero Tolerance, and since February 16, 2026 passing a stopped school bus costs 8 points rather than 5, against a suspension threshold of 11 points in 24 months.
How many attempts do you get?
Two knowledge test attempts per $10 application fee, then a new fee. DMV publishes no waiting period between written test attempts at an office. An applicant under 18 who passes the online permit test and goes to an office within 3 business days has to take it again there.
Source: Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 503(2)(a); New York State DMV, Prepare For and Take Your Permit Test, checked September 25, 2026.
Every question in this New York motorcycle practice test, with answers
All 61 questions this paper draws from, each with the correct answer, why it is correct, and the New York statute or handbook section it was drafted against. The paper itself picks a randomized subset and shuffles the options, so reading the list through is review rather than a shortcut.
1. For the shortest, safest stop on a motorcycle you should use:
- The rear brake only
- The front brake only
- Both brakes together, every time (correct answer)
- Engine braking alone
Answer: Both brakes together, every time. Both brakes together give the shortest stop. Weight piles onto the front tire the moment you slow, so the larger share of the work happens there, but the front on its own throws away what the rear can still contribute and the rear on its own roughly doubles the distance.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
2. The front brake on a motorcycle provides roughly what share of stopping power?
- None, it is for balance
- About a quarter
- About half
- About three quarters (correct answer)
Answer: About three quarters. Braking throws weight forward and loads the front tire, which is what lets it do roughly three quarters of the work of slowing the machine. Leaving that lever alone out of nerves is the classic beginner habit, and an expensive one.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
3. Your front wheel locks under hard braking. You should:
- Release the front brake, then reapply it smoothly (correct answer)
- Apply the rear brake harder
- Put a foot down
- Hold the brake and steer
Answer: Release the front brake, then reapply it smoothly. A locked front wheel loses steering and will fold the bike quickly. Release it immediately to let the wheel spin again, then squeeze back on progressively.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
4. The recommended sequence for taking a corner on a motorcycle is:
- Look, press, slow, roll
- Slow, look, press, roll (correct answer)
- Press, slow, roll, look
- Slow, press, look, roll
Answer: Slow, look, press, roll. Slow to your entry speed before the turn, look through the corner to where you want to go, press the handgrip to initiate lean, then roll on gentle throttle to stabilize the bike through the exit.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
5. To turn right at speed on a motorcycle you press:
- Neither, you steer with body weight only
- The left handgrip forward
- The right handgrip forward (correct answer)
- Both grips evenly
Answer: The right handgrip forward. Counter-steering. Once you are quicker than a brisk walk, a forward push on the right handgrip drops the machine into a right hand lean and it goes right. Push the left one and it goes left. Every rider is already doing this long before anybody puts a name to it.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
6. You enter a corner too fast and it tightens. The best response is:
- Sit upright and straighten the bike
- Release the throttle abruptly
- Brake hard mid-corner
- Look through the turn and lean further, trusting the available grip (correct answer)
Answer: Look through the turn and lean further, trusting the available grip. Most bikes have more lean available than the rider is using. Straightening up or grabbing the brakes mid-corner is what sends riders across the center line. Keep your eyes on the exit and lean more.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
7. The single greatest danger to a motorcyclist at an intersection is:
- An oncoming vehicle turning left across your path (correct answer)
- A vehicle following too closely
- Traffic signals changing
- Road surface debris
Answer: An oncoming vehicle turning left across your path. A car turning left across an approaching motorcycle is the most common multi-vehicle motorcycle crash. Drivers look for cars and a narrow headlight is easy to miss, so cover the brakes and be ready.
