Yes, you can take the permit test in Spanish in NYC. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) gives the Class D permit test in 20 languages, and Spanish is one of them, at every DMV office in the five boroughs and across the state. The test is the same as the English version: 20 questions, and you need 14 correct, including at least 2 of the 4 road sign questions.
This guide covers how to ask for the Spanish test, where to find the Spanish driver's manual, what we know about the online test, and how to practice when your study materials are in a different language than your test.
Can you take the permit test in Spanish in NYC?
Yes. The DMV's permit test page on dmv.ny.gov says Class D permit tests are given in 20 languages, and its driver's manual says the tests can be taken on touch screen test stations or on paper. You choose your language at the office. There is no separate New York City version of the test. The rules are statewide, so a test at a Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens office is the same as one upstate.
| Detail | Permit test in Spanish |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20 multiple choice, including 4 on road signs |
| To pass | 14 correct, with at least 2 of the 4 sign questions right |
| Where | Any DMV office, on a touch screen or on paper |
| Study book | New York State Driver's Manual in Spanish (MV-21S) |
| Online option | Under 18 can test online; the DMV does not list the online test's languages |
DMV test languages in NY
These are the 20 languages the DMV lists for the Class D permit test:
| Languages A to H | Languages I to Y |
|---|---|
| English | Italian |
| Albanian | Japanese |
| Arabic | Korean |
| Bengali | Nepali |
| Bosnian | Polish |
| Chinese | Russian |
| French | Spanish |
| Greek | Turkish |
| Haitian Creole | Urdu |
| Hebrew | Yiddish |
For help in another language, the DMV's language assistance page offers free language assistance services at 1-518-486-9786.
Studying in Spanish: the official manual
The DMV publishes the New York State Driver's Manual in Spanish as form MV-21S. It covers the same traffic laws, signs and safe driving rules as the English manual (MV-21). The DMV's order page also lists Spanish versions of the commercial driver's manual and the motorcycle manual.
The English manual includes practice questions at the end of its chapters, and the DMV's online version has interactive quizzes. If you study in Spanish but those quizzes are in English, use them anyway. They check the rules, and the rules do not change with the language.
Learn the 4 sign questions in shapes and colors, not words. You need at least 2 of 4 right, and a sign's shape means the same thing in Spanish and English.
Permit test in Spanish practice
DMVZone's free New York practice tests are in English. Our questions are original, based on the official New York State Driver's Manual, and they are not real DMV test questions. Many of our bilingual students study the rules in Spanish, then use English practice tests to find weak spots, and finally review those topics in the Spanish manual.
- Make a short list of key terms in both languages: right of way (derecho de paso), yield (ceder el paso), learner permit (permiso de aprendizaje).
- Write every number on one page: parking distances, alcohol limits and points.
- NYC rules come up too, such as no right turn on a red light in New York City unless a sign allows it.
The online permit test
The DMV's permit test page says applicants under 18 have the option to take the permit test online. The online test page asks for a webcam, takes about 30 to 40 minutes, and requires 80% overall and 50% on road signs to pass. If you fail, you can try again after at least 6 hours.
The DMV does not say which languages the online test is offered in, so check when you sign up. If Spanish is not available online, take the test in Spanish at a DMV office instead. For high school students, the DMV's driver's manual says its Online Knowledge Test Application, given at participating schools, is offered in English and Spanish.
What to bring to the DMV office
- Your completed Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44).
- Proof of identity, age and residence, as listed on the DMV's ID-44 guide.
- Payment for the permit fee, which depends on your age and where you live. New York City is in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, so check the DMV fee chart.
- Glasses or contacts for the vision test.
FAQ
Can I take the permit test in Spanish in NYC?
Yes. The New York DMV gives the Class D permit test in 20 languages, including Spanish, at its offices on touch screens or paper.
What DMV test languages does NY offer?
English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Yiddish.
Is there a New York driver's manual in Spanish?
Yes. The DMV publishes the New York State Driver's Manual in Spanish as form MV-21S.
Is the Spanish permit test easier or harder?
Neither. It has the same 20 questions on the same rules, and the same 14 correct answers and 2 of 4 sign questions are needed to pass.
Where can I find permit test in Spanish practice?
Use the Spanish manual (MV-21S) for the rules and practice tests to check yourself. DMVZone's free New York practice tests are in English.
