Have a Chinese license? Getting a New York license, from the written test to the road test

1In a hurry? Start here

1. You cannot exchange a Chinese driver's license directly for a New York license. You need all three steps: the written test, a 5-hour course and a road test.

2. You can take the written test in Chinese. You need 14 correct answers out of 20, including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions.

3. You can apply for a standard license without a Social Security number, regardless of immigration status. But a standard license cannot be used for domestic flights.

Suppose Mr. Chen has driven in China for fifteen years.

(Mr. Chen is fictional, and the scenes below are hypothetical.)

In his second month in New York, he wants to buy a used car to make taking the children places easier. His plan seems simple: take his Chinese license to the DMV and exchange it. At most, he figures, he will have to wait in line.

Only when he gets to the DMV does he find out: it cannot be exchanged.

2What people are asking in the comments

Over the past six months, these have been some of the most common questions in Xiaohongshu posts about getting a New York license. How many questions are on the written test, and how many do you have to get right? How long after passing does the permit arrive? Some people get it in ten days; others are still waiting after three weeks. 「Do I still need a road test after passing the written test?」 And one that really stings: 「I've driven for years in China and failed the road test three times.」 In the comments, some people also offer to take you to 「an easier test location」.

These are the posters' and commenters' accounts of their own experiences. Below, we will work through the steps using the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV, website.

3First, why you cannot exchange it—and whether you can drive now

The DMV's license-exchange page covers licenses from other U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canada, not China. Its guidance for drivers from other countries is direct: to obtain a New York license, a foreign-license holder must 「pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test」.

Can you drive with your Chinese license in the meantime? The same page says visitors do not need a New York license and may drive on a valid foreign license without a supervising driver. But another DMV page says that if you move to New York and become a resident, you must get a New York license within 30 days. Students who come to study are generally not considered New York residents.

Read together, the two pages do not make clear whether a resident's Chinese license remains valid after 30 days. If you plan to stay long term, the safest approach is not to put it off: start the process early.

4Step one: get your documents ready, take the written test and obtain a permit

After passing the written test, you receive a learner permit, usually just called a permit.

You need application form MV-44 and identity documents totaling 6 points. On the DMV's ID-44 document list, some common documents are counted as follows.

• A foreign passport with a valid visa and I-94 counts for 4 points and can establish lawful status.

• A Chinese driver's license with a photo, either valid or expired for no more than two years, counts for 4 points and can establish date of birth only.

• An IDNYC card counts for 1 point and can also serve as proof of a New York address.

• A bank statement or utility bill from within the past year counts for 1 point each and can also serve as proof of address.

Documents in a foreign language need a certified English translation. For the Social Security number requirement, a Social Security card counts for 2 points. If you do not have a number, you can sign form NSS-1A stating that you do not have one. The DMV has a bilingual Chinese-English version.

You can apply even if you are undocumented. New York's Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, usually called the 「Green Light Law」, allows New Yorkers aged 16 and older to apply for a standard license regardless of citizenship or lawful status, without needing a Social Security card, according to the DMV. However, if you use NSS-1A, you can obtain only a standard license, not a REAL ID.

At the DMV, you take a vision test first, then the written test. The DMV's written-test page says it is available in 20 languages, including Chinese. The Driver's Manual, MV-21, says you must answer at least 14 of the 20 questions correctly, including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions.

I'd like to take the written test in Chinese.

I would like to take my written test in Chinese.

The Driver's Manual is currently available only in English and Spanish; there is no official Chinese edition. The DMV website has practice questions. Many commenters say going through them a few times was enough.

The DMV also has a way to take the permit test online at home. To pass online, you need 80% of all questions and 50% of the road-sign questions correct, a higher overall threshold than the in-person test. If you are 18 or older, you must also go to a DMV office to sign statement MV-264 in person, then present documents, have your photo taken and pay. The page does not say whether the online test is available in Chinese. If you want to take it in Chinese, going to an office is the safest option. Also, the DMV's test-preparation page mentions online testing only for people under 18, which does not fully match the wording on the online-test page. Before planning an online test, confirm on the official website whether you are eligible.