Source: NHTSA motorcycle crash causation data; MSF curriculum
8. Why should a rider avoid the center portion of the lane at a stop line?
- It is illegal to stop there
- Oil and fluid collect there and reduce grip (correct answer)
- It reduces visibility to the driver behind
- It is reserved for emergency vehicles
Answer: Oil and fluid collect there and reduce grip. Vehicles drip oil and coolant where their engines sit, so the center strip is the most contaminated part of the lane. Riding either wheel track keeps you on cleaner pavement.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
9. The safest following distance on a motorcycle in good conditions is at least:
- One second
- Two seconds
- Three seconds (correct answer)
- Five seconds
Answer: Three seconds. A minimum of two seconds is often quoted for cars, but a motorcycle benefits from three or more because braking is less forgiving and you need room to swerve as well as stop.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
10. To be seen by other drivers you should:
- Ride where you appear in their mirrors, with headlight on (correct answer)
- Stay directly behind larger vehicles
- Weave to attract attention
- Ride in the driver blind spot to stay clear
Answer: Ride where you appear in their mirrors, with headlight on. Position yourself where a driver naturally looks and where their mirrors cover. Sitting in a blind spot or tucked behind a truck removes you from every place they check.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
11. You must cross railway tracks that run at a shallow angle to your path. You should:
- Cross at the shallowest possible angle
- Move over inside your lane to meet the rails closer to square (correct answer)
- Brake while crossing
- Stand on the pegs and accelerate
Answer: Move over inside your lane to meet the rails closer to square. A shallow angle lets the groove catch your front wheel and steer it for you. Shift over inside your own lane so the rails come at you closer to square, and keep off the brakes while the tires are on the metal.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
12. You hit an unavoidable patch of gravel mid-corner. The best action is:
- Put a foot down for balance
- Brake hard immediately
- Stay off the brakes, hold a steady throttle and keep the bike upright as possible (correct answer)
- Accelerate through it
Answer: Stay off the brakes, hold a steady throttle and keep the bike upright as possible. Braking or steering sharply on loose surface is what causes the slide. Reduce lean, keep inputs smooth and steady, and let the bike carry through the patch.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
13. When is a wet road most slippery for a motorcycle?
- Only when standing water forms
- When the temperature is above 80F
- After hours of steady rain
- In the first few minutes of rainfall (correct answer)
Answer: In the first few minutes of rainfall. Oil and rubber lift off the surface when rain first arrives, before it washes away. The first few minutes carry the least grip, and painted lines and metal covers are worse again.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
14. The most important piece of protective equipment for a rider is:
- A helmet that meets the federal safety standard (correct answer)
- Boots
- A high visibility vest
- Gloves
Answer: A helmet that meets the federal safety standard. Head injury is the leading cause of motorcyclist death, and a helmet meeting the federal standard is the single most effective item. Eye protection, gloves, boots and abrasion-resistant clothing follow.
Source: NHTSA motorcycle safety data; FMVSS 218
15. Carrying a passenger changes the motorcycle by:
- Improving stability at all speeds
- Increasing stopping distance and slowing steering response (correct answer)
- Having no measurable effect
- Reducing the need for lean in corners
Answer: Increasing stopping distance and slowing steering response. Extra weight lengthens braking distance, slows acceleration and makes the bike steer more lazily. Brief the passenger to hold on, look over your shoulder into turns and keep their feet on the pegs at all times.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
16. Cargo carried on a motorcycle should be:
- Loaded entirely to one side
- As high as possible to keep it clear of the exhaust
- Kept low and secured close to the center of the bike (correct answer)
- Carried on the handlebars for easy access
Answer: Kept low and secured close to the center of the bike. Weight carried high or to one side raises the center of gravity and unsettles handling. Keep loads low, centered and firmly secured, and check them again after the first few miles.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
17. A pre-ride check on a motorcycle should always include:
- Only the brakes
- Only mirrors and lights
- Only fuel level
- Tires, controls, lights, oil, chassis and stands (correct answer)
Answer: Tires, controls, lights, oil, chassis and stands. The standard check runs tires and wheels, controls, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis including chain and suspension, and the side and center stands. On a bike a small fault becomes a crash far faster than in a car.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
18. When being followed too closely you should:
- Increase your own following distance to the vehicle ahead (correct answer)
- Brake sharply to warn them
- Move onto the shoulder
- Speed up to open a gap
Answer: Increase your own following distance to the vehicle ahead. You cannot control the driver behind, but you can give yourself more room in front so any stop you make is gentle and gradual. Braking sharply to make a point invites the collision you are trying to avoid.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
19. Riding at night, a motorcyclist should:
- Use high beams at all times
- Reduce speed and increase following distance (correct answer)
- Follow closely behind cars to use their lights
- Ride in the center of the lane only
Answer: Reduce speed and increase following distance. A single headlight shows less than a car and other drivers judge your distance and speed poorly in the dark. Slow down, leave more space, and use the lights of vehicles ahead to read the road further on.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
20. Alcohol affects a motorcyclist:
- Only above the legal limit
- Only on longer journeys
- Less than a car driver, because riding demands focus
- More seriously, because riding needs balance and fine judgment (correct answer)
Answer: More seriously, because riding needs balance and fine judgment. Riding demands balance, coordination and judgment, all of which alcohol degrades before the legal limit is reached. Motorcyclists are heavily over-represented in alcohol-involved fatal crashes.
