5h NY 5-Hour Course

Brooklyn road test sites

Brooklyn has six test sites, ranging from the Red Hook and Coney Island waterfronts to Canarsie and Starrett City in the east. Open a site below for its location and a booking form.

Road test request form

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Taking the road test in Brooklyn

Brooklyn has six road test sites. Two of them are in Canarsie, Seaview and Ditmas Avenue, and the other four are at Coney Island, Red Hook, Starrett City in the Spring Creek and East New York area, and Beverly Road in East Flatbush. The sites stretch from the shoreline in the southwest to residential neighborhoods in the east, so they feel quite different from one another.

When choosing among them, put travel time first. You want to arrive calm and on time, and a late arrival can mean the examiner is unable to test you, so a site that is an easy trip on the day of your test is worth more than one somebody online called easier. If you need an early date, staying open to more than one Brooklyn site, or to nearby Queens sites, gives a Rush search more to work with.

Brooklyn driving mixes double-parked delivery vans, cyclists, buses and tight curbside parking. Practice in similar residential and commercial streets in your own neighborhood, with plenty of parallel parking between real cars, but stay out of the road test area itself, where permit holders are not allowed to practice.

Everything you need for the NYC road test, in one place

The road test asks for more than driving skill. A few requirements have to be met before you can book, and on the day itself the examiner looks at your papers, your companion and the car before the drive begins. If one piece is missing at that point, the test may not go ahead, so read through this list once now and again in the week of your test. Each item includes the reason behind it, because a rule is much easier to remember when you know what it is there for.

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A valid learner permit with a test still on it

Booking a road test is only possible for someone whose New York State learner permit is valid, and your record also needs at least one road test that has not been used yet. The permit matters beyond test day because it is how DMV identifies you: the 9-digit ID number printed on its front is the key for booking, moving or canceling an appointment. If you have already failed two tests, DMV requires an additional fee before it lets you book again.

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A course certificate that is still valid

If you have never held a New York license, DMV will not schedule the test until your pre-licensing requirement is on file. For most people that means an MV-278 dated less than a year ago; a driver education certificate (MV-285) counts for two years, and a self-paced online completion counts if it is from the past year. The booking system asks for the certificate number, so keep the certificate close when you or we make the appointment. If the MV-278 gets lost, the school that ran your course replaces it, not DMV, and you need the replacement before booking.

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Under 18: six months on the permit and a signed MV-262

Applicants under 18 have to wait until the permit is at least six months old before booking, and any stretch when it was suspended is not counted. They must also log a minimum of 50 supervised hours behind the wheel, 15 or more of them after sunset, and a parent or guardian signs form MV-262 to certify those hours. The examiner keeps a completed MV-262 at every attempt, so have one ready each time you test, not only the first time. The idea behind both rules is that a teen reaches the license only after real practice, including driving after dark.

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The documents to carry into the test

The examiner checks and photographs your papers before the drive, so each one has to be the real thing. Bring the physical New York photo learner permit (NY Mobile ID is not accepted) and, if you took a classroom or live class, the original MV-278, since photocopies are refused. An interim permit without a photo must be paired with a New York photo license or a New York non-driver ID that shows your photo, because photo documents from other states do not count. New residents testing with a license from another country that is not printed in English also need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified translation, and once they pass, the foreign license stays with the examiner.

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Glasses or contact lenses, if your permit says so

Look at your permit for a corrective lens restriction. If it has one, wear or bring your glasses or contacts on test day, because the restriction applies to every drive, the test included. If you normally wear contacts, a spare pair of glasses in your bag is a simple precaution.

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An accompanying driver who meets the rule

You cannot come alone. When someone with a license does the driving to the site, that driver needs to be over 18; when you drive there on your own permit, your companion must be over 21, because a learner may only be behind the wheel with someone 21 or older who holds a license for that class of vehicle. Either way, the companion has to carry an actual license card that covers the test car, and Mobile ID is not accepted for them either. Settle the date with them early: road tests are nearly always held on weekdays, which can mean taking a day off work.

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A car that passes the paperwork check

DMV does not provide cars, so the car is yours to arrange, and the examiner takes photos of it before you set off. Its registration, insurance and inspection must all be current; it needs two permanent plates rather than an in-transit permit; and it must be clean and work properly, including the doors and seat belts, with the front passenger belt free for the examiner. A rental also needs the rental agreement and written permission for road test use, and during the test, adaptive cruise control and self-parking must stay switched off. If you have no car of your own, or no licensed driver who can bring you, our car is $115 per test day: fully insured, ready for the DMV test, waiting at your test site, with a short warm-up drive first.

