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New York driver's ed online: rules, prices and approved courses
Every new New York driver needs the 5-hour Pre-Licensing Course before the road test. Drivers 18 and older can take it online from a DMV-approved provider; teens 16 and 17 take it in a classroom or live virtual class instead.
Checked October 23, 2026 against the New York State DMV site.
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Take the quizNew York rules at a glance
- Who needs it
- Every new driver, before the DMV road test, unless they finished a 48-hour Driver Education Program through a high school or college (that certificate is valid for 2 years).
- Online course (18 and older)
- About 5 hours, from a provider on the DMV's approved online list. You need a New York photo learner permit. There's no paper certificate: the provider reports your completion to the DMV, usually within 48 hours.
- Teens 16–17
- The online version isn't open to them. They take the 5-hour course in a classroom or a live virtual class at a driving school, high school or college and get an MV-278 certificate. We don't list those schools yet.
- Certificate
- A classroom pre-licensing certificate is valid for 1 year and must still be valid on the day you book the road test.
- Under 18 before the road test
- Hold the learner permit at least 6 months and complete 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 of them after sunset, certified by a parent on form MV-262.
- 18 and older
- No waiting period and no set number of practice hours, though the DMV expects supervised practice with your permit.
- Approved online providers
- The DMV lists 14 approved online pre-licensing providers; every course on this page is on that list.
Rules summarized from the New York DMV's pre-licensing course and pre-licensing requirements pages; providers from its list of online pre-licensing course providers. Official source: New York State DMV.
What it costs
Approved online teen courses in New York range from $38 to $50 on the providers' own sites (checked October 20, 2026). Most run frequent sales, so the price you see may be lower or higher.
5-hour pre-licensing course (18+): 14 approved online options
| Provider | Price | Approval | Phone app | Permit test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Licensing Course | $38Sale $38 (regular $49). | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| iDriveSafely | $39Sale $39 (regular $49.95), no hidden fees. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| Safety Sense Solutions | $40$40; you can start free and pay before finishing. Audio read-along, priority processing and a study guide are … | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| Defensive Drivers Institute | $42.95Sale $42.95 (regular $52.95). | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| Safe Drivers Academy | $43$43; 'Pay Later' lets you try the course before paying. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| National Traffic Safety Institute | $44.95$44.95. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| 2 Cool Traffic School | $44.99$44.99 in the cart (no price on the course page). 30 days to finish. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | No | State test |
| Safe2Drive | $49$49 (no regular price shown); completion reported to the DMV at no charge. Refund within 30 days if you haven'… | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| American Safety Council | $49$49 in the cart, with a free study guide. Sold as New York Safety Council. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| Driver Training Associates | $49$49 total tuition. Full refund within 60 days if you haven't passed or been reported to the DMV. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| IMPROV | $49Sale $49 (regular $86). Money back if you ask before finishing. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| NYDriver.com | $49$49. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| American Safety Institute | $49.95$49.95, no hidden fees. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
| Online Traffic Safety | $50$50 flat (course, identity checks, DMV reporting). Refund only within 24 hours and before starting. | NYS DMV online pre-licensing course providers list | Not confirmed | State test |
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New York 5-hour pre-licensing course online: every DMV-approved provider →
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