Source: NHTSA motorcycle safety data
21. The safest way to change lanes on a motorcycle is:
- Signal, check mirrors and turn your head to check the blind spot (correct answer)
- Move first, then signal
- Rely on other drivers to see your headlight
- Signal and move, mirrors are enough
Answer: Signal, check mirrors and turn your head to check the blind spot. A motorcycle has blind spots too, and mirrors alone will not show a vehicle beside you. Signal, check mirrors, then physically turn your head before moving.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
22. To make a tight, slow turn such as a U-turn, a rider should:
- Use the front brake to control speed
- Use light rear brake with steady throttle and look where they want to finish (correct answer)
- Coast with the clutch fully in
- Lean the body away from the turn
Answer: Use light rear brake with steady throttle and look where they want to finish. Slow maneuvers are controlled with the clutch friction zone, a steady throttle and light rear brake. Grabbing the front brake at full lock is the classic way to drop the bike at walking pace.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
23. A dog runs toward your motorcycle. The recommended response is:
- Swerve into the next lane
- Kick at it as you pass
- Slow as you approach, then accelerate away as you reach it (correct answer)
- Stop completely and wait
Answer: Slow as you approach, then accelerate away as you reach it. Animals chase what is moving away at a predictable speed. Slowing then accelerating past changes your position faster than the animal can adjust, and it keeps both hands on the controls.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
24. When riding in a group, the recommended formation on a straight road is:
- Single file at all times
- Whatever spacing feels comfortable
- Two abreast, side by side
- Staggered, with a full lane for each rider through corners (correct answer)
Answer: Staggered, with a full lane for each rider through corners. A staggered formation keeps the group compact while giving each rider space to move within the lane. In corners the group should move to single file so every rider has the full lane to choose a line.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
25. Eye protection matters on a motorcycle because:
- Wind, insects and debris can blind a rider instantly (correct answer)
- It reduces engine noise
- It is required only at night
- It is only a comfort measure
Answer: Wind, insects and debris can blind a rider instantly. At road speed an insect or stone chip arrives with real force, and watering eyes alone can blind you long enough to leave the road. Many states require eye protection even where a helmet is optional.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider curriculum, as adopted in state rider handbooks
26. You are 16 with a junior learner permit. Before your road test, a parent or guardian must certify that you have practiced for at least:
- 40 hours, with 10 of them in heavy traffic
- 65 hours, with 20 of them at night
- 30 hours, with 10 of them at night
- 50 hours, with at least 15 of them after sunset (correct answer)
Answer: 50 hours, with at least 15 of them after sunset. A junior license is issued only after a parent or guardian certifies at least 50 hours of supervised practice, at least 15 of them after sunset. That certification goes on form MV-262, which you bring to the road test.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 502(2)(d); New York State DMV, Complete Pre-Licensing Requirements (dmv.ny.gov)
27. Who may supervise a New York learner permit holder of any age?
- A driver aged 21 or older, licensed for that type of vehicle, sitting in the front seat (correct answer)
- Only a parent or legal guardian, whatever their age
- A driver aged 25 or older with at least three years of experience
- Any licensed driver aged 18 or older, from any seat
Answer: A driver aged 21 or older, licensed for that type of vehicle, sitting in the front seat. Your supervisor must be at least 21 and hold a license valid in New York for the kind of vehicle you are driving. The manual also expects that person to sit up front beside you. Junior permits add tighter limits on who may supervise in New York City and on Long Island.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501(5)(a); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 1
28. A 16-year-old with a junior permit wants to practice in Brooklyn at 2 p.m. Which arrangement is legal?
- A licensed 22-year-old cousin in an ordinary car
- A parent, guardian or driving instructor in a car fitted with dual controls (correct answer)
- Any licensed adult, because it is daytime
- None, because junior permits can never be used in New York City
Answer: A parent, guardian or driving instructor in a car fitted with dual controls. In the five boroughs a junior permit works only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and only with a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor in a car with dual controls. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. it cannot be used in the city at all.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501(5)(b); New York State DMV, Learner Permit Restrictions (dmv.ny.gov)
29. On Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), when may a junior learner permit holder drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.?