According to the DMV, once you have submitted documents, had your photo taken and paid, you receive a temporary permit first. The permanent card arrives by mail in about two weeks. If it has not arrived after three weeks, call the DMV rather than just waiting.

5Step two: take the 5-hour course

You must have a permit before taking this course. The DMV says it lasts about 5 hours and must be taken through a DMV-approved provider. Options include classroom teaching and live online classes. People aged 18 and older can also choose a self-paced online course.

The completion certificate is called MV-278. It is valid for one year and must still be valid on the day you schedule the road test. For a self-paced online course, no paper certificate is issued; the provider reports completion directly to the DMV.

Are you approved by the New York State DMV to teach the 5-hour course? When will I get my MV-278?

Are you a DMV-approved provider of the 5-hour course? When can I receive my MV-278?

6Step three: schedule and take the road test

With a permit and MV-278, you can schedule a road test online or by calling 1-518-402-2100. The DMV says the earliest available date is usually 3 to 5 weeks away. During peak periods, such as summer and school holidays, the wait may be as long as 10 weeks.

The DMV provides a detailed list of what to bring on test day.

• Your physical permit. A copy is not accepted.

• The original MV-278. A copy is not accepted either.

• A licensed person to accompany you. If a permit holder drives to the test site, the accompanying person must be at least 21 and bring a physical driver's license. A mobile digital license does not count.

• A vehicle with valid registration, insurance and inspection, in good working condition.

• If your Chinese license is not in English, bring an international driving permit or a translation certified by a government agency such as a consulate or the U.S. Department of State.

If you do not pass, you must wait at least 14 days before another test. If you pass, you can see the result online after 6 p.m. that day and obtain a temporary license online. The permanent license arrives by mail in about two weeks. At this point, you must hand your Chinese license to the examiner. The Driver's Manual says the DMV can hold it on file if you request that in writing; otherwise it will be destroyed.

7Get a rough idea of costs and waiting times

The DMV's fee page says that for someone aged 21 or older applying for a standard Class D license in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, MCTD, which includes New York City, the first permit and license cost a total of 73.25 to 77.50 dollars. According to the state government's road-test page, that amount already includes two road tests. Further tests cost 10 dollars for two. Driving-school and 5-hour-course fees are separate and vary by provider.

There are a few rules to remember when practicing with a permit, according to the DMV. Whatever your age, a licensed person aged 21 or older must be in the vehicle with you. You may not drive on roads in New York City parks, on bridges and tunnels operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, or in road-test areas.

There is also something to know about flying. A standard license is marked 「NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES」 and cannot be used for domestic flights. Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID, an enhanced driver's license or a passport for domestic flights, according to the DMV press release. REAL ID has no extra fee, but requires proof of lawful status. If you hold a Chinese passport, you can use a valid passport for domestic flights.

8Two 「buts」

「But I have driven in China for more than a decade. Could I still fail the road test?」

Yes. One commenter said they passed on the first try by listening to the instructor and leaving their own habits behind. However experienced you are in China, New York's rules and driving habits are different. The examiner is looking at whether you follow the rules here. A few practice sessions with an experienced person, using the road-test standards, are more useful than driving around on your own without a plan.

「But someone says they can take me to an easier test site—or guarantee a pass.」

Road tests can be scheduled only through the DMV system or by phone, and the examiner decides on the spot whether you pass. If someone guarantees a pass and asks for money upfront, think it through. It is fine to pay for driving practice or someone to accompany you, but nobody can buy you a 「pass」.

9One last thing

Getting a New York license is not necessarily that hard. Often, the difficult part is not driving. It is that nobody told you at the start that a Chinese license cannot be exchanged, that the permit takes two weeks to arrive, and that a road test needs to be booked more than a month ahead.

Know those three things in advance, and the rest is a matter of waiting your turn, practicing and taking the tests, one step at a time.

What surprised you most when getting your New York license? Share it in the comments and give the next person a heads-up.