05/19/2026
If you live in New York City and your teen just got their learner permit, there's a rule almost no national guide covers. Between 5 AM and 9 PM in the five boroughs, a permit holder can only legally drive a vehicle that carries dual controls. That is a driving-school car with a second brake pedal reachable from the passenger seat. The family car does not qualify, even with a parent next to the driver. Between 9 PM and 5 AM, no driving at all.
Westchester is different but not simpler. Permit holders are barred from four specific parkways: the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, and Taconic State. The Taconic alone runs 104 miles up the Hudson Valley.
A few other things worth knowing for the New York permit test. 20 questions, 14 to pass, but you also need at least 2 of the 4 sign questions correct as a separate hurdle. The test is offered in 20 languages, the broadest list in the country.
Full DMV Ready breakdown of every restriction, the fee table by age, and the Class DJ junior-license trap that catches a lot of 16 year olds: https://dmv-ready.org/new-york-permit-test-2026/