- With any licensed driver aged 21 or older
- Only with a parent, guardian or driving instructor
- Never, because the junior permit is not valid there at night (correct answer)
- Only on expressways
Answer: Never, because the junior permit is not valid there at night. On Long Island a junior permit is usable only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor, or a licensed adult 21 or older whom the parent or guardian has authorized in writing. Upstate is different: night practice is allowed there, but only with a parent, guardian or instructor.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501(5)(b); New York State DMV, Learner Permit Restrictions (dmv.ny.gov)
30. Where in New York City may a driver with a Class DJ junior license drive?
- Anywhere, as long as a passenger aged 21 or older is present
- Anywhere in the city between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Only on highways and bridges, never on local streets
- Nowhere, because a junior license is not valid in the five boroughs (correct answer)
Answer: Nowhere, because a junior license is not valid in the five boroughs. A junior license does not permit driving in New York City at any hour, supervised or not. A 17-year-old who completes approved driver education and moves up to a Class D license is no longer bound by that ban.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501(3); New York State DMV, The Graduated License Law (dmv.ny.gov)
31. Upstate (outside New York City and Long Island), a junior license holder driving alone at 11 p.m. is legal only when:
- Driving directly between home and work or a school course (correct answer)
- Driving on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less
- Carrying at least one passenger aged 18 or older
- Driving within 10 miles of home
Answer: Driving directly between home and work or a school course. Upstate, a junior licensee may drive unsupervised from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., but from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. only for direct trips between home and a job or a school course. Any other night driving needs a qualifying supervisor such as a licensed parent or guardian, and a working teen should carry the employment certificate, form MV-58A.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501(3); New York State DMV, The Graduated License Law (dmv.ny.gov)
32. Driving on a junior license with no parent or instructor in the car, how many passengers under 21 who are not immediate family may you carry?
- None
- One (correct answer)
- Two
- Three
Answer: One. Junior permit and junior license holders may carry no more than one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family. The limit lifts only when a licensed parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor is in the car. Every occupant must also be in a seat belt or a child safety seat.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501-b(1) and (2)
33. If you are under 18, how long must your junior learner permit have been valid before a license can be issued?
- 30 days
- 90 days
- At least six months (correct answer)
- One full year
Answer: At least six months. A junior applicant cannot be licensed until the permit has been valid for at least six months. DMV applies this by not letting under-18 applicants schedule a road test until six months after the permit was issued.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 501-b(1); New York State DMV, Complete Pre-Licensing Requirements (dmv.ny.gov)
34. Which of these satisfies New York's pre-licensing requirement before a road test?
- Ten hours of lessons with a parent
- Passing the written test with a perfect score
- A Point and Insurance Reduction Program (defensive driving) course
- The 5-hour pre-licensing course, or a 48-hour high school or college driver education program (correct answer)
Answer: The 5-hour pre-licensing course, or a 48-hour high school or college driver education program. Every new driver needs either the 5-hour pre-licensing course or the longer approved driver education program before the road test, and you must already hold a learner permit when the course starts. A defensive driving course taken to reduce points or insurance does not count.
Source: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 1; New York State DMV, The Driver Pre-Licensing Course (dmv.ny.gov)
35. Even with a properly qualified supervisor, a New York learner permit holder of any age may not drive:
- On any interstate highway
- Across a bridge or through a tunnel run by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (correct answer)
- On any road posted above 45 mph
- In rain or snow
Answer: Across a bridge or through a tunnel run by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. Permit holders are barred from streets inside New York City parks, from Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority bridges and tunnels, from four named Westchester County parkways, and from DMV road test areas. These limits apply at every age, not only to junior permits.
Source: New York State DMV, Learner Permit Restrictions (dmv.ny.gov)
36. A junior license holder is convicted of one traffic violation worth three or more points. What happens?
- A $500 fine but no action against the license
- A written warning only
- The permit or license is suspended for 60 days (correct answer)
- The license is revoked until age 21
Answer: The permit or license is suspended for 60 days. For a junior permit or license, one serious violation or two lesser ones brings a 60-day suspension. Another such conviction within six months after the license is restored brings a 60-day revocation.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 510-c; New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 2; New York State DMV, The Graduated License Law (dmv.ny.gov)
37. You are stopped at a steady red light in Manhattan and want to turn right. No sign about turns on red is posted. You should:
- Turn right without stopping if the crosswalk is empty
- Turn right once the light has been red for 30 seconds
- Turn right after a full stop, once traffic and pedestrians are clear
- Wait for the green, because turning on red is banned in New York City unless a sign allows it (correct answer)
Answer: Wait for the green, because turning on red is banned in New York City unless a sign allows it. State law lets you turn right on a steady red after stopping and yielding, but that permission leaves out any city of one million people or more unless the city opts in by local law. So in New York City the starting point is the reverse of the rest of the state: you hold for the green unless a posted sign says a turn on red is allowed there.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1111(d)(2); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 4
