Gramercy Driving School

How to:

Get Your Leaner Permit

And Your First Driver’s License

Step 1: Determine the Document Class You Need

Before you apply for a learner permit you must choose what type of document you need based on the type of vehicle you will be driving and how you will be using it. Each type of license has unique requirements.

Class D:  Operator - this is what most people have (or DJ - Junior Operator, if under 18) 
Class A, B, or, C: Commercial (CDL) - required to drive tractor-trailers, buses, etc. 
Class M:  Motorcycle 
Class E:  Taxi or Livery

Step 2: Determine the Document Type You Need

**Standard**
beginning May 7, 2025, not accepted to board a domestic (within the U.S.) flight or to enter some federal buildings
Has 'NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES' on the front

**REAL ID**
can be used to board a domestic (within the U.S.) flight has a white star in a black circle on the front

**Enhanced**
can be used to board a domestic flight (within the U.S.) can be used to enter the U.S. at land crossings from Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries
has a U.S. flag on the front
costs an additional $30

 

Step 3: Prepare to Take Your Permit Test

  • Study the New York State Driver's Manual
  • Take the permit test practice quizzes. 

    Both Class D and M permit tests are given in 19 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Yiddish.

Step 4: Gather the Documents You Will Need

You will need to provide:

  1. proof of age
  2. proof of identification
  3. proof of residence

Step 5: Apply and Take Your Permit Test

You can begin your application online or at a DMV office. 

Step 6: Practice Driving and Take a Pre-licensing Course

Once you have a learner permit, you must have supervised driving practice and take a pre-licensing course or a driver education course before taking your road test.

Step 7: Schedule and Take a Road Test

After your road test, the examiner will give you instructions on how to receive your test results. 

If you pass your test, an interim license that allows you to drive will be available online. Keep the interim license with your photo learner permit until your new license arrives in the mail (in about 2 weeks). 

For a Class D, Class DJ, and Class E driver license, the expiration date of your learner permit becomes the expiration date of your driver license. The learner permit and the driver license are valid for a maximum of 5 years. When you apply for a learner permit and a driver license, you pay the fee for the length of time that the documents are valid.