New York 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course Online

This course is for new drivers ages 18 and up at time of purchase who are applying for their first driver license in New York. Our online pre-licensing course allows you to complete the five hours of pre-licensing education required by the NYS DMV before you can sign up for your road test. In addition to taking the course, you can download a study manual from the NYS DMV to fully prepare for your road test.

Students must be at least 18 years old at the time of purchase to qualify for the course. Courses purchased before the student meets the minimum age requirement will not be validated or processed by the state of New York and are not eligible for a refund.

If you are seeking a junior driver license (Class DJ) or junior motorcycle license (Class MJ), you do not qualify for this course. At this time, the NYS DMV requires those seeking junior licenses to complete the 5-hour course in the classroom.

Our convenient New York 5-Hour Pre-Licensing course is approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles through American Safety Council. We make it easy to check off the pre-licensing course needed to qualify to take the road test for your Class D or Class M driver license in New York.

Complete the course online at your own pace and fit it into your busy day. With this 100% online option, you can finish the nine course modules in your spare time from any computer or device with internet access.

When you have passed the 5-hour pre-licensing course, we report your completion to the state of New York. The course does not provide a certificate, so there is no need to bring one with you when you go to take your road test.

This fully online course is approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and makes you eligible to take a road test upon successful completion. It takes just a few minutes to register, and you can complete the course at your own pace.

You only need a computer or device with internet access and your photo learner permit. If you only have a temporary permit, you will need to wait for your photo permit to arrive in the mail before registering.

Throughout the course, you will need to confirm your identity at multiple checkpoints to meet NYS DMV training requirements. We use two techniques for identity validation: security questions and voice biometrics. You can learn more about identity validation requirements on the FAQs page.

The 5-hour course is divided into nine short modules. Throughout the course, you will learn about:

• Driver safety, including seat belt laws, drowsy driving and staying focused on the road
• Developing safe driving habits that last a lifetime
• Communication between drivers
• Rules of the road, including right of way, taking a turn, lane changes and one-way streets
• Traffic signs and signals
• Defensive driving and emergency stopping response
• Driving over wet, snowy and muddy roads
• Cellphone use and laws
• Taking risks, aggressive driving and road rage charges and penalties
• Drunk driving laws, penalties and consequences of driving while impaired
• Sharing the road with school busses, work zones, motorcycles and emergency vehicles

At the end of each module, there is a short quiz. You will need to score at least 70% to pass each quiz, and you have up to three attempts per quiz.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles requires providers to permanently lock students out of the course if they do not pass a quiz after three tries. You must register for the course again and start from the beginning if you are locked out. If you want to better prepare for the quiz sections, the NYS DMV offers a wide range of free resources and practice tests.

This course includes a minimum of 270 minutes of instruction, as required by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. While there is a total of at least 270 minutes of narrated tutorials, you can break up your course time over several days or even weeks. You have up to 30 calendar days to finish the course after you register.

At the end of the last quiz, you are done! Our system emails your New York 5-hour pre-licensing course completion to the state on your behalf. There is no need to print anything or wait for a certificate in the mail.

Your course completion will remain valid for up to one year. You must schedule an appointment for your road test within one year of passing the course. If you miss the deadline, you will be required to re-register for your pre-licensing course and restart from the beginning.

If you have additional questions about the course, see our 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course FAQ page.

This course is divided into nine learning modules:

1. Introduction to Safe Driving
2. Driving within the Highway Transportation System
3. Rules of the Road
4. Safe Driving Habits
5. Safe Driving Skills
6. Risks of Alcohol and Other Drugs
7. New York State Laws
8. Feelings, Attitudes and Taking Risks
9. Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

After completing the course, you will be prepared to:

• Identify the responsibilities of a safe driver
• Outline the basic "rules of the road"
• Describe techniques you can use to avoid crashes
• Explain the importance of using occupant protection devices to protect yourself and your passengers from injury
• Recognize the dangers of driving while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
• Summarize relevant sections of current New York State Vehicle & Traffic Laws and highway safety concerns

The objective of the course is to ensure that every driver knows the laws of the road. You will learn what to expect when merging into traffic on the highway and how other drivers are expected to act. You will understand your responsibilities as a driver and have better knowledge of how to avoid accidents.

Completing this course makes you eligible to take your road test in preparation for your first New York state driver license.

The Pre-Licensing Course Student's Manual is an excellent study guide throughout the course, and you can refer back to it after completing your training.