Get Your New York Driver's Ed Done in 5 Hours

You need a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. Whether you're an eager teenager or a later learner, you need the right training to obey the rules of the road and prevent traffic collisions. In the interest of public safety, the Empire State even adds a few extra requirements for teenage applicants.

Are you ready to learn more about the duration and requirements of driver's education in New York? Don't let the complexities of the application process scare you off!

Let's turn the opaque rules of the DMV into a simple set of instructions that you can follow to earn your first license and claim the freedom that comes with full driving privileges.

How Much Driver's Ed Is Required for New Drivers?

To get a license, all potential drivers in New York must take a pre-licensing course. The full program is approximately five hours long and provides instruction on how to drive safely in New York.

The Rules for Minors

If you're at least 16 but younger than 18, you must attend driver's ed and hold a learner's permit for at least six months before you can apply for a license. During that time, you are required to log 50 driver's education behind-the-wheel training hours, including 15 hours of night driving.

You must also complete a New York pre-licensing course approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV). Minors must complete an in-person program. After passing the class, you will be eligible to take the road test.

To learn more about preparing for and taking your permit test, visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Adult Learners

For those 18 and older, the process of getting a driver's license is slightly different. If you learn to drive after your 18th birthday, you get to skip a full driver education and go straight to the five-hour pre-licensing course.

The rules for that change for adults, too. Once you turn 18, you can take the class online instead of in person. The curriculum doesn't change; you will receive the same education as younger students.

Once you have your pre-licensing course certificate, you can schedule a road test. When you pass the test, you get your interim license immediately. Your official license will come in the mail shortly thereafter.

How Long Is the Training?

New York state requires all first-time license applicants, regardless of age, to take a five-hour pre-licensing course. This mandatory system contains five hours of classroom instruction about traffic laws, road safety and motor vehicle operation.

Your age doesn't change how many hours of education you need. A 16-year-old and a 60-year-old will both experience the same curriculum. the length of the driver's education program is fixed.

The only difference between teens and adults is that, due to driver's education age requirements, students aged 18 or older can complete the pre-licensing course online from an NYS DMV-approved provider. It's the most convenient way to satisfy state driving school requirements and get that much closer to your first license.

Training with New York Safety Council

New York Safety Council's 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing course lets you learn at your own pace from any internet-connected device. Log in and learn from any desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

Lessons are available 100% online, 24/7. You can stop your studies whenever you want and come back later — we save your spot automatically. There is no final exam, so you can take this course and complete it in as little as a single day.

Once you pass the class, you can schedule your road test on the NYS DMV website.

Further Education

We offer additional courses to help you stay safe on the road. Even if you already have your driver's license in New York, you may want to take a New York defensive driving course.

This advanced skills training doesn't just teach you safe driving strategies. It also gives you a deeper understanding of laws and techniques that can help you stay safe on any road in the Empire State. It can also reduce your insurance rates and help you reduce up to four points from your license.

Students of this course qualify for a three-year, mandatory 10% insurance rate reduction. You can retake the course once every three years to renew that insurance rate reduction, as well, helping you keep insurance costs low over time. You can also repeat the class every 18 months to reduce four more points on your record.

Start Today

Ready to earn your license? Get started here. As an affordable online option, our online pre-licensing course makes it simple to manage the cost and necessity of driver's education in New York.

Whether you're applying for your first license or cleaning up your driving record, training with New York Safety Council gives you access to 100% online learning. You can train at your pace at home with NYS DMV-approved driver training and safety instruction. Train with us today!