What is the TEENS program?

The TEENS (Teen Electronic Event Notification Service) program is a voluntary free notification service provided by NYS DMV that notifies a parent or guardian of minors under age 18, in the event that a ticket, conviction, suspension, revocation, or accident has appeared on the license record of the minor.

What kind of Notification?

Parents/Guardians can receive two types of notification when a reportable event occurs in relation to their minor.

• If a parent receives paper notification the DMV will send a letter to the address on the DMV record that indicates that a reportable event has occurred and shows all relevant information for the new event. Before you enroll, make sure to check that your DMV record has the most up to date address to assure that you will receive notifications.
• Parents or Guardians can also choose to receive notification via email with enrollment in MyDMV (https://my.dmv.ny.gov).

Why does NYS DMV have the TEENS program?

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of people ages 16-17. Teenage drivers in New York State are over represented in fatal and personal injury crashes. Drivers in this age group make up a very small percentage of the licensed drivers in New York State, but the percentage of fatal and personal injury crashes that involve drivers in this age group is much higher in comparison.

Statistics aside, common sense tells us that sound decision-making and judgment, as well as an awareness of hazards, develop through experience. Add to that the often-common teen behaviors such as risk-taking and thrill seeking, along with peer pressure, which all put young drivers in jeopardy. DMV wants to provide every tool possible to parents of young drivers to assist them as they help their young drivers develop safe and responsible driving behaviors.

Who can participate in the TEENS program?

Any parent or guardian who has a child under age 18, with a NYS driver permit or license can participate.

• The younger driver is under the age of 18
• The parent/guardian has a NYS license or non-driver ID

How do I sign up for the TEENS program?

Parents or guardians can enroll in this program online through MyDMV, enroll when their minor applies for a permit or non-driver ID at a local DMV office, or can complete an enrollment form (MV-TEENS, also available at your local DMV office) and mail it to:

What happens when my son/daughter turns 18?

On the 18th birthday of the enrolled minor, participation in the program will automatically end. The young driver, now of legal age, no longer needs parental consent, and has the right of privacy of personal license file information.

Do ALL accidents appear on a driver's file?

No. Only accidents that are reported by police and/or motorists, AND that meet the report threshold appear on a driver's file. The DMV report threshold for accidents is one that involves a death, personal injury or property damage to any one person in excess of $1,000.

What happens after I receive a notification?

DMV actions based on tickets, convictions, suspensions, revocations, or accidents on the junior driver record will not change due to enrollment in this program. Notification of these events is done as an informational service. What you do with the information is entirely up to you. However, we suggest that you use the opportunity to talk to your young driver and discuss how to avoid similar occurrences in the future.