NJ Laws Governing Driver Licenses
A motorist who operates a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey must carry:
A valid driver license/permit
Valid insurance
Vehicle registration
When pulled over by a police officer these are the 3 documents you will be asked
to show.
To register a vehicle, the state of NJ only requires proof of “liability” insurance.
Banking institutions require financed vehicles to have “comprehensive” insurance
(collision, fire, theft).
Once you have a validated New Jersey driver permit must be accompanied by an
appropriately licensed driver
***Supervising Driver Requirements***
• Must have a valid NJ Driver’s License
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must have had 3 years driving experience
A motorist who changes addresses must report this change to the MVC within
one week after moving.
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New Jersey Laws Governing Driver
Licenses Cont…..
A motorist who legally changes their name (marriage,
divorce, adoption) must report the change to the MVC within
two weeks
A motorist with a valid out-of-state license who moves to
New Jersey must apply for a New Jersey license within 60
days
All applicants for a New Jersey driver license or special
learner’s permit who are under 18 years of age must present
a completed consent form signed by a parent or guardian.
GDL, special learner and examination permits are valid until
all qualifications for a provisional license are met, or for two
years, whichever occurs first.
What’s On A License
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Name
Address
Photo ID
Driver License Number
Date of Birth
Gender
Expiration / Issue Date
Signature
These show up in a coded
Height
form within your driver’s
Eye Color
license number
Class of License
State
Corrective Lenses
Restrictions
Prosthetic Devices
Mechanical Devices
Hearing Impaired
Altering a driver license:
 Possible Suspension of License
 Fine of up to $1,000
 Up to six months imprisonment.
Getting a driver license illegally
 Fine up to $500
 Imprisonment of 30 to 90 days.
6 Point ID Verification
• All applicants for a New Jersey driver license
must provide a full name, current address,
Social Security number, 6 Points of ID
Verification and other documentation that
verifies that his/her legal presence in the
United States is authorized under federal law.
Documents must be in English or have an
approved translation
• Must be ORIGNAL Forms of documentation
6 Points ID Verification
1. Applicant’s “Primary” ID (4 points)
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Birth Certificate
Passport
Green Card
Adoption Papers
2. Applicants “Secondary” Documents
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Proof of address
Social Security #
Graduated Driver License / GDL
Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program:
Introduces driving privileges in phases with
a period of supervised driving, and extends
their practice driving time and requires a
minimum age of 18 in order to receive an
unrestricted, basic driver license.
GDL restrictions placed upon first-time
drivers must be strictly adhered to. Failure
to do so may result in a fine of $100 or a
possible suspension of a motorist’s driving
privilege
GDL FAQ’s
Why does New Jersey require the GDL program?
 Studies show that a young driver's risk of being involved in a
car crash is highest within his/her first 12-24 months of
driving. An average of 6,000 teens die in car crashes
nationally each year.
 By delaying full driving privileges so that teens can gain
driving experience under low-risk conditions, comprehensive
GDL programs can reduce these deaths and injuries by
approximately 40%. The ultimate goal of the GDL program is
to protect the lives of young drivers-and the lives of their
passengers and others on the road.
GDL FAQ’s
What happens if my teen driver commits a traffic offense
and receives a ticket while he/she has a GDL license?
GDL holders cannot "plea down" to "no point" offenses.
If a GDL holder accumulates three or more penalty points, they have
to complete a driver improvement program. If they fail to complete
this program, or if they accumulate additional points, it will result in
suspension and postponement of their eligibility to obtain a
probationary (if in the permit phase) or basic license (if in the
probationary phase). In addition, violations may incur legal fees
and/or higher insurance rates. This can cost thousands of dollars.
GDL holders must obey all traffic rules and regulations.
The Early Bird Road
Step 1: Get a Special Learner Permit
 Must be at least 16 years old
 Must have signed parent or guardian consent
 Must be enrolled in approved behind-the-wheel driver training driving
school (6 hours)
 An approved instructor must purchase the permit
 Cost of the permit is $10
 Must pass MVC’s Knowledge and Vision tests
 MVC will validate Special Learner Permits ONLY after training course
completion
Step 2: Practice with an Adult Supervising Driver
 Must observe special learner permit driving restrictions
 Must practice at least six months with approved supervising driver
Step 3: Get a Probationary License
 Complete Six months of supervised driving without any suspensions or
postponements
 Must pass MVC’s Road Test
 Must be at least 17 years old
The Early Bird Road Continued
Step 4: With a Probationary Driver License
• Unsupervised driving for at least One year
• Must observe probationary driver license restrictions*****
Step 5: Get the Basic Driver License
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Valid for 4 years
• Must have completed one year of unsupervised driving
with probationary driver license restrictions
• Must pay required fee***
Student Driver/Road Test
• If a student driver commits a traffic offense,
responsibility will be both student and instructor
or student and “supervising” driver.
• Arrive at the road test with:
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Valid Student Permit
Supervising Driver
Valid Vehicle Registration
Valid Insurance Card
Valid Vehicle Inspection Sticker
Red Decals on Vehicle
GDL Restrictions
• No driving between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
• No using hand-held or hands-free cell phones or any
other electronic devices.
• Permit holder must be accompanied in the front seat
by an adult supervising driver who is at least 21 years
of age and who possesses a valid New Jersey driver
license and has a minimum of three years driving
experience.
• Passengers are limited to any parent, guardian or
dependant of the special permit holder and one
additional passenger.
• Permit holder and ALL passengers must wear seat
belts.
• Must display decals on license plates.
Basic Automobile License
“Class D”
Expiration: 4 Years
Minimum Age: 18 (or 16 for permit)
Permit Fee: $10 / Decal: $4
Photo License Fee: $24
Tests Required: Knowledge, Vision, Road
(KVR)
Test Requirements
Vision Test
20/50 vision with or without corrective lenses.
Knowledge Test
The knowledge test consists of 50 questions. Minimum
requirements: 80 percent, or 40 correct answers out
of 50 questions
Road Test
• Applicants must provide their own vehicle for the
road test.
• It is a pass/fail test
Elements of the road test
The examiner may test you on the following items:
Driving in reverse
Following other vehicles
Nearing corners/intersections
Parking/parallel parking
Sitting properly
Starting a vehicle
Steering properly
Stopping at signs
Stopping on downgrades/upgrades
Stopping smoothly
Turning
Turning around
Using the horn
Yielding right-of-way
Lost Permit?
-Contact your driving school to get a
replacement
-Notify the police
Lost License?
Notify police and MVC
If You Fail the Road Test?
1st Offense =2 weeks wait to reschedule
2nd Offense =2 weeks wait to reschedule
3rd Offense = 2 weeks wait to reschedule
4th Offense= 6 months wait to reschedule
Reasons for Failure due to
Improper Vehicle
 Improper, expired or no inspection sticker
 Lack of examiner access to foot brake or parking brake
 Any defect or condition that affects the safe operation of the test vehicle,
such as but not limited to:
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Poor brakes
Parking brake doesn’t work
Unsafe tires (smooth, cut, badly worn)
Vehicle interior is not in reasonably clean condition
Vehicle failed inspection, and motorist does not bring the Vehicle
Inspection Report issued by the inspection station to road test area
 Vehicle not equipped with radial tires or snow tires or chains when road
is snow covered
 Fast engine idle
 Missing seat belts
Center Console Pictures
• Center Console
with accessible
hand brake.
• Inaccessible
emergency parking
brake