New York Learners Permit
Ready to start driving? Obtaining a NYS learners permit is first step towards the streets and open highways of the New York state. We will walk you through all the way: from studying the state driving rules and laws with NY permit practice test questions and taking your New York state permit test to getting some driving hours behind your belt and exchanging your New York drivers permit to a full scale unrestricted drivers license! All you have to do is to take the first step, obtaining the 2013 NY learner's permit has never been easier than today!
Drivers Permit Test
If you finally made up your mind and you're ready to get on the road that will lead you to your New York driver's license, your first step may be scheduling the knowledge exam with the DMV. Note that the minimum age for obtaining a learners permit in New York is 16 and you will need the parental consent if you are under 18. The NYS permit test covers NY road signs and road rules and if you want to nail it, you should really invest some time into learning those rules.
Good news for those who have signed up for a New York drivers education class - you do not have to take the exam! This is the benefit of signing up and completing the class early. Just show the certificate of completion to the DMV along with some proof of ID and residence, take the vision exam and you will have your NYC drivers permit! Yes, it is as easy as it sounds!
Those who have not taken the class (although we really don't see why would anyone want to skip on it) can prepare for the exam by reading the official New York drivers manual. The book is probably the most complete and useful resource any New York learners permit applicant can find, it even tells you exactly what you need to learn for your learners permit test, so if you are still asking yourself "what do I need to study for the New York state permit test" - this is your answer! Since the drivers permit test is based exclusively on this book, you do not need any extra study materials to prepare for it, although studying these free permit practice test NY sample questions may come in handy. Make sure to check out other practice exams that are offered here, i.e. the DMV practice permit test NY quiz and the NYS driver's permit practice test. By doing as many sample learner's permit questions as possible you will ensure that you can pass your drivers permit test the first time you come into the office!
If you pass the exam, you are issued with a New York driver's permit right there on the spot! Congratulations, you can finally get behind the wheel and go for that first cruise around the block! However, don't get that excitement get the best of you, you still cannot drive alone and must observe all NYS driving permit restrictions!
Learners Permit Restrictions
Now we got to the part some people tend to forget - the permit is not a full unrestricted license and it comes with a number of restrictions. The main limitation of your NY learners permit is that you cannot drive alone, you must have another licensed driver supervise you at all times. The supervising driver must hold a valid drivers license and must have sufficient driving experience so that your driving sessions are safe. Passenger restrictions and curfew also apply.
Upgrading to Drivers License
When the time comes and you feel that you have outgrown your NYC drivers permit and are ready to apply for a drivers license, go ahead and schedule your NYS driving test with the DMV! By this time, you should have completed one of the drivers education or pre-licensing classes (yes, you have to take the class even if you are over 18 years of age and there is no way around it, so we advise that you do the class even before you apply for your learners permit. Applicants who are under 18 must have held a learners permit for at least 6 months before scheduling the driving test.
New York Graduated License
Safety is one of the main concerns when it comes to driving. Lack of proper education and driving experience are the main causes of traffic accidents. This is why the New York graduated drivers license system has been enacted. Your NYS driving permit, drivers ed classes, the long six months of waiting before you take your driving test - all these things are part of the graduated license system and they have all been designed to make your life behind the wheel safer. Trust us, it may seem like a nuisance now, but you will come to appreciate it if you take a look at crash statistics before the program went into effect and now.
How Long Is My NYS Learners Permit Valid For?
Your New York state drivers permit is valid for up to five years and there is usually an expiration date right there on your drivers permit. However, this does not mean that you actually need to hold it that long and as soon as you get some driving experience and meet other graduated drivers license requirements, you should go ahead and swap your NY learners permit for a full scale unrestricted drivers license!
