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The road to earning your driver's license
The road to earning your driver's license
Getting your driver's license is a major milestone and rite of passage. In New York State, there is a multi-step process to earn a junior driver's license before you turn 18. Here's a road map to success:
- You're 16! It all starts when you turn 16 years old. At this point, you can apply for your learner's permit by making an appointment at your local DMV office for a written test and vision test.
Get educated. Once you pass those tests and receive your learner's permit, it's time to enroll in a state-approved driver education course. This involves taking a classroom instruction component as well as participating in the 5-hour pre-licensing course.
Driving lessons through AAA or driver education through a school program are both proven options for learning the rules of the road.
- Log those practice hours. Now comes the hard part - you must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a parent, guardian or instructor. Of those 50 hours, at least 15 must be at night, and 10 must be in moderate or heavy traffic conditions. Logging these hours shows you have experience driving in a variety of scenarios. Taking in-car lessons from a professional driving school like AAA can make knocking out those hours easier.
Road test time! After holding your permit for 6 months and completing those 50 supervised practice hours, you can schedule your road test at the DMV. Gather all the required documents, like your permit and certification showing the practice hours are complete.
Remember, AAA will help you prepare for all of this when you sign up.
- Congratulations! After the road test, you will log in online to a DMV site that will let you know if you passed. As a junior driver, you'll have some night driving restrictions until you turn 18, but you are now an officially licensed New York state driver!
Sticking to the steps and putting in the practice hours may seem arduous, but it's critical preparation for this major responsibility. Follow the road map, study hard, and drive safely!