New Jersey DMV Numbers Cheat Sheet: Every Number You Need to Memorize
DMV IQ Editorial Team · Published November 7, 2026 · 4 min read
Checked against the handbook: 2026 edition. Values below come from the New Jersey Driver Manual published by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, which we host as a free PDF on this site. Nothing comes from a driving school, a forum or another prep site.
The New Jersey written test is full of numbers: how far, how fast, how old, how long, how much. This page puts 77 of them in one place, grouped into 14 sections. The biggest sections are distances and following (10), graduated driver license (gdl) (9), and speed (9).
A few you will meet early:
Legal BAC limit: 0.08% BAC (age 21 and over)
How long a basic or probationary car license is valid before renewal: 4 years
Minimum age for a Special Learner Permit: 16 years
We started from our own New Jersey question bank, not from a generic list, so every row is a number our questions actually test. We then took the bank's answer out of the picture and read the figure in the handbook itself. If the handbook does not state a number, it is not on this sheet, even when a question tests it. In 5 places our question bank and the handbook differed. Those rows are flagged and show the handbook value.
New Jersey · Numbers reference
Every number the New Jersey written test can ask you for, in one place, taken from the official driver handbook and built to print.
77 numbersall tested in our question bank
Showing all 77 numbers
01
License basics
3 numbers
License basics, New Jersey
Value
Rule
4 years
How long a basic or probationary car license is valid before renewalBasic and probationary automobile licenses
18 years
Minimum age for the basic (unrestricted) driver licenseAfter the 1-year probationary period
More than 10,000 pounds
Towed-vehicle weight that makes a Class A license necessary (with a 26,001 lb or more combination)Combination weight rating of 26,001 lb or more
02
Graduated Driver License (GDL)
9 numbers
Graduated Driver License (GDL), New Jersey
Value
Rule
16 years
Minimum age for a Special Learner PermitRequires an approved behind-the-wheel course and parent or guardian consent
6 months
Minimum supervised practice time before the road testPermit holders under 21
50 hours, including 10 at night
Supervised practice hours required before the road testPermit holders under 21
11:01 PM to 5:00 AM
Hours when permit and probationary license holders may not driveUnder 21; exemptions for work or religion with written proof
Age 21 or older and at least 3 years of licensed driving
What the adult supervising driver must haveSits in the front seat; must hold a valid NJ license
1 additional passenger
Extra passengers allowed on a probationary licenseBesides dependents, unless a parent or guardian is in the car; under 21
21 years
Age at which the hour, passenger and decal restrictions no longer applyHour, passenger and decal rules; the cell phone ban is listed separately
1 year
Unsupervised driving required on a probationary license before the basic licenseStandard 12-month probationary period
$100
Fine for breaking a GDL restriction (including not showing the red decals)May instead lead to suspension of driving privilege
03
Speed
9 numbers
Speed, New Jersey
Value
Rule
25 mph
Speed limit in school zones, business and residential districtsDefault limit unless otherwise postedOur question bank and the state handbook disagree here. The handbook value is published.
65 mph
Highest speed limitPosted limit on certain interstates; parkways, turnpikes and highways are up to 65 mph
25 mph
Top speed for a moped (motorized bicycle)
About 35 mph
Speed at which tires can start to hydroplane on a wet roadTires may leave the road surface completely after 55 mph
15 mph at most
Speed when passing a stopped frozen dessert truck with red lights and stop armStop first, then pass
10 mph
Speed on the far side of a safety island or median from a stopped school busDual-lane highway with a safety island or raised median
25 mph
Speed when you cannot give a bicyclist four feet of spaceSingle-lane road; be ready to stop until it is safe to pass
25 mph or less
Speed at or below which you may steer back onto the road from the shoulderAfter your wheels drift onto the shoulder
About 85 percent
Share of pedestrians killed when hit at 40 mphThe handbook gives 5 percent at 20 mph
04
Distances and following
10 numbers
Distances and following, New Jersey
Value
Rule
4 or more seconds
Following distance in bad weatherNormal is the three-seconds-plus rule
6 or more seconds
Following distance on snow-covered roads
At least 12 seconds
How far ahead to lookabout a block in the city
At least 25 feet
Distance to stop from a school bus with flashing red lightsTwo-lane road, multi-lane road separated by lines, or private road
At least 15 feet
Distance to stop from a railroad crossing with lights, bells or gates
Within 5 feet of the crosswalk or stop line
Where to stop at a stop sign
At least 4 feet
Space to give a bicyclist when passingSingle-lane road
At least 300 feet
How far behind a stopped vehicle to put a warning deviceIn addition to a flare just behind the vehicle
100 feet
Distance from a railroad crossing within which you may not passHandbook names railroad crossings onlyOur question bank and the state handbook disagree here. The handbook value is published.
As much as 25 percent longer
How much longer trucks and buses can take to stop in bad weatherTruck, tractor-trailer or bus
05
Parking
6 numbers
Parking, New Jersey
Value
Rule
10 feet
No parking within this distance of a fire hydrant
25 feet
No parking within this distance of a crosswalk at an intersection
50 feet
No parking within this distance of a stop signOur question bank and the state handbook disagree here. The handbook value is published.
