To get an F endorsement in NY, you need a valid New York Class D or E driver’s license, a completed CFV-1 designation form for the farm vehicle you’ll drive, and passing scores on both a written knowledge test and a skills test administered by the DMV. The endorsement lets you legally operate a covered farm vehicle combination over 26,000 pounds, like a tractor-trailer, without holding a commercial driver’s license.
What the F Endorsement Authorizes
The F endorsement, short for “Farm Class A Vehicle,” authorizes you to drive a combination of covered farm vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 pounds.1New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Covered Farm Vehicle Think tractor pulling a trailer. If you drive a single heavy straight truck instead, the G endorsement (“Farm Class B Vehicle”) is the one that applies, and its skills test is taken in a single-unit truck rather than a combination.
Both endorsements exist only on non-commercial licenses. If you currently hold a CDL, you have to downgrade to a non-commercial license before you can add an F endorsement.1New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Covered Farm Vehicle
One boundary worth naming up front: the covered farm vehicle framework is for farm use. The vehicle cannot be used in for-hire motor carrier operations (with a narrow exception for a tenant hauling a landlord’s crops under a crop-share lease) and cannot carry hazardous materials of any kind.2New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 501-A Definitions If your operation involves either, the F endorsement won’t cover you and a CDL is what you need instead.
Who Qualifies
You must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid New York State Class D or E driver’s license.3New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. New York State Learner Permit and Driver License Class Descriptions Your driving record matters. Serious traffic violations can affect eligibility, and the DMV can decline to issue the endorsement if your record raises safety concerns.
The covered farm vehicle designation exempts you from needing a CDL, but not from every federal rule. If you’ll operate an articulated vehicle (a tractor pulling a trailer) with a gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, federal regulations under 49 CFR §391.41 require a current medical examiner’s certificate.4Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. 49 CFR 391.2 General Exemptions Because the F endorsement is specifically for tractor-trailer combinations, most F endorsement drivers will need that medical certificate on hand.
Get the CFV-1 Form Before You Apply
Before applying for the endorsement itself, you need a completed “Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle” form (CFV-1) for the vehicle. The form establishes that the vehicle qualifies for the covered farm vehicle exemption from CDL requirements.5New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle You can download it from the DMV website or pick one up at a DMV office.
To meet the covered farm vehicle definition under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 501-A, the vehicle has to be:2New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 501-A Definitions
- Registered in New York with a covered farm vehicle designation issued by the DMV commissioner.
- Operated by the farm or ranch owner or operator, or by an employee or family member of that owner or operator.
- Used to transport agricultural commodities, livestock, machinery, or supplies to or from the farm or ranch.
- Not used in for-hire motor carrier operations (except for a tenant hauling a landlord’s crops under a crop-share lease).
- Not carrying hazardous materials.
Once completed, keep the CFV-1 form in the vehicle at all times and produce it for law enforcement on request.5New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle
What to Bring to the DMV
Your application visit has to happen in person. Bring:
- Form MV-44, the Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card.6New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. New York State DMV Form MV-44 – Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card
- Proof of identity following the DMV’s ID-44 guide, including proof of your Social Security number, name and date of birth, and New York State residency. Enhanced or REAL ID credentials require additional residency documentation.7New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. ID-44 – Proof of Identity, Citizenship and Lawful Status
- Your completed CFV-1 form.
You’ll pay applicable fees at this visit, including a skills test fee. The DMV does not publish the F endorsement skills test fee on its standard fee schedule, so confirm the current amount before you go.
Pass the Knowledge Test
The first exam is a written knowledge test taken at a DMV office. It covers rules and safe operating practices for covered farm vehicles and the heavy combinations the F endorsement authorizes.1New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Covered Farm Vehicle The DMV’s standard driver’s manual is the foundational study material.
Pass, and the DMV issues a learner permit. That permit lets you practice driving the vehicle under supervision. Your supervising driver must be at least 21 and hold a New York license valid for the type of vehicle you’re operating.8New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Get Your Learner Permit and First Driver License The permit stays valid until your license application expires.
Pass the Skills Test
For the F endorsement, the skills test must be taken in a tractor-trailer or truck-trailer combination representing the vehicle you’ll operate.1New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Covered Farm Vehicle The vehicle needs current registration and insurance, and safety equipment (lights, tires, seat belts) must all work.
The examiner evaluates three areas:
- Pre-trip inspection: walking through the vehicle to identify key components and spot safety problems.
- Basic vehicle control: backing, turning, and parking the combination in a controlled setting.
- On-road driving: handling traffic, turns, and intersections while showing safe judgment.
Fail the road test and your learner permit stays valid until it expires, so you can reschedule. After two failed attempts, you’ll owe additional fees for further tests.9New York State DMV. Schedule and Take a Road Test Pass, and the DMV issues your non-commercial license with the F endorsement.
Restrictions Once You’re Endorsed
Once you have the endorsement, a few limits still apply. A covered farm vehicle over 26,000 pounds can only be operated within 150 air miles of the farm or ranch.2New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 501-A Definitions Air miles are measured in a straight line, so your practical driving range on roads will be somewhat shorter.
The vehicle must display its covered farm vehicle designation, and the CFV-1 form must be available for inspection at all times.5New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle If the operation shifts to for-hire hauling or hazardous materials, the covered farm vehicle designation no longer covers you, and a CDL becomes the required credential.