Select Your Free 2024 New Mexico Practice Permit Test to Get Started

Teen drivers under the age of 18 are required to complete a Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program in New Mexico. The program, which is designed to help teen drivers gain experience while minimizing risk, contains the following levels and age requirements:

• Learner’s Permit – 15 years old
• Provisional Driver’s License – 15 ½ years old
• Full Driver’s License – After holding Provisional Driver’s License for 12 months

• Proof of enrollment in driver’s ed
• Proof of identity, residency and Social Security number – acceptable documents
• $10 Learner’s Permit fee

File your application at a local office of the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division.

Visit https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/maps-locations.aspx for office locations and contact information.

Yes, New Mexico requires teen drivers under the age of 18 to take a driver’s ed course. The course must offer either 30 hours of classroom instruction and 7 hours of actual driver training or 56 hours of classroom session if no behind the wheel training is offered.

Upon establishing residency in New Mexico, you must transfer your out-of-state license to New Mexico. You will need to go to your local MVD office and submit identification and pay a licensing fee of either $18 or $34, depending on the length of license you want. You will also have to take a vision test and may have to take a written test and a driving test.

The New Mexico written knowledge test is based on the content of the state Driver’s Manual, which includes coverage of traffic laws, road signs and safe driving techniques. Here are two examples of content from the manual that you could be tested on:

• At 50 mph, it can take about 400 feet to react to something you see and bring your vehicle to a stop. That is about the length of a city block.
• “Sharrows” are “shared lane pavement markings.” They are painted on the pavement when a road is too narrow for side-by-side road sharing with slower vehicles.

New Mexico offers a multiple choice written test.

No, there are no questions specifically designed to trick you. All questions are taken from the state Driver’s Manual and are designed to assess your knowledge of traffic laws, road signs and safe driving practices.

There are 25 questions on the test and you must answer at least 18 of them correctly to pass.

You should study the New Mexico Driver’s Manual to get a solid understanding of the state’s rules of the road as well as recommended safe driving practices. You can also take practice tests online to gauge your knowledge level and identify any areas that you need to focus more study time on.

We offer New Mexico Driver’s Manual for free on this website.

When studying the New Mexico Driver’s Manual try to memorize numerical data such as measurements, distances and lengths. You should also pay attention to various speed limits and you should be able to recognize the meaning of road signs on sight. You can take practice tests to better assess your knowledge and learn what you need to study more.

Do a light review of the driver’s manual and take a practice test or two then be sure to get a good night’s rest so you will feel good on test day. Also, be sure to give yourself time to get to the test so you do not feel rushed.

Contact your local MVD office to see if appointments are accepted and, if they are, it is recommended that you make one.

You will take the test at a local MVD office.

You should bring:

• Proof of enrollment in driver’s ed
• Proof of identity, residency and Social Security number – acceptable documents
• $10 for Learner’s Permit fee

You should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Yes, you will need to pay a fee of $10.

The New Mexico written knowledge test will contain 25 questions drawn from the state driver’s manual. You can miss 7 questions and still pass. When taking the test you cannot refer to any notes or the driver’s manual itself. Finally, MVD office locations do not give the exams after 3 p.m. to ensure you have enough time to complete the test.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit.

If you fail the written test, you will be allowed to retake it.

An MVD official will tell you what the retake rules for that office are. You may be able to take it as soon as the next day.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit, which allows you to begin driving practice with a supervising driver who is at least 21 years of age and who has had his or her license for at least 3 years.

You must hold your Learner’s Permit for at least six months. In addition, you must also complete driver’s ed; log 50 hours of driving practice, with 10 hours at night; and be violation free.

You when accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or over who has their license for at least three years, you can drive on any New Mexico public road or street.

No, New Mexico requires teen drivers to log at least 10 hours of practice driving at night.

Yes, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and who has had his or her license for at least 3 years.

To get a replacement, you should visit the local MVD office with proper identification.

Knowledge and practice are key to passing the driving test. So continue to study the state driver’s manual and apply the safe driving tips whenever possible. Then also be sure to get as much practice time behind the wheel as possible. You should drive in a variety of conditions, including at night, and you should listen to the advice and instructions of your supervising driver.

To pass the test you will need to be able to complete a series of maneuvers, such as parking, turning and reversing. You will also need to be able to drive safely in traffic, which means using defensive driving skills such as signaling, checking mirrors and obeying road signs.

You should practice completing both maneuvers, such as three-point turns, backing up, parallel parking, parking on a hill, stopping and accelerating. You should also practice driving in traffic. If possible, you should drive on the roads that you will be tested on to get more familiar with them.

Contact your local MVD office to schedule your driving test.

You will take the test at a local MVD office.

• A Driver’s ed completion certificate
• A driving log
• Your Learner’s Permit
• A well-maintained vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance
• $18 for Provisional Driver’s License Fee

A parent or legal guardian should bring you.

You will be asked to complete various maneuvers such as turns, backing up, stopping, starting and parking. You will also be asked to drive in traffic where you will need to display good defensive driving skills. You will also need to obey traffic signs and signals and show good awareness of potential road hazards.

Lack of practice is a big reason for failure. Also, nerves frequently play a role in failure and also not taking the test as seriously as you should, which means using good driving posture, with hands in the proper position on the wheel, and staying aware of your surroundings as you drive.

• Not paying attention to road signs
• Going over the speed limit
• Not listening to the examiner
• Not checking mirrors when necessary
• Not signaling when turning

You will be allowed to retake the driving test.

Your examiner will tell you why you failed the test and when you can take it again at that location.

You will receive your New Mexico Provisional Driver’s License.

With your provisional license, you cannot have more than one passenger under age 19 who is not an immediate family member and you also cannot drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.

Car insurance is mandatory in New Mexico. Drivers must meet the following minimum liability coverage amounts: $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person in any accident; $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident; and $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

Your New Mexico Driver’s License will expire in either four years or eight years depending on when you applied or last renewed. If you are 75 or older, you must renew your license every year. You can renew your license up to 90 days before it expires and there is a grace period of 30 days after it expires during which you can still renew.

If your license is lost or stolen, you can request a replacement online if you renewed in person last time. If you did not renew in person last time and need a replacement, you should go to the local MVD office with proper identification.

You can renew your New Mexico license online if eligible or in person at a local MVD office.

If required to renew in person you will need to take a vision exam. To pass the test you need visual acuity of 20/40. If you fail the test, a corrective lenses restriction will be added to your license.