NY Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the New York question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. A New York sign has a red circle and slash over a symbol. What does that design communicate?

   1. A service area is available ahead
   2. A recommended route for the pictured vehicle
   3. The pictured action is not allowed or the vehicle is restricted
   4. The road surface is likely to be slippery
   Show answer

   The pictured action is not allowed or the vehicle is restricted. A red circle with a slash is a regulatory sign design that indicates the pictured action is not allowed or that some vehicles are restricted from the road. A service area uses a different sign category, and a route recommendation or slippery surface is not what the slash communicates. The visual cue is the prohibition mark itself: identify the symbol underneath, then read the sign as forbidding that action or vehicle use. This applies to signs such as a prohibited turn or restricted vehicle entry.

2. 2. Two vehicles enter an uncontrolled New York intersection at the same time. Which driver must yield?

   1. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
   2. The vehicle with more passengers yields
   3. Both drivers proceed together after sounding their horns
   4. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
   Show answer

   The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At an intersection without a traffic signal or sign, New York gives priority to the vehicle on the right when both drivers arrive together. The left-side driver must wait, even if that vehicle is larger or closer to the center of the road. A horn does not create a right-of-way exception, and entering simultaneously invites a collision. The practical cue is to compare positions before moving: if the other vehicle is on your right, yield and let it clear the intersection first.

3. 3. What must a New York driver do before entering a public road from a private driveway?

   1. Yield to all traffic and pedestrians on the public road
   2. Enter first because driveway traffic has priority
   3. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
   4. Stop only when a pedestrian is already in the driveway
   Show answer

   Yield to all traffic and pedestrians on the public road. Traffic already using the public roadway has priority over a vehicle emerging from private property. The driver must yield to all traffic and pedestrians, not merely the first car visible or traffic from one direction. A driveway opening does not function like a traffic signal, and sounding the horn cannot replace a safe gap. Before crossing the sidewalk or edge of the roadway, stop, scan both directions, check for people, and continue only when the path is clear.

4. 4. In a New York work zone, what should you do when a flagger directs traffic?

   1. Maintain the normal highway speed until a police officer arrives
   2. Slow down and obey the flagger's directions
   3. Pass the flagger if no workers are in your lane
   4. Stop only when a construction truck blocks the road
   Show answer

   Slow down and obey the flagger's directions. A work zone requires heightened attention, and a flagger's directions control the movement of traffic through that area. The absence of a separate work-zone speed sign does not authorize normal highway speed when conditions call for slower travel. Passing a flagger or waiting for police defeats the traffic-control system. The useful roadside cue is the person managing the lane: reduce speed early, watch the signals, and follow the instruction given for your vehicle.

5. 5. A New York driver under 21 is convicted of driving with a BAC of .08 percent. Which consequence applies?

   1. Only the first-offense Zero Tolerance suspension applies
   2. A minimum one-year license revocation
   3. The driver receives a warning because the person is under 21
   4. The license is suspended for 30 days with no criminal charge
   Show answer

   A minimum one-year license revocation. For a driver under 21, conviction for an alcohol or drug-related violation listed in the manual results in a minimum one-year license revocation. The rule describes the license consequence tied to the conviction, so it does not promise a warning or limit the action to a first Zero Tolerance suspension. A 30-day suspension is also a different penalty and duration. When reading an under-21 question, look for the word conviction and match it to the manual's stated minimum revocation period.

6. 6. Outside New York City, when may a New York driver turn left on red?

   1. From any street onto a one-way street after slowing
   2. From a two-way street onto a one-way street when no cars approach
   3. Only outside New York City during nighttime hours
   4. From one one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding
   Show answer

   From one one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding. Outside New York City, a driver may turn left on red only from a one-way road onto another one-way road. The driver must first come to a full stop and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and a sign or marking can still prohibit the movement. New York City has a stricter rule: a red turn is not allowed unless a sign specifically permits it. The useful memory cue is one-way to one-way, with the city exception checked before applying the statewide rule.

7. 7. How many classes of limited-use motorcycles, commonly called mopeds, does New York recognize?

