State laws, insurance and documents: New York DMV written test practice
11 free practice questions on state laws, insurance and documents for the New York DMV written knowledge test, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Study them here, then check yourself in the interactive quiz or the exam simulator.
1. What are New York's minimum liability insurance requirements for bodily injury and property damage?
$10,000 / $20,000 / $5,000
✓ $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage
$50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000
New York does not require liability insurance
Why: New York requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage. As a no-fault state, New York also requires at least $50,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
2. In New York, what lighting is required on a bicycle or e-bike when riding at night?
No lighting is required if riding on a well-lit street
✓ A front white light visible from at least 500 feet, and a rear red light or reflector
Only a rear reflector is required
Headlights are required but taillights are optional
Why: New York requires bicycles and e-bikes ridden at night to have a front white light visible from a distance and a rear red light or reflector, so the rider can be seen from both directions.
3. In New York, how is the speed limit typically handled in a school zone when children are present?
It stays the same as the regular posted limit at all times
✓ It is reduced, commonly to around 20 mph, when children are present or during posted school hours
School zones have no special speed limit in New York
The limit is always exactly 35 mph statewide
Why: New York school zones generally have a reduced speed limit—commonly around 20 mph—in effect when children are present or during posted school hours; exact limits and hours are set locally and shown on posted signs, so always follow the signage.
4. During the first 12 months after receiving a provisional license, a driver under 18 is generally prohibited from:
Driving with any passengers at any time
✓ Transporting passengers under the age of 20 without an adult aged 25 or older present, and driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without a valid reason
Driving during the day on weekdays
Using a navigation system
Why: During the first 12 months, a minor driver is generally not permitted to transport passengers under the age of 20 without being accompanied by a licensed adult aged 25 or older, and may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., except for valid reasons (work, school, or medical necessity).
5. What is an SR-22 in New York, and when might a driver need one?
A type of driver's license for commercial vehicles
✓ A certificate of financial responsibility your insurer files with the state, often required after a DWI, an at-fault accident while uninsured, or to reinstate a suspended license
A form used only to register a new vehicle
A discount program for safe drivers
Why: An SR-22 is a certificate your insurance company files with the NY DMV proving you carry the required liability coverage. It's commonly required after a DWI, driving uninsured, or certain other violations, typically for about three years.
6. In New York, when is a vision screening generally required for drivers?
Never, vision is never checked
✓ Generally at license renewal
Only when applying for a first license, never again
Only for commercial drivers
Why: New York generally requires a vision screening when renewing your driver's license, to confirm you still meet the minimum eyesight standard for safe driving.
7. A funeral procession with its headlights on:
Has no special rights
✓ May proceed through an intersection in a convoy behind the lead vehicle, even if the light has changed
Must stop at every intersection
May drive in the oncoming lane
Why: Vehicles in a funeral procession with their headlights on usually travel in a column behind the lead vehicle, even if the light has changed—do not break up or cut in front of the procession.
8. A bus or streetcar stopped to pick up passengers on a street with one lane in each direction can usually be passed:
Only on the right
✓ Only on the left, if it is safe to do so and not prohibited by road markings
On either side, without restriction
You can't pass it; you have to wait
Why: If there is no separate lane for passing, you can usually pass a stopped bus or streetcar on the left, provided it is safe to do so and not prohibited by signs or road markings.
9. Does New York have a specific statewide law banning the use of headphones or earbuds in both ears while driving?
Yes, covering both ears with headphones while driving is specifically banned statewide
✓ There is no specific statewide law targeting headphone use in both ears, though doing so can still support a distracted or careless driving citation if it creates a hazard
It is only illegal for drivers under 21
It is only illegal on the Thruway
Why: New York does not have a distinct statewide statute banning both-ear headphone use while driving. However, if wearing headphones impairs your ability to hear traffic or emergency vehicles and contributes to unsafe driving, you can still be cited for distracted or careless driving.
10. Fatigue while driving is especially dangerous because it:
Has no effect on the driver's reaction time
✓ Slows reaction time and can cause a brief microsleep while driving
Affects only passengers
Is dangerous only at night
Why: Fatigue slows reaction time and increases the risk of “microsleep”—a brief, involuntary lapse into sleep while driving, which is enough to cause an accident.
11. On a multi-lane New York highway, what is the general rule for lane use?
Any vehicle may stay in the left lane regardless of speed
✓ Slower traffic should keep right, and the left lane is generally for passing
The right lane is reserved for passing only
Lane position does not matter as long as you signal
Why: New York follows the standard rule that slower-moving traffic keeps to the right, leaving the left lane(s) generally open for passing.
About the New York written test
20questions on the real test
14/20correct answers to pass (70%, incl. 2 of 4 sign questions)