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Arrival time and a final check

DMV suggests arriving as much as 15 minutes before your test time. Lateness is the real risk: a late applicant may not be tested at all and then has to rebook. Our own advice is to be in the area about 30 minutes ahead, or a full hour when you test in our car, because the warm-up drive comes first. Before leaving home, confirm that the appointment still stands, since DMV can cancel or move tests for bad weather or road construction, and wear clothes suited to the weather, as some sites have no shelter at all.

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What to leave behind, and who cannot come

Only your accompanying driver may be at the site with you, so relatives, friends and children will have to wait somewhere else, however much they want to cheer you on. Photocopies of the MV-278 and phone versions of your ID are not accepted, so they cannot stand in for a forgotten original. State law prohibits firearms at DMV road test sites unless otherwise authorized. If a driving instructor brings you, DMV's guidance for driving schools says the instructor does not ride along and should not coach you at the site.

A reminder about who we are: we are a private, independent business, not part of DMV, and road tests are given only by DMV examiners. Anything DMV charges is paid to New York State separately. If you would rather not search for a date yourself, we can book a Standard appointment for $25 (usually about 5-9 weeks, depending on the site) or a Rush appointment for $75 (usually about 1-3 weeks, often by checking several nearby sites), and the date and time are sent to you by text or email.

Test day, step by step

Knowing the order of events takes a lot of the stress out of the day. Here is how a typical New York road test unfolds, from the moment you leave home to the moment your result appears online.

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    Check your appointment before leaving

    DMV can cancel, move or reschedule tests because of bad weather or road construction. Look up your appointment in the DMV scheduling system before you head out, so you do not cross the city for a test that is no longer happening. Put your documents in one folder the night before so nothing gets left behind.

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    Arrive with a margin

    DMV's guidance is to be at the site up to 15 minutes before your appointment, and it warns that if you are late the examiner may not be able to test you. Parking and finding the line in an unfamiliar neighborhood take time, so we suggest reaching the area about 30 minutes ahead. If you are using our car, plan on 60 minutes, because the warm-up drive happens before the test.

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    Dress for the outdoors

    Not every road test site has a shelter, and you may spend a while waiting outside or in the car. Wear clothes that suit the weather and shoes that let you feel the pedals. Heavy boots or loose sandals make smooth braking harder than it needs to be.

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    Join the line of test cars

    DMV's guidance for driving schools describes the car pulling up to the end of the line of waiting test cars, with paperwork ready for the examiner. Keep your permit, your original MV-278 and, if you are under 18, your signed MV-262 in your hand rather than at the bottom of a bag.

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    Document check and photos

    The examiner reviews your documents and photographs you, your paperwork, your learner permit and the car. The car is photographed too, and it has to meet DMV's requirements: valid papers, permanent plates, working doors and seat belts, and a clean, usable front passenger belt for the examiner. If the car does not meet the requirements, the test may not go ahead and you would need a new date.

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    Your companion steps back

    Your accompanying driver is the only person allowed at the site with you, and DMV does not permit other passengers. DMV's guidance for driving schools tells instructors not to ride along, not to coach at the site and not to give the examiner opinions about the student. Any companion is wise to follow the same approach and let the drive be between you and the examiner.

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    The drive

    The test is given on regular city streets near the site. Follow the examiner's instructions, drive the way you practiced, and do not try to guess what comes next: DMV's guidance for driving schools says plainly that examiners do not try to trick applicants. Expect parallel parking, which the Driver's Manual includes in every road test, and be ready for a three-point turn, which may be requested.

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    Your result and what follows

    When the drive ends you receive a card that explains how to look up your result. Results are posted online after 6 p.m. on the day of the test. If you passed, you can get your interim license online and start driving with it alongside your photo permit. If not, you can book a new test after at least 14 days.

The 5-hour course: what it is and how to take it

The 5-hour pre-licensing course is a safety class that follows an outline written by DMV. It lasts about five hours and stays entirely on the knowledge side of driving: how drivers, vehicles and the road environment work together as one system, the habits that keep you out of crashes, how feelings and attitudes shape the risks people take, and what alcohol and other drugs do to a driver. State law requires at least two hours on alcohol and drugs, plus brief awareness segments covering school buses, motorcycles, work zones, road rage, and people on foot and on bikes. Practice behind the wheel is a separate job, because DMV notes that the course includes no driving and is not meant to get you ready for the road test on its own.

The thinking behind the requirement is that some lessons are far better learned in a classroom than discovered in traffic. DMV places the course within the state's highway safety program, which aims to prevent crashes, save lives and cut down on violations by new drivers. Its goals are practical ones: knowing your responsibilities and the rules of the road, understanding why seat belts matter, and recognizing how fatigue, alcohol and other drugs change the way a person drives. It is also not the defensive-driving (PIRP) course that brings insurance savings or point reductions; it is a separate requirement with its own purpose.