   1. Two: Class M and Class MJ
   2. Three: Class A, Class B, and Class C
   3. Four, based only on engine size
   4. One class with identical operating rules
   Show answer

   Three: Class A, Class B, and Class C. New York divides mopeds into three classes based on maximum performance speed. Class A is the fastest group, while Classes B and C have lower speed ranges and more restricted lane use. The motorcycle license classes M and MJ are different from the moped class labels. Engine size alone is not the classification described in this manual. On a knowledge test, remember the sequence A, B, and C as three limited-use motorcycle categories.

8. 8. What is required to pass New York's 20-question written test?

   1. At least 10 total correct and all four sign questions correct
   2. At least 14 total correct with no sign requirement
   3. At least 16 total correct, regardless of sign answers
   4. At least 14 total correct and at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions correct
   Show answer

   At least 14 total correct and at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions correct. New York uses two passing checks for the written test. The applicant must answer at least 14 of 20 questions correctly and must also answer at least two of the four road-sign questions correctly. A strong overall score cannot erase a weak sign result, while getting two signs right is not enough if the total is below 14. Treat the exam as a total-score requirement plus a separate sign checkpoint when reviewing practice results.

9. 9. An applicant gets 15 of 20 New York test questions right but only one road-sign question. What is the result?

   1. The applicant passes because 15 correct answers exceeds the total cutoff
   2. The applicant passes if the missed sign was a warning sign
   3. The applicant fails because at least two road-sign questions must be correct
   4. The applicant receives a temporary permit and retakes only signs
   Show answer

   The applicant fails because at least two road-sign questions must be correct. Fifteen correct answers clears New York's overall threshold, but the applicant still misses the separate road-sign minimum. At least two of the four sign questions must be correct, regardless of the total score. The type of sign missed does not create a waiver, and the manual does not describe a partial permit for this result. When scoring a practice test, count the four sign answers independently after checking the total of 20.

10. 10. How many questions are on New York's written knowledge test for a passenger vehicle license?

    1. 15
    2. 20
    3. 25
    4. 40
    Show answer

    20. The New York written test asks 20 questions. Passing requires at least 14 correct overall, with an additional requirement involving the four road-sign questions. The numbers 15, 25, and 40 can sound plausible if an applicant confuses this test with another state's exam or a commercial test. Keep the format together in memory: twenty questions, fourteen needed, and two of four signs required.

11. 11. What must a New York driver do when approaching a horse being ridden or walked along the road?

    1. Use an acceptable speed and distance, without sounding the horn
    2. Pass within one vehicle width if the lane is open
    3. Accelerate past before the horse can react
    4. Sound the horn briefly so the rider knows the car is near
    Show answer

    Use an acceptable speed and distance, without sounding the horn. New York requires care around a horse, including an acceptable speed and an acceptable distance. The driver must not sound the horn when approaching or passing because the noise can startle the animal. A close pass or quick acceleration reduces the rider's margin and contradicts the safety rule. The practical cue is quiet space: slow enough to remain controlled, leave generous room, and let the horse and rider proceed without a sudden blast or maneuver.

12. 12. What is a driver prohibited from doing in a New York dedicated bicycle lane or bike box?

    1. Checking for bicycles before turning across it
    2. Reducing speed near the marked area
    3. Yielding to a cyclist using the space
    4. Operating in the dedicated space
    Show answer

    Operating in the dedicated space. New York's manual says drivers are prohibited from operating in dedicated bicycle spaces, including bicycle lanes and bike boxes. Checking, yielding, and slowing are safety actions that help a driver cross or turn near the feature without entering it as a travel lane. The green paint increases visibility but does not make the area available for passing or waiting. Use the marking as a boundary: scan for cyclists, yield as needed, and cross only when the maneuver is lawful and safe.

13. 13. A school bus is stopped with flashing red lights on an undivided New York road. How far away should approaching traffic stop?

    1. At least 20 feet from the bus
    2. At least 50 feet from the bus
    3. Only behind the nearest intersection
    4. At least 5 feet from the bus
    Show answer

    At least 20 feet from the bus. When a stopped school bus flashes red lights, traffic from either direction must stop at least 20 feet away. Five feet leaves too little space for children and the bus, while 50 feet is not the distance specified by this rule. Waiting behind an intersection is also not a substitute for stopping before reaching the bus. The roadside cue is red lights plus the school bus: stop 20 feet back and remain there until the bus moves or a driver or traffic officer signals you forward.

14. 14. What following interval does the New York manual recommend under normal driving conditions?

