New Jersey Driver License: The License System and the GDL

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: The License System and the GDL. Free, no account needed.

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1. A New Jersey driver moves to a new address across town. Within how long must they report this address change to the MVC?

  1. One week
  2. 60 days
  3. 30 days
  4. Two weeks

Answer: A — One week

Address changes, even out of state, must be reported to the MVC within one week of moving.

2. A driver legally changes her last name after getting married. Within how long must she report the name change to the MVC?

  1. 30 days
  2. Two weeks
  3. One week
  4. 60 days

Answer: B — Two weeks

A legal name change must be reported to the MVC within two weeks, unlike the one-week window for address changes.

3. A new resident of New Jersey holds a valid commercial driver license issued by another state. Within how long must they apply for a New Jersey CDL, or before the old license expires, whichever comes first?

  1. 60 days
  2. Two weeks
  3. 30 days
  4. One week

Answer: C — 30 days

New residents with an out-of-state CDL must apply within 30 days, a shorter window than the 60 days allowed for a non-commercial license.

4. A newcomer to New Jersey holds a valid license issued in another country. For how long may they drive on that foreign license?

  1. 90 days
  2. Two years
  3. Six months
  4. One year

Answer: D — One year

A valid foreign license may be used to drive for up to one year.

5. While an applicant's permanent New Jersey license is being produced centrally, they are given an interim license. How long is that interim license valid?

  1. 60 days
  2. 90 days
  3. Four years
  4. 30 days

Answer: D — 30 days

The interim license issued while the permanent centrally-produced card is made is valid for 30 days.

6. A driver alters her license to misrepresent her birth date and is caught. Besides losing driving privileges and facing possible jail time, what is the maximum fine she could face?

  1. $4
  2. $1,000
  3. $100
  4. $500

Answer: B — $1,000

Altering a license or presenting an altered one carries a fine of up to $1,000, higher than the $500 fine for illegally obtaining a license.

7. A New Jersey resident wants to obtain a permit ahead of qualifying for a standard Class D automobile license at 18. What is the minimum age to get that permit?

  1. 15
  2. 18
  3. 17
  4. 16

Answer: D — 16

A Class D permit can be obtained at 16, even though the license itself requires age 18.

8. What is the minimum age for a New Jersey moped license?

  1. 15
  2. 14
  3. 16
  4. 17

Answer: A — 15

The moped license has a minimum age of 15, younger than the agricultural (16) or probationary automobile (17) minimums.

9. A 16-year-old wants a boat endorsement to operate a boat on fresh, non-tidal water. Besides meeting the age requirement, what must they have?

  1. A Boating Safety Certificate
  2. A completed behind-the-wheel course
  3. A certified abstract from another state
  4. A hazmat retest

Answer: A — A Boating Safety Certificate

The boat endorsement requires a Boating Safety Certificate for use on fresh, non-tidal waters.

10. What is the standard (non-REAL ID) license fee for a basic Class D automobile license?

  1. $24
  2. $10
  3. $35
  4. $63

Answer: A — $24

The standard Class D license fee is $24; $35 is the REAL ID fee and $63 is the probationary license fee.

11. An applicant wants to use a utility bill to prove her New Jersey residential address. How recent must the bill be?

  1. Six months
  2. 60 days
  3. One year
  4. 90 days

Answer: D — 90 days

A utility or credit card bill must be from the past 90 days, more recent than the one-year window for a tax bill.

12. Under the REAL ID identification formula, how many proofs of address must an applicant provide?

  1. Three
  2. Six
  3. One
  4. Two

Answer: D — Two

The REAL ID formula is 2 + 1 + 6: two proofs of address, one Social Security proof, and six points.

13. An applicant's name on her application does not match the name on her birth certificate because she took her spouse's surname. What kind of document resolves this discrepancy?

  1. An employee ID with pay stub
  2. A diploma
  3. A health insurance card
  4. A certified marriage certificate

Answer: D — A certified marriage certificate

A name difference from the birth certificate is resolved with a certified marriage or civil union certificate, divorce decree, or court order.

14. An applicant wants to present an identity document that has expired. What is the longest amount of time since expiration for it to still be accepted?

  1. One year
  2. 60 days
  3. 90 days
  4. Three years

Answer: D — Three years

Documents may be expired no more than three years and still be accepted.

15. What is the minimum age to hold a fully unrestricted basic driver license in New Jersey?

  1. 16
  2. 18
  3. 21
  4. 17

Answer: B — 18

An unrestricted basic license requires a minimum age of 18 under the graduated program.

16. A 16-year-old with parental consent enrolls in an approved six-hour behind-the-wheel course and passes the knowledge and vision tests. What credential does the instructor then buy for the student?