38. On a road outside New York City with no speed limit sign, what is the maximum legal speed in New York?
- 55 mph (correct answer)
- 65 mph
- 45 mph
- 50 mph
Answer: 55 mph. Where no other limit has been set, New York caps speed at 55 mph. You must still go slower when conditions make that unsafe, because driving faster than is reasonable and prudent is a violation in itself.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1180(a) and (b)
39. Unless a different limit is posted, the speed limit in New York City is:
- 20 mph
- 25 mph (correct answer)
- 30 mph
- 35 mph
Answer: 25 mph. New York City has a default of 25 mph, well below the 55 mph that applies elsewhere in the state when nothing is posted. Watch for signs, because some city roads carry a different limit.
Source: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 8
40. At 2 p.m. it starts to rain and you switch on your windshield wipers. New York law requires you to:
- Do nothing, since it is daytime
- Turn on your hazard lights
- Turn on your headlights (correct answer)
- Switch to parking lights
Answer: Turn on your headlights. The headlight law has three triggers: the stretch from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, any time the road 1,000 feet ahead is not clearly visible, and any time your wipers are working against rain, sleet, snow, hail or similar weather. Daylight does not cancel the wiper trigger, and parking lights or daytime running lights do not satisfy it.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 375(2)(a); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 10
41. The New York written permit test has 20 questions. How many must you answer correctly to pass?
- 16
- 18
- 12
- 14 (correct answer)
Answer: 14. You need at least 14 of the 20 right. That alone is not enough, though: at least two of the four road sign questions must also be correct.
Source: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 1
42. On the New York written test you answer 17 of 20 correctly, but only one of the four road sign questions. What is the result?
- A fail, because at least two of the four sign questions must be correct (correct answer)
- A pass, with a sign retest the same day
- A conditional pass until the road test
- A pass, because 17 is above the pass mark
Answer: A fail, because at least two of the four sign questions must be correct. New York scores the paper two ways: 14 of 20 overall and at least two of the four sign questions. A strong overall score still fails if the sign questions fall short.
Source: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 1
43. Outside New York City, when may you turn left on a steady red light?
- Never
- From a one-way road onto another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding (correct answer)
- From any road onto a one-way road, without stopping
- Whenever no oncoming traffic is in sight
Answer: From a one-way road onto another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding. The one left turn you can make against a steady red is from a one-way street into another one-way street, and even then you come to a complete stop first and let cross traffic and anyone on foot go ahead. A posted sign can still forbid it, and New York City keeps its own default of no turns on red unless a sign allows them.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1111(d)(2); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 4
44. You face a steady red arrow pointing right. May you turn right after stopping?
- Only outside New York City
- Yes, after a full stop, the same as at a circular red
- No, a turn on red is not allowed against a red arrow (correct answer)
- Yes, if no pedestrians are present
Answer: No, a turn on red is not allowed against a red arrow. The turn-after-stopping allowance in New York law is written for a circular red only. A steady red arrow bars the exact movement it shows, so you wait where you are until the signal changes and releases that turn.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1111(d)(3); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 4
45. In New York, aggravated driving while intoxicated begins at a blood alcohol concentration of:
- 0.18 percent (correct answer)
- 0.08 percent
- 0.10 percent
- 0.15 percent
Answer: 0.18 percent. Ordinary DWI starts at 0.08 percent, while aggravated DWI starts at 0.18 percent and brings a license revocation of at least one year. A DWI or aggravated DWI conviction also means an ignition interlock for at least 12 months.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1192(2) and (2-a), s. 1193(1)(b) and (2)(b); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapters 2 and 9
46. Driving while ability impaired by alcohol (DWAI) in New York is linked to a blood alcohol concentration of:
- More than 0.02 up to 0.04
- More than 0.05 but below 0.08 (correct answer)
- 0.08 to 0.10
- 0.18 or more
Answer: More than 0.05 but below 0.08. A reading above 0.05 but under the 0.08 DWI level is evidence a court can weigh on whether alcohol impaired your driving, and from 0.07 it carries prima facie weight. A first DWAI conviction brings a 90-day suspension and a fine of $300 to $500.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1192(1), s. 1193(1)(a) and (2)(a), s. 1195(2); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 9
47. Under New York's Zero Tolerance law, a 19-year-old driver who has been drinking and has a BAC of 0.03 faces:
- Permanent loss of the license
- No penalty, since the limit is 0.08
- A six-month license suspension (correct answer)
- A warning letter only
Answer: A six-month license suspension. A driver under 21 with a BAC from 0.02 to 0.07 is dealt with by DMV rather than as a crime, and a first finding means a six-month suspension. A second finding means revocation for one year or until age 21, whichever is longer.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1192-a, s. 1194-a and s. 1193(2)(a)(2) and (2)(b)(7); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 2
48. A 30-year-old driver with a clean record refuses a chemical test after a DWI arrest in New York. What is the minimum license penalty?