    1. At least one second
    2. A fixed half-car length
    3. At least two seconds
    4. Ten seconds in every situation
    Show answer

    At least two seconds. New York recommends leaving at least two seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead under normal conditions. A one-second gap or a fixed half-car length can disappear before a driver reacts, especially as speed changes. Ten seconds may be useful in unusually difficult conditions but is not the normal baseline stated here. Pick a stationary roadside reference, note when the vehicle ahead passes it, and count until your own vehicle reaches that point. Increase the interval for rain, snow, darkness, or heavy traffic.

15. 15. If a New York driver's brake pedal suddenly goes to the floor, what should be tried first?

    1. Turn off the ignition immediately
    2. Pump the pedal to increase pressure
    3. Shift into reverse at once
    4. Pull the parking brake sharply
    Show answer

    Pump the pedal to increase pressure. The manual's first step for a brake pedal that suddenly goes to the floor is to pump the pedal to try to increase pressure. Turning off the ignition can remove steering control, shifting into reverse can destabilize the vehicle, and yanking the parking brake may cause a loss of control. If pumping does not help, apply the emergency or parking brake gradually and use a lower gear to reduce speed. The cue is controlled pressure, not a sudden lockup.

16. 16. An emergency vehicle approaches from behind on a New York two-way road. What should the driver do?

    1. Pull to the right edge and stop
    2. Move left into the oncoming lane
    3. Keep speed and remain centered
    4. Stop in the middle of the intersection
    Show answer

    Pull to the right edge and stop. New York drivers must yield to an approaching emergency vehicle by pulling as far right as practical and stopping. Remaining centered can block the emergency vehicle, and moving into the oncoming lane creates a new conflict. Stopping in an intersection may obstruct both the emergency response and cross traffic. Check mirrors, signal the move, clear an intersection if possible, then stop at the right edge until the emergency vehicle has passed and the roadway is safe to reenter.

17. 17. When a New York vehicle's rear wheels begin to skid, which way should the driver steer?

    1. Hard opposite the skid
    2. Straight while accelerating
    3. In the direction the vehicle is trying to go
    4. Toward the nearest shoulder regardless of direction
    Show answer

    In the direction the vehicle is trying to go. For a rear-wheel skid, New York advises turning the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go. If the rear slides left, steer left; if it slides right, steer right. A hard opposite turn can produce a second skid, while acceleration or an automatic shoulder move does not restore the intended path. Ease off the gas, keep movements smooth, and be ready to adjust as the vehicle recovers. The steering direction follows the slide, not the driver's fear of it.

18. 18. After parallel parking in New York, how close must the vehicle's wheels be to the curb?

    1. No more than one foot from the curb
    2. At least two feet from the curb
    3. Touching the curb with the front tire
    4. No more than three feet from the curb
    Show answer

    No more than one foot from the curb. The final parallel-parking position must leave the wheels no more than one foot, or 30 centimeters, from the curb. This keeps the vehicle from protruding into moving traffic while avoiding contact with the curb. Three feet is too far away, and touching the curb is not the stated target. Use a final alignment check after pulling forward: straighten the wheels, leave room around both vehicles, and estimate the gap at roughly a foot or less.

19. 19. Where is parking prohibited under New York's general parking rules?

    1. In a legal metered space during its posted hours
    2. In a marked space outside its restricted hours
    3. On a road shoulder where parking is expressly permitted
    4. In or within a crosswalk
    Show answer

    In or within a crosswalk. New York prohibits parking in a crosswalk because the vehicle blocks the pedestrian path and can hide people from approaching drivers. A meter or marked space may allow parking only when its posted conditions are satisfied, but those examples are not automatically illegal. The key cue is the crossing area itself: never use the marked or unmarked pedestrian route as a parking space, even briefly while waiting.

20. 20. When parked facing downhill beside a curb in New York, where should the front wheels point?

    1. Away from the curb and into traffic
    2. Straight ahead regardless of the grade
    3. Toward the curb
    4. Toward the center of the road only on a one-way street
    Show answer

    Toward the curb. Facing downhill, turn the front wheels toward the curb so a rolling vehicle would move into the curb rather than into the travel lane. Straight wheels remove that backup protection, and turning outward sends the vehicle toward traffic. The direction is tied to both the slope and the curb, not to whether the road is one-way. Before leaving the car, set the parking brake and position the wheels to help stop unintended movement.