Anyone without a New York State driver license needs the course, or approved high school or college driver education, before DMV will put a road test on the calendar. That covers first-time adult learners, teens working toward a junior license, former New York drivers whose license has been expired for two years or longer, and people who moved here with a license from another country, who must also pass the written test and the road test. Drivers with a license from another U.S. state or a Canadian province can exchange a qualifying license through DMV's separate process, which does not list the course. Our class is taught live by an instructor, the format DMV calls distance learning, so it is open from age 16; the self-paced online program is a different format reserved for people 18 and older.

Finishing the class earns you the MV-278, the Pre-Licensing Course Completion Certificate, which DMV needs before it will schedule your road test. It is issued after you complete the class, and we tell you when yours is ready. The certificate is good for one year after the date it was issued and cannot be renewed, so if it lapses before you book, the course has to be taken again. Bring the original to the road test, because copies are not accepted, and if it is ever lost, the school that taught the course replaces it, not DMV.

What you need to take the course

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    Your learner permit comes first

    DMV requires a valid New York learner permit before any format of the course can begin, so the permit test is your first step. The school uses the permit to confirm who you are and that you are eligible for the class. If you just passed the permit test and the card is still in the mail, DMV says to allow up to three weeks for a mailed photo document.

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    Your permit card, ready for the camera

    When the instructor asks, you hold your permit up to the camera so your identity can be checked before teaching begins. A plastic photo permit is all you need for this check. An interim permit works only together with a New York government photo ID, such as a non-driver ID card or an expired New York photo license or permit, and a passport or an out-of-state license by itself will not take its place.

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    A device with a camera and a microphone

    A laptop, tablet or smartphone will do, as long as the camera and microphone both work, because the instructor needs to see you and hear you when you ask a question. A phone is fine, but a bigger screen is easier on the eyes over a five-hour class. Test the camera and sound a day ahead, and keep a charger plugged in nearby.

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    A stable internet connection

    The class is live, so a connection that keeps dropping means missed material and a frozen picture. Sit where your Wi-Fi is strongest, or use a reliable data plan, and ask others at home to hold off on heavy streaming during class. If you can choose, a spot near the router is more dependable than a weak signal at the far end of the apartment.

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    A quiet place you can stay in

    Pick a spot where you can sit, listen and speak without interruptions, such as a room with the door closed or a table away from the TV. Background noise makes the material harder to absorb and makes it awkward to unmute and ask a question. If other people are home, a pair of earphones helps.

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    The whole block of time

    The class is one continuous live session of about five hours, so treat it like a work shift: no errands, no appointments, nothing that would pull you away halfway through. Plan to connect a few minutes before the start time, because late arrivals may not be admitted. Eat beforehand and keep water nearby so you can stay focused to the end.

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    Your language: English or Spanish

    We run separate groups in English and in Spanish, and a bilingual instructor leads the Spanish groups. Choose the language you would feel comfortable raising your hand in, because legal ideas such as implied consent are easier to grasp in your strongest language. The certificate is the same MV-278 whichever group you join.

How the course works, step by step

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    Choose a date and a language

    Open our schedule, which shows the open dates for each language group. Seats in every group are limited, so it makes sense to reserve as soon as you know which date works. Think about timing as well: the certificate is valid for one year and must be valid when you book, so take the course when you expect to book your road test within that year.

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    Sign up and pay $40

    Sign up for the group you chose. The $40 covers the live class and your MV-278 certificate, with no separate charge for the certificate. That price is ours alone; DMV fees for the permit and the road test are separate and go to the state.

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    Watch for your join link

    After you sign up, the link to the live class is sent to you along with instructions for joining. Keep that message somewhere easy to find on class day, and check ahead of time that the device you plan to use can open the link, so any app download or permission prompt is handled before class starts.

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    Connect a few minutes early

    On class day, connect a few minutes before the start time. Arriving late can mean being kept out, and those spare minutes let you fix a muted microphone or a dark camera calmly instead of in a rush. Sit facing a light source so the instructor can see you clearly.

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    Show your permit on camera

    Before teaching starts, the instructor verifies each student's identity. When asked, hold your photo permit, or your interim permit together with your New York photo ID, up to the camera. This step is what makes sure the certificate goes to the person who really attended.

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    The live class itself

    An instructor teaches the entire session in real time, and you can ask questions as each topic comes up: the highway transportation system, defensive driving and keeping a space cushion, right-of-way and intersections, distraction and fatigue, sharing the road, aggressive driving and road rage, and the alcohol and drug laws, including Zero Tolerance and Leandra's Law. Nobody drives at any point, and there is no final exam; you complete the course by attending the whole class. Stay with the group until the instructor closes the session.

