New York's 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course, Practice Hours and Road Test

What New York DMV requires before a road test: the 5-hour pre-licensing course, 50 hours of supervised practice for junior permit holders, form MV-262, and how licensed driving schools fit in.

The steps in order

Getting a first New York driver license follows a fixed path set by the Department of Motor Vehicles:

1. Pass the written permit test and get a learner permit.
2. Practice driving under supervision, following the learner permit restrictions.
3. Complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course, unless you take a 48-hour driver education program instead.
4. Schedule and take the road test.

Licensed driving schools can help with steps 2 to 4. This site lists the schools in the DMV's current list of licensed driving schools, with the courses each one reported to DMV.

The pre-licensing course

DMV describes the Pre-Licensing Course, also called the 5-Hour Course, as a DMV-approved, standardized course that gives new drivers the knowledge they need. It covers driving within the highway transportation system, driver habits and skills, feelings, attitudes and risk-taking, and alcohol, other drugs and driving (NY DMV: complete pre-licensing requirements).

All new drivers must complete it before taking a DMV road test and applying for a license, unless they complete a 48-hour Driver Education Program through their high school or college. Look for the "Pre-licensing (5-hour) course" label on a school's profile. The DMV list records which schools offer it, based on each school's most recent application.

Supervised practice for junior permit holders

Holders of a Class DJ or MJ learner permit (the junior permits for drivers under 18) must have at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving, including at least 15 hours after sunset, before the road test. A parent or guardian signs the Certification of Supervised Driving (MV-262), which you bring to the road test. Drivers under 18 must also wait at least six months from the date the learner permit was issued before scheduling the road test.

DMV points out that lessons at a licensed driving school are one way to get supervised practice. Many families mix professional lessons, especially early on and for highway, night and parallel-parking practice, with practice at home.

Driving with a junior license

New York's Graduated Driver License (GDL) law sets different rules in three regions (NY DMV: the graduated license law):

• Upstate (counties north of New York City): junior license holders may drive unsupervised from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with at most one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member. Between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. unsupervised driving is limited to going directly between home and work or a school course.
• New York City (the five boroughs): a junior license does not allow driving in the city under any circumstances.
• Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk): junior license holders generally may drive only under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, authorized supervising driver, driver education teacher or driving school instructor, with limited exceptions.

A 17-year-old who completes a State Education Department-approved Driver and Traffic Safety Education course and submits the Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285) can receive a Class D senior license, which allows unrestricted driving anywhere in the state.

Choosing lessons in New York

• Check the school number. Each listing here shows the school's DMV school number. Branches have their own numbers.
• Match the course to the vehicle. The DMV list separates car lessons, motorcycle, truck, tractor-trailer and bus. Motorcycle and commercial training are offered by fewer schools.
• Ask about road test packages. Many schools offer a lesson before the test and the use of their dual-control car for the test. Ask what is included and what happens if the test is rescheduled.
• Ask about the certificate. After the 5-hour course you need the completion certificate to book a road test, so ask how and when the school issues it.

Booking and taking the road test

To schedule a road test you need your learner permit, the original pre-licensing course certificate (MV-278) or a Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285), and an unused road test, according to the DMV's road test page. DMV says the earliest available date is usually three to five weeks out, and up to ten weeks in summer and school breaks, so book as soon as you are eligible. You can test anywhere in the state.

On test day bring the photo learner permit, the original MV-278 (copies are not accepted), the MV-262 if you are under 18, and a vehicle with valid registration, insurance and inspection. An accompanying driver with a physical license valid for the test vehicle must come too: over 18 if a licensed driver drives you to the site, or over 21 if you drive there yourself. No other passengers are allowed, and practice driving at test sites is not permitted. Many driving schools offer a package with a warm-up lesson and their car for the test, which covers these requirements. If you fail, you must wait at least 14 days to retest, and additional fees apply after the first two tests.

After you are licensed: PIRP

New York's defensive driving program is separate. The Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) is offered by DMV-approved sponsors in classrooms and online. Completing it can cut the base rate of your auto insurance premium by 10% for three years, and it subtracts up to 4 points when DMV calculates a possible suspension (the points stay on your record). DMV says the classroom course runs 320 minutes (NY DMV: PIRP). PIRP sponsors are approved separately and are not in the driving school list used here.

Commercial licenses

If you are training for a commercial driver license, look at schools with truck, tractor-trailer or bus listed. Federal entry-level driver training rules also apply to most first-time CDL applicants, so ask the school whether it is listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.

Updated 2026-10-16.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Driving School Check is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.