Can I turn right on red in New York City?

No, not by default. New York City prohibits right turns on red unless a sign specifically allows it, and the same rule applies to left turns from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

What is the default speed limit in NYC?

25 mph on unposted city streets. School zones are 15 mph when the beacon is flashing or the sign says so.

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a divided highway?

In New York, yes. The state requires traffic in both directions to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, including on divided highways.

Is there a toll to drive into Manhattan?

Vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone at or below 60th Street pay an electronic toll, with a lower overnight rate. Cars that stay on the FDR Drive or West Side Highway without exiting do not trigger it.

NYDriveGuide | New York Driving Rules for Visitors

The full rules 12 min

Right turns, speed limits, school buses, parking signs

The city-versus-state split, the four safety laws that catch visitors, the parking sign decoder, and the DMV point table.

Read the handbook →

Money & tolls 8 min

E-ZPass, cashless tolling, and the Manhattan toll zone

What the congestion charge covers, which roads avoid it, and how to stop a rental company charging you $15 a day for a transponder you never used.

Read the toll guide →

Five rules that change at the city line

What is legal upstate can be a ticket in Manhattan, and the other way round

01 Right turn on red. Banned by default in NYC. Upstate, it is allowed after a full stop unless a sign says otherwise. 02 Speed limits. 25 mph on unposted NYC streets, 15 mph in active school zones, and automated cameras in both. 03 School buses. New York requires traffic in both directions to stop, including on a divided highway. 04 Parking signs. No Standing, No Stopping, and No Parking are three different rules; the strictest sign on the pole wins. 05 Tolls. No cash booths remain. Entering Manhattan below 60th Street adds a congestion charge on top of bridge and tunnel tolls.

Three more questions, answered in full

The rules that generate the most tickets for drivers who do not live here.

Parking

Meters, ASP, and towing

Sign order, Muni-Meter, 15-ft hydrant rule, ticket appeals.

Violations

DWI, points, work zones

BAC thresholds, school-bus fines, 11-point suspension.

Visiting driver

License, rental, insurance

IDP, rental age, NY minimum coverage, inspection.

What this site is, and what it is not

NYDriveGuide is an independent, plain-English summary of publicly posted New York traffic rules, written for visitors and new residents. It is not a law firm, a driving school, or a DMV office, and it does not replace the official NY State DMV manual or a posted sign. Where a rule differs by borough or by street, the page says so instead of pretending one number fits the whole state.

Questions that come up before the first drive

Can I turn right on red in Manhattan?+

No, not unless a sign explicitly permits it. New York City bans right turns on red by default in all five boroughs. The same restriction applies to left turns from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

What is the speed limit in NYC?+

25 mph on unposted streets. School zones drop to 15 mph when the beacon is flashing or the posted hours apply, and speed cameras operate in both zones.

Do I need an E-ZPass to drive in New York?+

No, but you will pay more. Tolls are cashless: a camera reads your plate and mails a bill at the Tolls by Mail rate. A New York E-ZPass account gets the lowest crossing rates and avoids rental-car admin fees.

How many points before a suspension?+

Eleven points in 18 months triggers a suspension under the NY DMV point schedule. Camera-issued tickets usually carry no points, but they still cost money and can be appealed.