MV-279

The New York State DMV form MV-279, titled Request for Classroom Premises Check, is used by commercial driving schools, high schools, colleges, and BOCES to obtain official approval for facilities where the five-hour Pre-licensing Course is conducted. Per Commissioner's Regulations Parts 7 and 76, no course can be held unless the classroom has been inspected and approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The form requires applicants to provide school and ownership details, the specific classroom address, and a self-assessment of the facility's compliance with state standards.

To qualify for approval, a classroom must meet several physical and equipment-related criteria: it must be at least 150 square feet (providing 15 square feet per student for a maximum of 36 students), clean, well-lit, well-ventilated, and accessible to students with disabilities. Required equipment includes a chalkboard or flipchart of at least 2x3 feet and suitable audiovisual equipment for presenting course materials. Once the first page of the form is completed, it must be mailed to the Bureau of Driver Training Programs in Albany to arrange for a formal premises check.