About Our Online 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course teaches you the knowledge and skills you need to become a safer, more responsible driver. New drivers will learn New York traffic laws, defensive driving skills, rules of the road and much more!
This 100% online program is approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) through American Safety Council and makes you eligible to take a road test upon successful completion. To take the course, students must be 18 or older at the time of purchase and have a valid photo learner permit. You must take your road test within one year of completing the pre-licensing course.
All new drivers ages 18 years and older must complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course before scheduling the road test for their first driver license.
You'll learn about:
- New York vehicle and traffic laws
- Safe driving behaviors
- Defensive driving skills
- Dangers of driving under the influence
- Common risks for new drivers
Our online pre-licensing course is approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles through American Safety Council. It follows the New York Online Pre-Licensing Program (OPL) syllabus and is designed to meet New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law regulations.
After you successfully pass the course, your completion information will be automatically submitted to the state. You do not need to print a course certificate to prove course completion. To get your first driver license, simply schedule an appointment for your road test and pass your behind-the-wheel assessment.
*The state of New York will not validate or process completion information if the driver does not meet the minimum age requirement of 18 at the time of purchase. Courses purchased before the student meets the minimum age requirement of 18 are not eligible for a refund.
Who Needs the New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course?
If you are a new driver who is currently 18 or older and preparing to take the road test for your first driver license, you are eligible for the 5-hour course. Before you schedule an appointment for your behind-the-wheel driving test, you must pass this course.
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 processed by the state of New York and are not eligible for a refund.
Before you start the online 5-hour course, you must have a valid New York learner permit that includes your photograph. The NYS DMV typically delivers photo learner permits by mail about two weeks after you pass the permit exam and receive your temporary learner permit.
Teens seeking a junior driver license (Class DJ) or junior motorcycle license (Class MJ) do not currently qualify for the Online Pre-Licensing Program. At this time, they're required to complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course in the classroom.
Course Details
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course introduces new drivers to traffic laws, safe driving techniques, common risks for inexperienced drivers and much more. The goal of the course is to prevent crashes and teach new drivers how to be safe and courteous behind the wheel.
Our New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) approved course contains nine learning modules, and there is no final exam. Each module ends with a brief quiz. You must score at least 70% on each quiz to pass the course. You have up to three attempts to pass each quiz. If you do not pass a quiz after three attempts, you will be locked out of the course and required to re-register.
The course includes a minimum of 270 minutes of learning, not including the quizzes. You must complete your training within 30 calendar days of registering for the course. In addition, you must take the road test for your driver license within one year of completing the course.
Learning Objectives
This training provides a formal opportunity for new drivers to learn the rules of the road and effective techniques to become a safer and more responsible driver.
After you complete this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the responsibilities of licensed drivers
- Understand the basic rules of the road
- Describe effective techniques for avoiding crashes
- Explain the importance of seatbelts and other occupant protection devices
- Recognize the dangers of driving while fatigued or under the influence
- Summarize highway safety concerns
Students will also learn about key sections of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law that all drivers must follow.
Course Outline
The New York 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course includes nine modules:
- Introduction to Safe Driving
- Driving Within the Highway Transportation System
- Rules of the Road
- Safe Driving Habits
- Safe Driving Skills
- Risks of Alcohol and Other Drugs
- New York State Laws
- Feelings, Attitudes and Taking Risks
- Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
The course ends with a review of each module's main takeaways. Visit the course details page for a full breakdown of each module's learning objectives.
