The short answer
- Written test: yes, in Russian. The MVC knowledge-test page, checked October 14, 2026, lists Russian among the written-test languages: English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Hindi, Albanian and Turkish.
- Oral test: no Russian option. The same page says oral tests are offered in English and Spanish.
- Driver Manual: no Russian edition. MVC's manuals page lists the New Jersey Driver Manual in nine languages, and Russian is not one of them. The Russian document on that page is an e-bike and moped manual, which is a different thing (see below).
So a Russian-speaking applicant can take the written test in Russian, but will usually study from a manual in another language, most often the English one.
Step by step: from study to test day
These steps follow what MVC's knowledge-test page describes. Fees, ID rules and appointment availability change, so confirm them with MVC.
- Study from the NJ Driver Manual. MVC says you can prepare by reading the Driver Manual. Use the current edition on the manuals page; all basic driver manuals there are marked "Revised 09/26".
- Go to a driver testing center with your 6 Points of ID and purchase an examination permit.
- Schedule the knowledge test through MVC's appointment system after you have purchased the examination permit.
- Ask for the written test in Russian. Say which language you need when you book and again at the testing center. There is no Russian oral test, so plan to read the questions yourself.
- Take the test. The language you choose does not change the content or the passing standard, which MVC sets. See how scoring works.
The Russian manual on MVC's site is not the driver manual
MVC's manuals page has a section called "E-Bike and Moped Manuals". It includes a file titled "Русский язык - Russian ebike manual". That document belongs to the E-bike and Motorized Bicycle/Moped Manual series. It is not a Russian translation of the New Jersey Driver Manual, and it is not listed under "Basic Automobile Driver Manuals". Do not use it as your main study source for the car knowledge test.
The basic driver manual languages MVC lists are English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Gujarati, Korean, Arabic, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese.
How to study without a Russian manual
- Use the official English manual as your reference. It is the first edition MVC lists, and it uses the same English words you will see on road signs.
- Translate for yourself, but check against the original. If you use a dictionary or a translation tool to understand a chapter, go back to the English sentence for any rule with a number in it (distances, speeds, times, ages, blood alcohol limits). Small translation errors in numbers are exactly what costs points.
- Treat unofficial Russian translations as unofficial. A translated copy you find elsewhere is not an MVC publication, and it may be out of date. MVC's current manuals are marked revised 09/26.
- Learn the English sign words. Even if you take the written test in Russian, New Jersey signs are in English: STOP, YIELD, ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY, NO TURN ON RED. Our traffic signs study guide covers them.
- Memorize the recurring numbers. Start with numbers to memorize for the NJ permit test, then the hardest questions.
A few terms you will meet in the process (for orientation only; these are not official MVC translations):
| English (MVC wording) | Russian |
|---|---|
| knowledge test / written test | теоретический тест / письменный тест |
| oral test | устный тест |
| Driver Manual | руководство для водителей |
| examination permit | разрешение на сдачу экзамена |
| interpreter | переводчик |
Practicing on this site
This site does not have a Russian practice mode, and we are not promising one. Practice is available in English, plus Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean and Gujarati for speakers of those languages. For most Russian speakers the practical route is to practice in English: it trains the same English wording that appears on signs and in the official manual. Practice questions here are our own study questions; results on this site are not MVC exam results and do not predict your official score.
Oral test and interpreters: the real limits
- Oral tests are English and Spanish only. If reading a written test is difficult for you, ask MVC what it can offer; do not assume an oral test in Russian exists.
- The interpreter path is for languages without a test. MVC says that if the knowledge test is not available in your native language, you may use an interpreter obtained by MVC via state contract, requested at your Permit appointment, and typically scheduled within four to six weeks. Because Russian is already a written-test language, this path is generally aimed at other languages. Ask MVC directly if you think your situation is different. For the full rules, see knowledge-test languages and MVC interpreter options.
- CDL is different. MVC lists CDL knowledge tests in English and Spanish only, and the Hazmat endorsement test in English only.
For a similar guide in Spanish, see NJ permit test in Spanish.
Sources and as-of dates
- NJ MVC, Knowledge Test page: www.nj.gov/mvc/license/knowledgetest.htm, reviewed October 12, 13 and 14, 2026.
- NJ MVC, Driver Manuals page: www.nj.gov/mvc/about/manuals.htm, reviewed October 12, 13 and 14, 2026 (basic driver manuals marked "Revised 09/26"; Russian listed only under E-Bike and Moped Manuals).
MVC's pages can change. Confirm current language options with MVC before relying on them.