Chapter 2

Steps to a Valid

NJ Drivers License

Three Documents you Must Have

• License• Insurance Card• Registration Card

Tests

• All applicants for the basic driver license must pass a knowledge test of traffic laws, rules and regulations, by scoring at least 80 percent on a 50-question test.

• The answer to every question on MVC’s knowledge test can be found in the driver manual.

• All applicants must also pass a vision test with 20/50 vision with or without glasses or corrective contact lenses.

• For sight in one eye, that eye must meet the 20/50 criteria.

• The In vehicle or Behind-the-wheel test (BTW).

License

• The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) is now issuing a more secure state driver license to combat the growing national problem of ID fraud. MVC began issuing New Jersey's first generation Digital Driver License (DDL) in mid-January 2004.

• By June 2008, New Jersey's current photo and non-photo driver licenses will have expired, to be completely replaced by this virtually counterfeit-proof digital license that contains nearly two dozen security features.

The License

• Advanced security features help protect card holders against ID theft, and protect retailers against fraud.

• Some security features are shown in the illustration – others are known only to law enforcement officials.

• More durable card is significantly thicker, making it less likely that your license will need to be replaced due to damage.

Minors• Minors quickly identified

with special “under 21” driver licenses and ID cards printed in a vertical format.

• A bar along the right side of the photo indicates the date when the card holder will turn 21

Road Test

• After an applicant passes MVC’s knowledge test, MVC will validate the driver’s permit, which allows the driver to practice.

• When arriving at an MVC driver testing facility for the road test, all applicants must provide a vehicle with a valid inspection sticker, a current registration document for that vehicle, a current insurance card for that vehicle, a valid examination permit, and an accompanying driver, who must be licensed to operate the vehicle.

What do they Test?

• driving in reverse

• stopping at signs

• following other vehicles

• stopping on downgrades and upgrades

• nearing corners and intersections

• stopping smoothly

• parallel and other parking

• turning• sitting properly• using the horn• starting a vehicle• yielding the right-of-

way• steering properly

Failing the BTW Test

• Applicants fail the road test for many reasons.

• Driving ability is not the sole criteria on which road tests are graded.

• A vehicle can cause a failure if it is considered unsafe or unsuitable for a road test.

How will they fail?

• Having an improper, expired, or no inspection sticker.

• Poor brakes

• Defective parking brake.

• Unsafe tires

• Fast idle engine

• Missing Seat Belts

• Unreasonably unclean interior.

• Equipment in the vehicle in a position that prevents the examiner from reaching the foot or parking brakes will also cause a failure.

THE GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSE PROGRAM

• GDL is designed to give new drivers increasing instruction and driving experience, step-by-step, on the road to obtaining a full basic driver license.

• GDL has been proven to save lives among new drivers and their passengers.

GDL Special Learner Permit MVC Validation Step 1

1. Be at least 16 years old.2. Pass a vision test. 3. Pass knowledge test or present high school knowledge test waiver. 4. Complete a 6 hour behind-the-wheel driving course conducted by an

approved commercial or secondary school driver education program. 5. Return (student and /or instructor) to the MVC Driver Testing Center to

have the GDL special learner's permit validated for minimum of 6 months supervised practiced driving.

6. Schedule road test. 7. After the permit is validated, the student can operate a registered motor

vehicle according to the Conditions of the GDL Program. 8. The student's identification must be presented throughout the testing

process.

Permit Restrictions

• No driving between 11:00 PM and 5:01 AM.

• Passengers must be from drivers household, plus one more.

• Driver must be accompanied by an Adult Supervising Driver who is

• 21 years or older

• Have NJ license for at least 3 years

STEP 2 - Provisional Photo License

1) Meet minimum age of 17 and successfully complete the Special Learner Permit stage (see above).

2) Have a minimum of six months supervised driving experience. 3) Report to the Driver Testing Center on the scheduled date and time

to take the road test.4) Be sure to bring a New Jersey licensed driver with at least 3 years

driving experience who has a valid license in his/her possession, a registered vehicle* with a current registration document, vehicle inspection sticker, and current vehicle insurance identification card (no copies), your validated GDL driver examination permit.

5) Pass a road test under actual, but low-risk road conditions wherever practical and feasible. (An off-road screening process may precede road test.)

6) Operate motor vehicle according to MVC’s special conditions for Provisional Driver License.

Provisional Driver License – Special Conditions

• May not drive from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. except with a written waiver from employer or religious authority. Note: hour restrictions do not apply if provisional licensee is 21 or older.

• Passengers limited to one person, plus any person sharing the same residence, unless the provisional licensee or a passenger is 21 or over.

• Supervising driver not required.• Everyone in the vehicle must wear

safety belts.• $100 fine for violations of any of

the other conditions of provisional license.

Unrestricted driving

• Meet requirements of the GDL Special learner's Driver Examination Permit.

• Pass road test under actual, but low-risk road conditions wherever practical and feasible (An off-road test may precede road test)

• Have a minimum of one-year driving experience with a valid Special learner examination permit

Identity

6 Point System

• To help prevent fraud, the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) verifies the identity of every permit, license and non-driver ID applicant before establishing his or her identity on the MVC database.

• Specific documents must be used to apply for or renew permits, licenses and non-driver ID cards. Under State law, applicants must identify themselves through MVC’s 6 Point ID program, and verify their address

• You must present at least one primary document. – U.S. Citizens' primary document

– Non-U.S. Citizens' primary document

• You must present at least one secondary document.

• You must not present more than two (2) secondary documents that are worth one (1) point.

4 Point Documents - Primary

• A civil birth certificate*• n US passport, current or expired less than 3

years• Current NJ Digital Driver License**• Current NJ Digital Non-Driver ID Card**• Valid US military photo ID card**• US Department of State birth certificate• US adoption papers

Other Primary

• 3-POINT DOCUMENT:• Current photo employment authorization

card Must be presented with valid Social Security card.

• 2-POINT DOCUMENTS:• Current alien registration card without

expiration date, and INS or BCIS verification Photo temporary resident card

Secondary Documents

3-POINT DOCUMENTS• Civil marriage certificate

issued by the municipality• in which you were married.• Divorce decree• Court order for a legal name

change, signed by a judge or court clerk

• Current US military dependent card

• US military photo retiree card• NJ firearm purchaser card

Secondary Documents

2-POINT DOCUMENTS• US school photo ID card with

transcript or school records• US college photo ID card with

transcript• Valid federal, state or local

government employee• driver license• Valid federal, state or local

government employee• photo ID card• US military discharge papers• FAA pilot license

1-POINT DOCUMENTS:• You cannot use more than TWO of

these• Current NJ PHOTO driver license• Current PHOTO driver license from

any other state or the District of Columbia

• Social Security card• Bank statement or record• ATM card with preprinted name and

applicant’s signature. (Please note: An ATM card and bank statement cannot be submitted together.)

• Current health insurance card, prescription card or employee ID card with printed pay stub

• State professional license• NJ public assistance card with

photo• High school diploma, GED or

college diploma• Property tax statement, bill or

receipt issued by a New Jersey municipality

• For NJ high school students: a waiver certificate for the written portion of the driver’s test

• Veterans Affairs universal access photo ID card