Before you drive in New Jersey you need the right license or permit on you, and you must keep the MVC's records current. This lesson covers the basic license laws, how long a license lasts, and which license type fits which vehicle.
Carry these every time you drive
- A valid driver license, probationary license, or validated New Jersey permit
- Valid insurance card for the vehicle
- Vehicle registration card
Know the rule
A motorist with a validated New Jersey permit must be accompanied by an appropriately licensed driver.
Handbook p. 6 ↗Deadlines for telling the MVC
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Change of address (even moving out of NJ) | Within one week after moving |
| Legal name change (marriage, divorce, court) | Within two weeks |
| New resident with out-of-state license | 60 days or before it expires, whichever sooner |
| New resident with out-of-state CDL | 30 days or before it expires, whichever sooner |
Know the rule
A motorist with a valid license from another country may drive with that license for up to a year.
Handbook p. 6 ↗Know the rule
Anyone who has never had a driver license must complete the Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program, with a period of supervised driving before a basic license.
Handbook p. 6 ↗Know the rule
Applicants under 18 must present a consent form signed by a parent or guardian.
Handbook p. 7 ↗How long a New Jersey driver license is valid (a 30-day interim license is issued while the digital license is made)
Handbook p. 8 ↗Know the rule
Motorists under 21 receive a distinctive vertical-format driver license.
Handbook p. 8 ↗License fraud penalties
| Offense | Possible penalty |
|---|---|
| Altering or presenting an altered license | Loss of privilege, fine up to $1,000, and/or jail |
| Obtaining a license illegally | Fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment |
Main license types (Standard or REAL ID)
| License | Minimum age | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic automobile (Class D) | 18 (permit at 16) | Class D vehicles except motorcycles |
| Probationary automobile | 17 (permit at 16) | Class D vehicles except motorcycles |
| Commercial (Classes A, B, C) | 18 (21 for some uses) | Large trucks, buses, hazmat vehicles |
| Motorcycle (Class E) | 17 | Most vehicles with fewer than four wheels |
Other licenses
- Moped: age 15+; not needed if you hold a Class A, B, C, D or E license
- Agricultural: farming only, ages 16 to 17, until a basic license at 18
- Boat: age 16+, motorboats on non-tidal fresh waters; needs a Boating Safety Certificate
Know the rule
An endorsement expires with the license, except Hazmat, which must be tested every 2 years.
Handbook p. 8 ↗K, V, R, C tests
The tests each license requires: K = Knowledge, V = Vision, R = Road, C = Commercial. A basic auto license needs K, V and R.
Handbook p. 10 ↗Put it into practice
You move from Newark to Trenton on March 1. Report the new address to the MVC within one week, by March 8. If you had also married and changed your last name, you would have two weeks to report the name change.