50 feet
No parking within this distance of a railroad crossing
20 feet (75 feet on the opposite side of the street)
No parking within this distance of a fire station driveway entrance
6 inches
Farthest a parked vehicle may be from the curb
06
Signals and turns
1 number
Signals and turns, New Jersey
Value
Rule
At least 100 feet
How far before a turn to signalAlso move into the proper lane by then
07
Seat belts, child seats and air bags
4 numbers
Seat belts, child seats and air bags, New Jersey
Value
Rule
Under age 8 and under 57 inches (4 ft 9 in) tall
Child booster seat ruleRear seat; booster or harnessed seat
Under age 2 or under 30 pounds
Child must ride rear-facing untilFederally approved rear-facing seat with five-point harness
60 percent
How much a seat belt improves the chance of surviving a crashNJ manual wording; NHTSA gives 45% fatal / 50% serious for carsOur question bank and the state handbook disagree here. The handbook value is published.
At least 10 inches
Distance to keep between the steering wheel and your breastboneHandbook states this in the air bag cutoff switch criteria
08
Vehicle, weather and emergencies
9 numbers
Vehicle, weather and emergencies, New Jersey
Value
Rule
1/16 inch (the edge of a penny)
Minimum tire treadDo not drive on tires with less than this
9 and 3 o’clock
Hand position on the steering wheelThumbs along the face of the wheel
5 years
How long a new passenger vehicle's first inspection sticker lastsNew car dealer sticker; then inspection every two years
1 plate
License plates issued for a trailerCars get two
November 15 to April 1
Dates studded snow tires are allowed
3 to 5 seconds
Time to recover from oncoming high-beam glareLook to the right of the road until the vehicle passes
About 3 to 10 minutes
How long a sinking vehicle floats with windows and doors closed
45 degrees toward the train
Angle to run from a car stalled on railroad tracksMove away along the direction the train is coming from
Every 2 hours
How often to rest on a long driveadvisory; or share the drivingOur question bank and the state handbook disagree here. The handbook value is published.
09
Blood alcohol limits
2 numbers
Blood alcohol limits, New Jersey
Value
Rule
0.08% BAC (age 21 and over)
Legal BAC limit
0.01% BAC (under 21)
BAC limit for drivers under 21
10
Motor vehicle penalty points by offense
7 numbers
Motor vehicle penalty points by offense, New Jersey
Value
Rule
2 points
Motor vehicle points for speeding 1-14 mph over the limit
5 points
Motor vehicle points for speeding 30 mph or more over the limit
5 points
Motor vehicle points for reckless driving
5 points
Motor vehicle points for tailgating
5 points
Motor vehicle points for improper passing of a school bus
8 points (2 if no injury)
Motor vehicle points for leaving the scene of a crash with personal injury
3 points
Motor vehicle points for a hand-held phone violationThird conviction (and later) only; none for the first two
11
Point thresholds and reductions
5 numbers
Point thresholds and reductions, New Jersey
Value
Rule
12 points in 24 months
Points in a 24-month period that bring a notice of scheduled suspensionHandbook says 'between 12 and 14 points ... or more'
$150 at 6 points, plus $25 per extra point
Violation surcharge once you reach six points in three yearsPoints posted in the last three years; paid on top of fines
Up to 3 points per year
Points removed for each year with no violation or suspensionTotal never drops below zero
2 points
Points removed by a defensive driving course
Once every 5 years
How often a defensive driving course counts for point reduction
12
Suspensions and penalties
5 numbers
Suspensions and penalties, New Jersey
Value
Rule
3 suspensions in 3 years
What makes a habitual offender
8 years
License loss for a third DUI within 10 years of the secondOffenses on or after 12/1/19 (earlier ones: 10 years)
30 to 90 days
Suspension for an under-21 first offense with BAC 0.01% to under 0.08%Plus 15 to 30 days of community service
15 to 30 days
Community service for an under-21 first offense with BAC 0.01% to under 0.08%Plus the 30 to 90 day suspension
1,000 feet
School property distance that adds penalties for driving on a DUI, refusal or habitual-offender suspensionAdds 1 to 2 years suspension, a $500 fine and 60 to 90 days in jail for a first offense
13
Fines and surcharges
5 numbers
Fines and surcharges, New Jersey
Value
Rule
$1,000 per year for 3 years
Insurance surcharge for a first or second DUI
$500
Fine for driving while suspended, first offensePlus up to 6 more months of suspension
$200 to $400
Fine for a first hand-held phone offense$400 to $600 for a second offense
Up to $500
Highest fine for failing to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalkAlso up to 25 days in jail and 2 points
$25 to $75
Fine for driving with snow or ice left on the vehicleEven if none of it falls off
14
Reporting a crash
2 numbers
Reporting a crash, New Jersey
Value
Rule
More than $500
Property damage that requires a crash reportOr any personal injury
Within 10 days
Days to send a written crash report to the MVCOnly if the police did not file a report
Print it (the button above gives a clean one or two page version) or filter it on screen. Do not try to memorize the whole list in one go. Pick one section, say it out loud, then answer practice questions on that topic until the numbers stick.
What this sheet leaves out
The handbook is a summary of the law, not the law itself. Fines, court costs and fees change, and some are set by statute rather than printed in the handbook. We only list what the handbook (or, where marked, the statute) states, so check the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for anything that decides a real case. The handbook edition used here is 2026; the numbers were last checked against it on November 7, 2026.