- Nothing unless the driver is convicted of DWI
- A 90-day suspension
- A six-month suspension
- Revocation for at least one year, plus a $500 civil penalty (correct answer)
Answer: Revocation for at least one year, plus a $500 civil penalty. Driving in New York counts as consent to a chemical test, so a refusal confirmed at a DMV hearing brings at least a one-year revocation on its own, whatever happens to the DWI charge in court. A second refusal within five years raises the minimum to 18 months and the civil penalty to $750.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1194(2)(d); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapters 2 and 9
49. You are on a divided highway. A school bus on the other side of the median stops with its red lights flashing. You must:
- Stop, because New York requires it even across a divided highway (correct answer)
- Slow to 20 mph and pass carefully
- Stop only if children are visible
- Keep going, because the median separates you
Answer: Stop, because New York requires it even across a divided highway. The law puts the stopping duty on drivers meeting the bus and drivers coming up behind it alike. New York gives no pass for a median, so a bus loading children across a divided highway still stops you. The same duty applies on school grounds, parking lots included.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1174(a); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 6
50. When you stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, how far from the bus should you stay?
- At least 10 feet
- At least 20 feet (correct answer)
- At least 50 feet
- At least 5 feet
Answer: At least 20 feet. Leave a gap of 20 feet or more between your bumper and the bus. You stay put until the bus pulls away or its driver or a police officer waves you through, and that gap is the room children need to cross in front of you.
Source: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 6; New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1174(a)
51. How many points does New York add to your record for passing a stopped school bus?
- 3
- 5
- 8 (correct answer)
- 11
Answer: 8. Passing a stopped school bus now carries 8 points, up from 5 for violations before 16 February 2026. Because 11 points within 24 months can lead to suspension, one such conviction takes a driver most of the way there.
Source: New York State DMV, The New York State Driver Point System (dmv.ny.gov); New York State DMV, updated point values notice of 5 February 2026 (dmv.ny.gov); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 2
52. On a New York parkway with two lanes in your direction, a tow truck is stopped on the shoulder with its amber lights flashing. You should:
- Stop in your lane until the tow operator waves you past
- Sound your horn as you pass
- Keep your lane and speed, because the law covers only police, fire and ambulance vehicles
- Slow down and move out of the lane next to it if you can do so safely (correct answer)
Answer: Slow down and move out of the lane next to it if you can do so safely. New York's Move Over law is not limited to emergency vehicles. Hazard vehicles showing amber lights, such as tow trucks, get the same due care, and on parkways and other controlled-access highways that care includes leaving the lane beside the stopped vehicle when you can do so safely and legally.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1144-a(a) and (b); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 5
53. On a New York controlled-access highway, the Move Over law also applies when you approach:
- Any vehicle stopped or parked on the shoulder (correct answer)
- Vehicles with flashing red lights only
- Vehicles inside a work zone only
- Police vehicles only
Answer: Any vehicle stopped or parked on the shoulder. On parkways and controlled-access highways, the duty to take care and change lanes when safe covers any motor vehicle stopped on the shoulder, not just emergency or hazard vehicles. A broken-down car gets the same room as a patrol car.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1144-a(d); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 5
