New York
Course Details
About Course
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course provides new drivers with an introduction to traffic laws, safe driving practices, common risks faced by inexperienced drivers, and more. The course aims to reduce accidents and promote safe, courteous driving behavior.
Approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV), this course is divided into eleven learning modules with no final exam. Each module concludes with a short quiz, and you must score at least 70% to pass. You have up to three attempts per quiz; failing all three attempts will require re-registration for the course.
The course consists of at least 270 minutes of instruction, excluding quizzes, and must be completed within 30 calendar days of registration. Additionally, you must take your driver’s license road test within one year of finishing the course.
Curriculum
-
Introduction
-
Traffic Control
-
Road Regulations (At Intersections & Turns)
-
Driving Within the Highway Transportation System
-
Passing & Being Passed. Parking Regulations.
-
Special Driving Conditions
-
Defensive Driving
-
Alcohol & Drugs
-
Feelings, Attitudes, and Risk-Taking
-
Sharing The Road
-
New York State Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course is a 100% online program that teaches new drivers how to drive safely and comply with the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. American Safety Council is a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV)-approved provider of the Online Pre-Licensing Program, also known as OPL.
If you're seeking a New York driver license, you're required to complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course online or in person before you schedule an appointment for your behind-the-wheel road test.
Yes, this course is approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) through American Safety Council. Courses purchased before the student meets the minimum age requirement are not valid and will not be processed by the state.
You can confirm our course approval under American Safety Council by visiting the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website.
The course is approved pursuant to Commissioner's Regulations, Part 76. As such, the course meets all legal requirements for driver preparation as prescribed in New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, Sections 215 and 508(4).
The 5-Hour Pre-Licensing course is available in English, Spanish, Russian and more languages. You may choose your language preference in the sidebar of the course dashboard.
The 5-hour course provides vital education to new drivers, including rules of the road, defensive driving techniques and more.
- Introduction
- Traffic Control
- Road Regulations (At Intersections & Turns)
- Driving Within the Highway Transportation System
- Passing & Being Passed. Parking Regulations.
- Special Driving Conditions
- Defensive Driving
- Alcohol & Drugs
- Feelings, Attitudes, and Risk-Taking
- Sharing The Road
- New York State Laws
Upon completion of the course, you'll know more about the responsibilities of safe drivers and a wide range of factors that can affect your driving.
You can complete the course 100% online using any device. You can work on the course anywhere, even from the comfort of your home!
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course takes about five hours to complete. It includes eleven learning modules and at least 270 minutes of instruction, not including quizzes. You can complete the timed course modules at your own pace and take multiple breaks.
Students must be at least 18 years old when they purchase this course. Courses purchased before the student meets the minimum age requirement are not valid and will not be processed by the state of New York.
Due to New York DMV requirements, you'll need to confirm your identity at several checkpoints throughout the course. We use security questions and voice biometrics, two fast and simple methods that ensure you are the only person who participates in this training.
Security Questions
At the start of the course, you will be prompted to answer a series of security questions about personal details. These questions will appear on your screen at random points throughout the course, and you must answer them correctly within 45 seconds to continue the course. You can miss or incorrectly answer up to three security questions throughout the course. If you miss a fourth security question check, you will be locked out of the course and must purchase it again to continue your training.
Selfie Check
You will also be required to confirm your identity using a selfie check, a validation technique that matches your selfie image with an image provided earlier. With this method, you'll be prompted to provide a selfie photo sample at random intervals using your device's camera.
Tip: To avoid missing any checkpoints, be sure to log out of the course any time you are not able to actively participate in the program. If an authentication request pops up, complete it before navigating away from the screen.
New drivers seeking a New York driver license can take this course online only if they are 18 or older at the time of purchase and do NOT hold a junior driver license (Class DJ) or junior motorcycle license (Class MJ). Those who are ineligible to take the pre-licensing course online may be eligible to take the course in a classroom.
Students must have a photo learner permit before starting the course. Your photo permit will arrive in the mail about two weeks after the state of New York issues your temporary permit.
Courses purchased before the student meets the minimum age requirement or are affiliated with a class DJ or MJ license will not be processed by the state of New York and are not eligible for a refund.
Yes. Before you can start your online 5-hour course, the NYS DMV requires you to prove you have a valid New York learner permit that includes your photograph. If you have a temporary learner permit with no photo, you must wait until you have a photo permit before you start your training.
The NYS DMV issues temporary learner permits to drivers immediately after they pass the written permit exam at a DMV office. After you earn your temporary permit, it takes about two weeks for your photo permit to arrive in the mail.
No, you do not need to pass a final exam to complete the course. However, you must pass brief quizzes at the end of each of the course's nine learning modules. You have up to three attempts to pass each quiz with a sore of 70% or higher. Due to New York Department of Motor Vehicle requirements, you will be locked out of the course and required to re-register if you fail to pass a quiz within three attempts.
Tip: Once you are at a quiz screen, do not navigate away without submitting your attempt. Doing so may count as one of your three attempts.
Due to NYS DMV regulations, you must complete the New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course within 30 calendar days of registering for the course.
You can download your certificate from the dashboard after completing the course. However, keep in mind that certificate is only for your personal reference since we report your completion to the state of New York electronically. After you successfully pass the course, New York Safety Council will email you a confirmation of your course completion and automatically submit your completion information to the NYS DMV. It may take up to 24 to 48 hours for your course completion to be posted on your driver record.
You must take the road test for your first driver license within one year of completing the course. You will not need to provide an original Pre-Licensing Course Certificate (MV-278) when you arrive at a NYS DMV test location to take your road test. However, students who complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course in the classroom are required to present this document before their road test.
You can download your certificate from the dashboard after completing the course. However, keep in mind that certificate is only for your personal reference since we report your completion to the state of New York electronically. You will be emailed a Completion Notice for your personal records when you're done. You do not need to share the notice with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. If you ever need an additional copy, our Customer Care team can email you another one.
No, the certificate is only for your personal reference. We report your completion to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles electronically. So all you need to do after completing the course is prepare for your road test and make your appointment with the New York DMV.