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    After class: your certificate, then your road test

    Your MV-278 is issued after you complete the class, and we let you know when it is ready. Store the original somewhere dry where it will not get creased, since only the original is accepted at the road test, and DMV's guidance for live distance-learning classes says the student signs the certificate before booking. Then book your road test, either on your own through DMV or through us with a $25 Standard or $75 Rush booking. The booking asks for the certificate number, the 9-digit permit ID, the ZIP code of the area you would like to test in, a cell phone number and information about the car you will bring.

Road test sites in other boroughs

Road test FAQ

What has to be done before a road test can be booked?

If you do not already hold a New York license, you need three things: a valid learner permit, an unused road test on your record, and a completed pre-licensing requirement. For most people that last item is the MV-278 certificate from the 5-hour course, and DMV will not schedule the test without it. Applicants under 18 also need six months on the permit. The certificate is valid for one year from the day it is issued and cannot be extended, so plan the course with your booking in mind. Our live online 5-hour course costs $40 with the certificate included, and we run groups in English and in Spanish.

How long will I wait for a test date?

With our Standard booking at $25, most people wait about 5-9 weeks, depending on the site. With Rush at $75, we search for the soonest openings, often at several nearby sites, and most people wait about 1-3 weeks. Summer and school breaks are the busiest times, and being flexible about the site usually brings an earlier date.

I have a driver license from another country. Do I still need a road test?

Yes. DMV treats a new New York resident with a license from another country, other than Canada, as a new applicant: you pass the written test, complete the 5-hour course and pass the road test. After you pass, you hand your foreign license to the examiner. If that license is not printed in English, bring an International Driving Permit or a certified translation to the road test.

Who can come with me to the test site?

One accompanying driver and nobody else. That person must be over 18 if they drive you to the site, or over 21 if you drive there yourself with them beside you, and must carry a physical license valid for the test car. NY Mobile ID is not accepted. DMV does not allow other passengers at the site, so family and friends should stay home.

What do I need to bring?

Your physical New York photo learner permit, your original MV-278 (photocopies are not accepted), a completed MV-262 if you are under 18, glasses or contact lenses if your permit lists a corrective lens restriction, and a car that meets the test requirements, or our car. If you have only an interim permit without a photo, also bring a New York photo license or non-driver ID, because photo IDs from other states are not accepted.

How early should I arrive?

DMV's guidance is to arrive up to 15 minutes before the appointment, and it warns that if you are late the examiner may not be able to test you. We suggest reaching the area about 30 minutes ahead to allow for parking and finding the line. If you are using our car, plan on 60 minutes, because the warm-up drive takes place before your test.

Can I take the test without a car of my own?

Yes. DMV does not provide a car, but you can book ours for $115 per test day. It carries full insurance, it is set up for the DMV road test, it is brought to your test site, and a brief warm-up drive comes with it. It is meant for people who have no car of their own or no licensed driver available to bring them.

How is the road test scored? Is there a point system?

DMV does not publish a score sheet, point values or a pass line for the Class D test, so point charts you find online are unofficial. DMV's guidance for driving schools lists the scored areas as turning, parallel parking, observation, U-turns, judgment and rules of the road, and says the examiner does not try to trick applicants. Practicing those areas thoroughly is the most reliable preparation.

How long does the road test take?

DMV does not publish an official length for the Class D road test, so treat exact numbers you see online with caution. The visit as a whole takes longer than the drive, because there is a line, a document check and photos first. Avoid booking anything important right after your appointment.

When will I know if I passed?

At the end of the drive you receive a card explaining how to check your result. Results are posted online after 6 p.m. on the day of the test. If you passed, you can get an interim license online and drive with it together with your photo permit, and the photo license arrives by mail in about two weeks.

What happens if I fail?

Your learner permit stays valid until its expiration date, and you can take the test again after at least 14 days. The fee you paid for the permit covers two road tests. After two failed tests, you pay $10 for two more before you can book again. Use the time between attempts for focused practice on the scored areas.

Can I get help in a language other than English?

DMV offers free phone language assistance at 1-518-486-9786 in 12 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Korean, Haitian Creole and Arabic, and the road test scheduling sheet and results card are among its translated documents. DMV's road test pages do not mention interpreters at the test, and only your accompanying driver may come to the site, so it makes sense to learn common driving instructions in English before test day. Our 5-hour course has groups in both English and Spanish.

What if my test date stops working for me?

If we booked your appointment, let us know 48 or more hours before the test, and we will work with you on a new date. A fee can apply to the change. DMV can also move or cancel tests because of bad weather or road construction, so check your appointment before you leave home.

Are you the DMV?

No. We are a private, independent company, not a government agency. Road tests are given by DMV examiners, and anything DMV charges, such as the permit fee that covers your first two tests, is paid to New York State, not to us. Our prices cover only our own services: $25 for a Standard booking, $75 for Rush and $115 for the road test car.