  1. A non-driver ID
  2. An examination permit
  3. A special learner permit
  4. A probationary license

Answer: C — A special learner permit

After the course and tests, the instructor buys the special learner permit, which is valid for two years.

17. A 25-year-old who has never been licensed obtains an examination permit after passing the knowledge and vision tests. At minimum, how many months of supervised practice must she complete before taking the road test?

  1. One month
  2. Six months
  3. Three months
  4. Twelve months

Answer: C — Three months

On the Adult Road, taken at 21 or older, at least three months of supervised practice are required, shorter than the six months required on the two teen pathways.

18. A 17-year-old with a probationary license wants to drive unsupervised. Between which hours is unsupervised driving generally prohibited?

  1. 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
  2. 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
  3. 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
  4. Midnight to 5:00 a.m.

Answer: C — 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

GDL restrictions bar driving between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

19. A permit holder practices driving with an adult supervisor in the front seat. Besides being at least 21 and holding a valid New Jersey license, how much driving experience must that supervisor have?

  1. Five years
  2. Two years
  3. One year
  4. Three years

Answer: D — Three years

The supervising driver must have at least three years of driving experience, in addition to being 21 or older with a valid New Jersey license.

20. A probationary license holder is driving without a parent or guardian in the car. Besides her own parents, guardians or dependents, how many other passengers may she have?

  1. None
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. One

Answer: D — One

Passengers are limited to the holder's parents, guardians, or dependents plus one additional passenger, unless a parent or guardian rides along.

21. A probationary license holder has held the license, violation-free, for more than a year but never visits an MVC Licensing Center to upgrade it. What is her status?

  1. She remains subject to probationary restrictions and can be cited
  2. She must retake the knowledge test
  3. She is automatically upgraded to a basic license
  4. Her license is automatically suspended

Answer: A — She remains subject to probationary restrictions and can be cited

Upgrading is not automatic; a probationary holder who skips the required Licensing Center visit after 12 months remains subject to the restrictions and can be cited.

22. A 17-year-old passes the knowledge and vision tests for an examination permit. How long are those test results valid?

  1. One year
  2. Two years
  3. Six months
  4. Four years

Answer: B — Two years

Examination permit test results are valid for two years.

23. A driver relocates to New Jersey holding a valid, non-probationary license from another state. Which tests are waived when she applies for a New Jersey license?

  1. All tests, including vision
  2. The knowledge and road tests
  3. Vision screening only
  4. Only the road test

Answer: B — The knowledge and road tests

Holders of a valid non-probationary out-of-state license have the knowledge and road tests waived, but still must pass a vision screening.

24. A foreign visitor plans to drive while visiting the United States. What should they obtain before traveling, in addition to their home country license?

  1. A New Jersey non-driver ID
  2. An examination permit
  3. An International Driving Permit
  4. A certified abstract

Answer: C — An International Driving Permit

Visitors should obtain an International Driving Permit in their home country before traveling; it supplements but never replaces a license.

25. What is the minimum age to apply for a non-driver identification card?

  1. 17
  2. 16
  3. 14
  4. 18

Answer: C — 14

Anyone 14 or older without a license may apply for a non-driver ID.

26. According to the manual, about how many people die every day while waiting for organs?

  1. 21
  2. 5
  3. 100
  4. 41

Answer: A — 21

About 21 people die every day waiting for organs.

27. A driver has a hearing loss of 41 decibels or more. With a physician's or audiologist's verification, what can she obtain?

  1. A specially coded license
  2. A certified abstract
  3. An examination permit
  4. A non-driver ID

Answer: A — A specially coded license

Deaf or hearing-impaired drivers with a loss of 41 dB or more may get a specially coded license with professional verification.

28. A driver operates a tractor-trailer combination rated at 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds. Which CDL class is required?

  1. Class A
  2. Class C
  3. Class B
  4. Class D

Answer: A — Class A

A combination rated 26,001 pounds or more with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds requires a Class A CDL.

29. Which of these drivers is required to hold a commercial driver license?

  1. An operator of fire apparatus
  2. A driver hauling placarded hazardous materials in a truck under 26,001 pounds
  3. A taxi driver
  4. A farmer driving within 150 miles of the farm

Answer: B — A driver hauling placarded hazardous materials in a truck under 26,001 pounds

Placarded hazardous materials loads under 26,001 pounds fall under Class C and require a CDL, while taxi drivers, nearby farmers, and fire apparatus operators are exempt.

30. A commercial driver wants an endorsement to haul liquid in a tanker truck. What testing does that endorsement require?

  1. A knowledge test
  2. A road test only
  3. Knowledge and road tests
  4. Retesting every two years

Answer: A — A knowledge test

The N tanker endorsement requires only a knowledge test, unlike the P passenger endorsement's road test or the H hazmat endorsement's biennial retesting.

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