The Internship Supervisor Document Is a Required Form, Not a Recommendation

New York State requires a specific document signed by an internship supervisor before you can get a limited permit — the license that lets you drive alone during daylight hours while you hold a learner's permit. The form is called the MV-262: Internship Supervisor Certification, and without it, the DMV will not issue your limited permit, even if you meet every other requirement.

This is not optional paperwork. The supervisor must be a licensed driver at least 21 years old, and they must have personally observed you driving for at least 50 hours — with at least 15 of those hours at night. The supervisor signs the form confirming those hours actually happened. The DMV uses this document to verify that you have real supervised driving experience before letting you drive without an adult in the car.

Key Takeaways

  • You need form MV-262 signed by an internship supervisor who is at least 21, holds a valid license, and has watched you drive for 50 hours (15 at night).
  • The supervisor does not have to be a parent or relative — they can be any licensed adult, including a driving instructor, but they must personally observe your driving.
  • You must bring the signed MV-262 to the DMV along with your learner's permit and other documents when you explore for the limited permit.
  • The form must be completed and signed before you explore; the DMV will not issue a limited permit without it.

Who Can Serve as Your Internship Supervisor

Your internship supervisor must meet three hard requirements: they must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid driver's license (from any state), and have personally watched you drive for the required hours. Beyond that, the person can be almost anyone — a parent, relative, friend, driving instructor, or teacher.

The key word is personally. The supervisor cannot sign the form based on hearsay or trust. They must actually be in the car with you during the driving sessions they are certifying. If you drove 50 hours but your supervisor was only present for 30 of them, they can only sign off on those 30 hours. You would need a second supervisor to cover the remaining 20 hours, and that second person would sign a separate MV-262 form.

Many families use a parent as the supervisor. Others hire a professional driving instructor, who can serve as the supervisor and provide the instruction at the same time. Either way, the person signing the form is taking responsibility for confirming the hours are accurate.

The 50-Hour Requirement: What Counts and What Doesn't

The 50 hours of supervised driving must be behind the wheel of a vehicle with your supervisor present. This includes regular street driving, highway driving, parking practice, and driving in different weather or light conditions. All of it counts toward the 50 hours as long as you are the one steering and your supervisor is in the car observing.

Of the 50 hours, at least 15 must occur between sunset and sunrise — what New York calls "night driving." This requirement exists because driving at night is harder and more dangerous. Your supervisor needs to confirm you have practiced it. If you have only 10 hours of night driving when you explore, you do not yet meet the requirement, and the DMV will not issue your limited permit.

Hours spent in a parking lot practicing turns or parking do count. Hours spent in a driver education classroom do not. Hours spent as a passenger while someone else drives do not. The supervisor must be watching you drive, not teaching a class or riding along while you sit in the passenger seat.

How to Complete and Submit Form MV-262

You can read form MV-262 from the New York DMV website or pick up a copy at any DMV office. The form has two main sections: one for you to fill out and one for your supervisor to complete and sign.

You will enter your name, date of birth, learner's permit number, and the dates of your supervised driving sessions. Your supervisor will then fill in their name, license number, and the state that issued their license. They will confirm the total hours you drove under their supervision and break down how many of those hours were at night. Both of you sign and date the form.

Bring the completed, signed MV-262 to the DMV office when you explore for your limited permit. You will also need your learner's permit, proof of identity, proof of residency, and your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The DMV will review the form to make sure it is filled out completely and that your supervisor's signature is present before they issue your limited permit.

What Happens If Your Supervisor Information Is Incomplete or Wrong

If the MV-262 arrives at the DMV with missing information — for example, your supervisor's license number is blank or the night-driving hours are not filled in — the DMV will reject the form and return it to you. You will have to get your supervisor to complete it again and resubmit it. This can delay your limited permit by days or weeks.

If the DMV suspects the information is false — for instance, if the hours listed seem unrealistic or the supervisor's license cannot be verified — they may contact your supervisor directly to confirm. In rare cases, they may deny the limited permit if they determine the form was falsified. Signing a false MV-262 is a serious matter and can result in consequences for both you and your supervisor.

To avoid problems, make sure your supervisor fills out every blank on the form, uses their correct license number and state, and signs and dates it. Review the form before you submit it to catch any obvious errors.

Timeline: When to Get Your Supervisor Form Signed

You should not rush to get the MV-262 signed the moment you hit 50 hours. Instead, plan to complete your 50 hours of supervised driving first, then have your supervisor sign the form, and then bring it to the DMV. The form is only valid once it is signed, so there is no benefit to getting it signed early.

Once you have the signed form in hand, you can explore for your limited permit at any time. There is no important date or expiration date on the form itself, but your learner's permit does expire — usually six months after you receive it. Make sure you explore for the limited permit before your learner's permit expires, or you will have to renew your learner's permit first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a driving instructor be my internship supervisor?

Yes. A professional driving instructor can serve as your internship supervisor as long as they hold a valid driver's license and are at least 21 years old. Many families use an instructor for this reason — the instructor provides the driving lessons and signs the MV-262 form at the end. Make sure the instructor understands they need to track and confirm the hours before signing.

What if I do not have 15 hours of night driving yet?

You cannot explore for a limited permit until you have completed at least 15 hours of night driving. Continue practicing with your supervisor until you reach that threshold, then have them sign the MV-262 form. Night driving is a separate requirement and cannot be waived.

Can two different supervisors sign the same MV-262 form?

No. Each supervisor signs their own separate MV-262 form, listing only the hours they personally supervised. If Supervisor A watched you drive 30 hours and Supervisor B watched you drive 20 hours, you submit two forms — one from each person. The DMV will add the hours together to confirm you have met the 50-hour requirement.

What if my supervisor moves or is no longer available to sign?

You need the form signed before you explore for the limited permit. If your supervisor has moved or is unavailable, you will need to contact them to arrange a time to get the signature. If that is not possible, you may need to complete additional supervised driving hours with a different supervisor who can sign the form.

Does the MV-262 form expire?

The form itself does not have an expiration date, but your learner's permit does. You must explore for your limited permit before your learner's permit expires. Once your learner's permit expires, you will need to renew it before you can use the MV-262 form to get a limited permit.