New Jersey MVC · Quick Reference 2026

New Jersey MVC Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the New Jersey Driver Manual (2025) — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Posted interstate (max)65 mph

Rural (non-posted)50 mph

Suburban business/residential35 mph

Business/residential district25 mph

School zone25 mph

Pass a school bus stopped in front of school10 mph max

Pass a frozen-dessert truck15 mph max

65 mph zone / work zone / Safe Corridor — finesDoubled

💡 In 65 mph zones, fines are doubled for going 10+ mph over. Safe Corridors on designated state highways also carry doubled fines.

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant10 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersection25 feet

From fire station driveway20 feet

From stop sign50 feet

From railroad crossing50 feet

Opposite a fire station entrance75 feet

From curb (parallel parking)6 inches max

Fire truck in service200 feet — never double park

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 210.01% Zero tolerance

BAC limit — CDL / commercial0.04%

Ignition interlock blocks start atBAC over 0.05%

Refuse breath test (1st offense)Interlock until installed

Crash risk at 0.15% BAC25× higher

1st DUI (0.08–<0.10%) fine$250–$400

1st DUI (0.10%+) fine$300–$500

IDRC attendance required12–48 hours

DUI surcharge (3 years)$1,000 / year

⚠️ New Jersey's Implied Consent law means refusing the breath test triggers an ignition interlock on the first refusal. After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found in crash drivers.

⚖️ DUI Penalties (New Jersey)

Offense / BAC	Fine	Jail	Surcharge
1st DUI (0.08–<0.10%)	$250–$400	Up to 30 days	$1,000/yr × 3 yrs
1st DUI (0.10%+)	$300–$500	Up to 30 days	$1,000/yr × 3 yrs
1st Refusal	varies — see MVC	Interlock until installed	$1,000/yr × 3 yrs
DUI with minor under 18	Disorderly-person offense	Up to 6-mo suspension + up to 5 days community service	See MVC

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Signal before turn / lane change100 feet before

Following distance (good weather)3-second rule

Following distance (bad weather)4+ seconds

Following distance (snow-covered)6+ seconds

Hydroplaning begins~35 mph on wet roads

Look ahead in city12 seconds

School bus stop distance25 feet (two-lane road)

No passing near RR crossing100 feet

Stop for RR signals/gates15 feet from rail

Pass cyclist (single-lane road)4 feet clearance

If <4 ft clearanceSlow to 25 mph

Warning device behind disabled vehicle300 feet (≈120 paces)

Rear plate visible at night50 feet

Hands position9 and 3 o'clock, thumbs along face

💡 Maggie's Law treats drowsy driving as recklessness. Rest every 2 hours on long trips. If your vehicle plunges in water, escape through an open window while it floats (3–10 minutes).

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.
→Blind pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog: must stop and yield the right-of-way.
→Weave lane on an expressway: vehicles entering yield to vehicles exiting.

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Stop at least 25 feet from a school bus with red flashing lights on ANY two-lane road (both directions).
→On a divided highway with a raised median, drivers on the opposite side slow to 10 mph instead of stopping.
→Amber flashing lights mean the bus is about to stop; red means it's stopped and children are boarding/exiting.
→Pass a bus stopped in front of a school at 10 mph max.
→Improperly passing a school bus: 5 points on your New Jersey license.
→Frozen-dessert truck with lights flashing: stop, then pass at 15 mph max.

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Special Learner PermitAge 16 (with driver-ed)

Examination PermitAge 17

Hold permit (under 21)6 months minimum

Hold permit (21+)3 months minimum

Supervised practice hours50 hrs (10 at night)

Supervising driver21+, valid license, 3 yrs experience

Probationary licenseAge 17

Time to basic license1 year + age 18

GDL curfew (all nights)11:01 pm – 5:00 am

PassengersDependents + 1 non-dependent

Phone use (GDL)Zero — handheld OR hands-free

Red reflective decalsRequired on both plates

GDL violation fine$100 or suspension

📊 Points & Surcharges

Racing / reckless / speeding 30+ over5 points

Improper passing school bus / tailgating5 points

Speeding 15–29 mph over4 points

Improper passing right / no-pass zone4 points

Improper turn / U-turn / cell phone 3rd+3 points

Speeding 1–14 mph over2 points

Out-of-state moving violation+2 points

Leaving scene with injury8 points

6+ points in 3 years$150 surcharge + $25/extra

12–14+ points in 24 monthsNotice of Scheduled Suspension

Defensive driving course–2 points (every 5 yrs)

Surcharge payment (NJSVS)P.O. Box 1502, Moorestown, NJ 08057-9704 · NJSurcharge.com

🔧 Equipment & Inspection

Minimum tire tread1/16" (penny edge)

Brake testStop within 25 ft at 20 mph

Studded snow tires allowedNov 15 – April 1

Add-on tintProhibited on windshield/front sides

Gasoline passenger inspectionEvery 2 years (>5 model years old)

Rear license plate visibility50 ft at night

Backup lights while moving forwardIllegal

Flying ice/snow fine$200–$1,000 (up to $1,500)

Idling limit3 minutes maximum

Crash without police report (over $500)File written MVC report within 10 days

📋 License Administration

Knowledge test50 Qs + 1 organ-donor survey

Passing score80% (40/50)

Vision — basic license20/50

Vision — CDL20/40

Basic license validity4 years

New-resident deadline60 days (or before out-of-state expiry)

Address changeWithin 1 week

Name changeWithin 2 weeks

License / permit feesvaries — see njmvc.gov

MVC contact(609) 292-6500 · njmvc.gov

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Handheld phone use while driving: illegal for all drivers; hands-free is allowed but strongly discouraged. 1st violation $200–$400.
→GDL drivers: zero phone use — handheld OR hands-free. School-bus drivers: no phone except emergency.
→Kulesh's, Kuberts' and Bolis' Law: illegal phone use causing death or injury counts as recklessness.
→Maggie's Law: driving while knowingly drowsy can be treated as recklessness. Rest every 2 hours.
→Vehicle plunged in water: escape through an open window while it floats (3–10 minutes).
→Stalled on tracks: exit at a 45° angle toward any oncoming train.
→Two solid yellow center lines: no passing in either direction. Broken line on your side: you may pass when safe.
→Never move a body at a fatal crash until police or ambulance arrive.

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