New York DMV Permit Test: 20 Questions, 14 to Pass & the 2-of-4 Road Sign Rule
Short answer: the official New York State DMV Class D learner’s permit test has 20 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you must meet two requirements at the same time: answer at least 14 of the 20 questions correctly (70%) overall, and answer at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions correctly (dmv.ny.gov, checked 2026-10-17).
Practise with our dual-rule scoring engine on the New York DMV Permit Test hub (488 English questions), launch continuous NY practice, or take a 20-question NY mock exam (16 rules + 4 signs). Taking the test in Chinese? Read our 纽约州 DMV 驾照笔试中文指南 or open 纽约州中文题库 (111 题).
How New York’s 14/20 overall + 2-of-4 road sign rule works
New York is one of the shortest car permit exams in the United States (20 questions, tied with Oklahoma and Vermont), but its mandatory road sign sub-score catches many unprepared applicants:
| New York DMV Exam Component | Questions | Minimum Correct | Min % | Practice & Mock Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class D Part A: Road Signs Sub-Requirement | 4 | 2 / 4 | 50% | NY Traffic Signs (176 EN) · 中文路标 (8 题) |
| Class D Part B: Rules of the Road & Safe Driving | 16 | Combined ≥ 14 / 20 | 70% total | All Topics Practice (488 EN) · 20-Q NY Mock Exam |
| Class M Motorcycle Learner’s Permit Test | 20 | 14 / 20 (≥ 2/4 signs) | 70% | NY Motorcycle Practice (84 Q) · 20-Q Moto Mock |
| New York CDL Commercial Permit (CLP) | 50 (Gen.) | 40 / 50 | 80% | NY CDL Bank (389 Q) · Start CDL Practice |
New York Class D question bank breakdown by Driver’s Manual topic
Questions on the NY permit exam come from chapters 4 through 11 of the New York State Driver’s Manual. Notice that Traffic Signs (176 questions, 36%) and Impaired Driving / Alcohol & Drugs (52 EN / 22 ZH) are heavily represented:
| NY Driver’s Manual Topic | English Qs | EN Share | Chinese Qs (中文) | Topic Drill Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Signs & Signals | 176 | 36% | 8 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Right of Way & Intersections | 26 | 5% | 16 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Speed Limits & Following Distance | 22 | 5% | 0 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Impaired Driving & Penalties | 52 | 11% | 22 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Parking & Stopping Rules | 23 | 5% | 4 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Highway & Freeway Driving | 35 | 7% | 12 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Bad Weather & Night Driving | 38 | 8% | 4 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Sharing the Road | 48 | 10% | 7 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Licensing, Demerits & Penalties | 5 | 1% | 1 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation | 22 | 5% | 10 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
| General Driving Knowledge | 41 | 8% | 27 | English Drill · 中文练习 |
Road signs tested on the 2-of-4 sign requirement
- Study Chapters 4–11 of the NY Driver's Manual
- Master the 176 Traffic Signs & 52 Impaired Driving questions
- Pass the 20-question NY mock exam (≥14/20 and ≥2/4 signs)
- Take the NY permit test online or at a DMV office
- Bring 6 points of ID to the DMV to collect your permit
20 languages available on the New York DMV permit test
Per dmv.ny.gov, the Class D and Class M permit exams are available in 20 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, and Yiddish.
Frequently asked questions (New York Permit Test)
How many questions are on the New York DMV permit test?
The official New York State DMV Class D (car) and Class M (motorcycle) learner's permit test has 20 multiple-choice questions.
What is the passing score and road sign rule on the NY permit test?
To pass the New York permit test, you must answer at least 14 of the 20 questions correctly (70% overall) AND you must get at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions correct. Missing 3 road sign questions results in an automatic fail even if you answer all 16 rules questions correctly.
Can I take the New York DMV permit test in Chinese or other languages?
Yes. According to dmv.ny.gov, the New York learner's permit test is offered in 20 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, and Yiddish.
How many free New York DMV practice questions are in this bank?
We publish 488 English and 111 Chinese practice questions for the NY Class D permit test, plus 84 Class M motorcycle questions and 389 NY CDL commercial questions.
Official New York State DMV sources
- New York State DMV — Prepare for and Take Your Permit Test (20 Q, 14 pass, 2/4 signs, 20 languages) (checked 2026-10-17)
- New York State DMV — New York State Driver’s Manual & Practice Tests (checked 2026-10-17)