Argus Explains: How to Get Your Driver's License
You can’t drive alone in NYC until you’re 17, but you can get your learner’s permit at 16. Photo: Vincent Li
By ASHLEY MOMBRUN
As teenagers near the end of high school, the ideas of getting piercings, a job, voting, and being able to make all kinds of decisions without the need for parental consent roam inside most of our heads, but for some, getting a driver’s license is top priority!
Earning your license does not happen fast; plenty of paperwork, testing, and instruction is required for you to get behind the wheel. But hopefully this article will help guide you on a smooth path to your official New York State license.
Where do I start?
You need to be 17 years of age or older to apply for a driver’s license you can use in New York City. However, before that, you need to get your learner’s permit, which you can get when you’re 16. A learner’s permit is basically a restricted license for someone who is learning how to drive. You can apply for your learner’s permit at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles -- there’s one in Coney Island), where you take the written test. The written test allows you to get your permit in the first place. It challenges your knowledge of the rules of the road. There are practice tests online that can help you prepare.
Junior Suki Paul shared her experience: “One time I was doing a practice test on my phone, and I was asking my mom questions that I didn’t know and she didn’t know either. I think people should actually do their research and put effort into the process instead of just getting [a license] to look cool. There’s a checklist on the DMV website that I used to study for my permit. Just go from there.” (Check out this link to the New York DMV website.)
Practice makes perfect.
Once you get your learner’s permit, you will have the ability to to learn how to drive a car. You have to do this with an instructor, which could be your parent or legal guardian (as long as they have a license). Even with them in the passenger’s seat, you are only allowed to drive between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. Taking a driver education course will help you with the road test you need to take for your license as well.
Ashley Dacres, a junior, said that the first time she got in the driver’s seat, not only was her dad nervous but “I was anxious myself” in their family car.
“This is a moment that most people my age dream about,” she said, “and you would think that finally having the chance to start driving on your own would be easy, but it's actually nerve-racking when it becomes real.” The thought of damaging the car or making a mistake with the brakes worried her, but Dacres continued on. After a young driver starts physically moving the car for a while, she said, it “becomes easier, and you're more tempted to actually play music!”
Teens who have their learner’s permit cannot apply for their driver license until they’ve held their permit for six months. So don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to improve your driving skills.
What license can I get?
You're almost there -- you just need to figure out which license you are applying for. Your license class depends on your age. If you’re 17 or above, you can aim for Class D, which allows you to fully drive a car. But if you’re 16, you can only get a DJ (junior) license, which doesn’t allow you to drive at all within the five boroughs of New York City, though you could still drive upstate or on Long Island. To drive in NYC, you have to either wait until your 18th birthday and take your road test, or complete specific driving courses as a 17-year-old to get your Class D license early.
It’s time.
So you're finally confident in your driving and you're ready to ace that test! One thing to note is that you will need to schedule a test at your local DMV. On the day that you go to take your test, you will need to bring the documents that they require, be accompanied by a licensed driver (21 or older), and have a car to drive in for your road test. Once you’ve passed, you’ll receive your interim license, which you’ll hold onto, along with your permit, until your official driver's license is sent through mail. Congratulations!
Nala Lax ‘22 views a license as a step in the direction of maturing. “It requires a lot of responsibility,” she said. “You need to pay for gas and car insurance. But it’s not just money, it’s being safe and cautious with others around you. Car crashes are one of the most common ways people die, and driving shouldn’t be played with. It requires focus and awareness.”
Obtaining your license is not only a great step in maturity but also a next level towards adulthood. Show that you can be responsible, but also have fun, because this moment can be a highlight in your life!