2026 New York DMV Tests & Permit Practice – 100% Trust Score

Lanes marked with a diamond symbol are known as carpool or high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

The symbol is used to designate reserved lanes for buses, high-occupancy vehicles, bicycles, or other special vehicles.

A junior permit must be held for a minimum of six months, excluding any time the permit is suspended or revoked, before a road test can be scheduled.

This applies unless you are 17 years old and hold a valid Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285).

New York is a primary enforcement state. A law enforcement officer can issue a traffic ticket for failure to wear a seat belt. Even without observing another violation. This law also applies to visitors from outside New York State.

You cannot park, stop, or stand on the roadside of a parked vehicle (this is known as double parking).

Do not go under lowering gates or around lowered gates. Flashing red lights indicate you must stop and wait. Do not proceed over the crossing until the red lights stop flashing, even if the gate rises.

Circular (round) signs mean there is a railroad crossing ahead. Use caution, and be prepared to stop.

No Turn on Red.

You may not turn right or left during the red light where these signs are posted. Wait for a green light before you turn.

Eight-sided red stop signs mean you must make a full stop. Stop before entering a crosswalk or at a white limit line. If a crosswalk or limit line is not painted on the street, stop at the corner without entering the intersection.

A flashing red signal light means stop. After stopping, you may proceed when it is safe. Observe the right-of-way rules.

Warning signs are normally yellow and diamond-shaped, with black letters or symbols. They mean that you are approaching a hazardous location or a location where there is a special rule.

No-zone is a highway safety term that describes areas on the side, front and rear of large trucks where passenger vehicles disappear from view and where accidents are most likely to occur.

Different from cars, large vehicles have deep blind spots behind them. They also have larger blind spots on both sides. Tractors with long hoods can have a blind spot of 20 feet in front of the vehicle. You should avoid these no zones.

The law requires you to use your headlights from one-half hour after the sun sets to one-half hour before the sun rises, when visibility is less than 1,000 feet (300 m) and when you use your windshield wipers to clear rain, snow, or sleet.

You must obey the speed limit.

The speed you can drive your vehicle depends on the posted speed limit, the road conditions, and the weather. By law, you must drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. The posted speed limit is the fastest speed you can legally drive under ideal driving conditions.

Remember, a police officer can ticket you for driving at a speed not reasonable for the conditions.

Alcohol reduces reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly, changes your judgment of speed and distances, often makes you less inhibited and makes you more prone to take chances. The important skills you need to drive safely are made weaker.

Headed uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a few inches. The curb will stop the car from rolling anywhere.

If your rear wheels start to skid:

• Turn the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go.
• Brake early, carefully, and gently.

If your front wheels skid:

• Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral or push in the clutch, but do not try to immediately steer
• When traction returns, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in drive or release the clutch.

Enter the expressway at or near the speed of traffic. Do not stop before merging with expressway traffic unless necessary. Expressway traffic has the right of way. Watch for vehicles around you. Use your mirrors and turn signals. Turn your head to look quickly to the side before changing lanes.

When following large trucks, increase your following distance to at least three or four seconds for additional space.

Different from cars, large vehicles have deep blind spots behind them. If you remain in the back blind spot of a large vehicle, you increase the chance of a crash. The other driver cannot see your car and your view of other traffic will be blocked.

Eating before or while you drink helps slow down alcohol absorption. It will not prevent you from getting intoxicated or being impaired.

Bicyclists have the right to share the road and travel in the same direction as motor vehicles. Give them room and slow down. Air pressure from a quickly passing vehicle can throw them off balance. Pass a bicyclist only when it can be done safely.