54. What does New York law say about holding a phone while driving?
- It is legal as long as one hand stays on the wheel
- Holding a phone or other device to talk, text, browse or play games is illegal, except to call for emergency help (correct answer)
- The ban applies only to drivers under 18
- It is legal on roads posted below 30 mph
Answer: Holding a phone or other device to talk, text, browse or play games is illegal, except to call for emergency help. Using a handheld phone or other portable electronic device while the vehicle is moving is banned for every driver, with an exception for reaching 911 or other emergency services. A conviction adds 5 points, and fines rise for repeat offenses within 18 months.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1225-c and s. 1225-d; New York State DMV, Cell Phone Use and Texting (dmv.ny.gov)
55. A junior license holder is convicted of texting while driving for the first time. What happens to the license?
- Revocation until age 21
- 5 points only
- A 30-day suspension
- A 120-day suspension (correct answer)
Answer: A 120-day suspension. For junior permit and license holders, a first phone or texting conviction means a 120-day suspension. A second one within six months after the license is restored means revocation for at least one year.
Source: New York State DMV, Cell Phone Use and Texting (dmv.ny.gov); New York State DMV, The Graduated License Law (dmv.ny.gov)
56. Who must wear a seat belt in a moving passenger car in New York?
- Every occupant, whatever their age or seat (correct answer)
- Only passengers under 18
- Only the driver and front seat passenger
- Front seat occupants plus back seat passengers under 16
Answer: Every occupant, whatever their age or seat. In a passenger car, New York requires every occupant, front and back, to be belted or in a proper child restraint. If a passenger under 16 is not properly restrained, the driver faces a fine of up to $100 and 3 points.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1229-c; New York State DMV, Occupant Restraint Law (dmv.ny.gov)
57. In New York, a child must ride in an appropriate child restraint system, not just a seat belt, until reaching age:
- 6
- 8 (correct answer)
- 12
- 4
Answer: 8. Children under 2 ride rear-facing, under 4 in a car seat suited to their size, and from 4 until their 8th birthday in a restraint that fits their height and weight. A child taller than 4 feet 9 inches or heavier than 100 pounds may use a lap and shoulder belt instead.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1229-c(1); New York State DMV, Occupant Restraint Law (dmv.ny.gov)
58. You come up behind a person riding a horse on a New York road. What does the law say about your horn?
- Use it only at night
- Tap it once to warn the rider
- Sounding it as you approach or pass the horse is illegal (correct answer)
- Use it only if the rider does not move over
Answer: Sounding it as you approach or pass the horse is illegal. On New York roads you may not use the horn at all while you come up on or go past a horse, since a startled animal can bolt or throw its rider. The same law asks you to come up on the horse at a speed that will not frighten it and to leave a reasonable gap as you go by.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 1146-a; New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 11
59. What are the minimum liability limits for a vehicle registered in New York?
- $50,000 / $100,000 injury and $25,000 property damage
- $30,000 / $60,000 injury and $15,000 property damage
- $15,000 / $30,000 injury and $5,000 property damage
- $25,000 / $50,000 injury, $50,000 / $100,000 death and $10,000 property damage (correct answer)
Answer: $25,000 / $50,000 injury, $50,000 / $100,000 death and $10,000 property damage. New York requires $25,000 for injury and $50,000 for death of one person, $50,000 for injury and $100,000 for death of two or more, and $10,000 for property damage. DMV will not accept an out-of-state insurance policy.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 311(4)(a); New York State DMV, Insurance Requirements (dmv.ny.gov)
60. You plan to cancel the liability insurance on a car registered in New York. What must you do first?
- Turn in the license plates to DMV before the coverage ends (correct answer)
- Keep the plates but park the car off the road
- Notify your local police
- Nothing, because the insurer tells DMV
Answer: Turn in the license plates to DMV before the coverage ends. A registered vehicle must stay insured for as long as the registration is valid, even if it is never driven. If you do not surrender the plates before coverage ends, you face daily civil penalties and a registration suspension, and after 90 days your license can be suspended too.
Source: New York State DMV, Auto Liability Insurance (dmv.ny.gov); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 3
61. When must a New York driver send DMV a crash report (form MV-104)?
- Only when police do not come to the scene
- Within 10 days, if anyone was hurt or killed or one person had more than $1,000 of property damage (correct answer)
- Within 30 days, after every crash
- Only when the other driver is uninsured
Answer: Within 10 days, if anyone was hurt or killed or one person had more than $1,000 of property damage. A report is due within 10 days when a crash injures or kills anyone, or damages any one person's property by more than $1,000. Skipping the report is a misdemeanor and can cost you your license or registration. When someone is hurt or killed, the police need to hear about it at once, which is a separate duty from the DMV form.
Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law s. 605(a); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 12
Other New York practice tests
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