New York requires 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 15 hours after sunset and before sunrise, before a driver under 18 can take the road test. The hours are certified by a parent or guardian on form MV-262. Fifteen night hours is more than most states ask for. Source: New York DMV.
New York supervised driving requirements at a glance
| Requirement | New York |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | 50 hours |
| Night hours | 15 hours after sunset and before sunrise (of the 50) |
| Daily cap on logged hours | None published by the DMV |
| Reduced-hours option | None — driver education can shorten the path to a full license, but does not reduce the 50 hours |
| Who may supervise | Licensed driver age 21 or older in the front passenger seat |
| Certification method | Parent or guardian signs the supervised driving log and certifies the hours |
| Official state form | Yes — MV-262, New York State Certification of Supervised Driving |
| Minimum permit-holding period | 6 months (under 18) |
| Regional restrictions | Junior permit and license rules differ in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester — check the rules where you drive |
Who may supervise driving practice in New York
- A licensed driver age 21 or older, holding a valid license for the class of vehicle being driven.
- Seated in the front passenger seat for the entire drive.
- A licensed driving instructor during a lesson.
New York layers regional restrictions on top of the supervision rule — junior permit holders face different limits in New York City, on Long Island, and in Westchester County than upstate. Those rules govern when and where you can practice, and they do not change the 50-hour requirement, but they do change how easy the hours are to accumulate.
What counts as a loggable hour
- Public-road driving with a qualified supervisor counts — highway, city, suburban, and the school run all included.
- Night is defined by sunset and sunrise, not by a fixed clock time. A 6:30 PM drive in January is a night hour; the same drive in July is not. Northern New York gets very early winter sunsets, which is the easiest way to bank the 15 hours.
- Parking lots and private property generally do not count.
- Time parked or idling does not count. Log the driving, not the outing.
- Hours before the permit was issued do not count.
- Driver education behind-the-wheel time is supervised driving with a licensed instructor and is generally loggable — confirm with your school and the DMV how it should appear on MV-262.
Official New York resources
- NY DMV — Supervised driving requirements — the 50/15 rule and how the certification works.
- dmv.ny.gov — search "MV-262" for the current Certification of Supervised Driving form to print and sign.
Study tip for the New York permit test
Worth knowing before you get to the hours: New York's written test includes a road sign section that is scored separately, and you generally need all 4 road sign questions correct. You can miss a handful of the general questions and still pass; miss too many signs and you fail regardless of the rest. Study road signs as their own category rather than trusting them to come along with everything else — PermitReady's New York practice has a signs-only mode for exactly this.
Tracking your hours
New York wants a signed MV-262 at the road test, so any app or spreadsheet is a tracking aid whose job is to make that form accurate. Fifteen night hours is a lot to reconstruct from memory in April.
PermitReady is a free iPhone and iPad app that combines New York permit test practice with a supervised driving hours log. Each drive is one entry with date, duration, and condition tags — including a night tag, which is what you will be counting when you fill in MV-262 — and a running total at the top. Entries can be backdated. No account, no sign-in, works offline.
Honest limits: no automatic drive detection, no GPS, iOS only, and PermitReady does not generate or fill in MV-262. It gives you the numbers to write on it. If you want automatic logging or Android support, see the alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
How many supervised driving hours does New York require?
50 hours, including at least 15 after sunset and before sunrise, certified by a parent or guardian on form MV-262.
Why does New York require 15 night hours?
Most states set the night minimum at 10. New York sets it at 15, which is among the highest in the country. Practically it means about three of every ten hours you log need to be after dark, so start banking them in winter rather than saving them for the end.
What is form MV-262?
The New York State Certification of Supervised Driving — the form a parent or guardian signs certifying the 50 hours and 15 night hours. You bring it to the road test.
Does New York accept a digital driving log?
The signed MV-262 is what the DMV asks for, so a digital log supplements it rather than replaces it. Track in the app, transfer the totals to the form, get it signed. Confirm current requirements with the NY DMV.
Who can supervise my practice driving?
A licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat. Regional junior-permit restrictions in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester also affect where and when you can practice.
Can I log hours before I get my permit?
No. Hours count from the day the learner permit is issued, and drivers under 18 must hold the permit at least 6 months before the road test.
Also for New York
New York DMV permit test practice · Supervised driving hours log · Printable log templates · Hours by state
Verification and disclaimers
Requirements verified August 2026 against https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/supervised-driving-requirements. Requirements change — always confirm with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles before your road test.
PermitReady's driving hours log is a personal tracking tool. It is not a state form and has not been approved or endorsed by any state licensing agency. Check with your state's DMV, RMV, DPS, BMV, or equivalent agency for which log format they require, and use their official state form if one is mandated.
PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles or any government agency.