New Hampshire DMV Exam FAQ 2026
How do I get my first driver's license in New Hampshire?
You apply through the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), part of the Department of Safety. New Hampshire is unusual because it does not issue learner permits at all. If you are under 18 you must first complete an approved driver education program, then pass the vision, knowledge, and road tests to earn your license at 16 or older. Adults 18 and over can go straight to the tests without driver education. Everyone brings the required application, two proofs of identity, and — for minors — a completed Driver Education Completion Certificate and parental authorization. All tests are by appointment only, and you must pass the vision and knowledge tests before a road test is scheduled.
What is the minimum age to get a driver's license in New Hampshire?
The minimum age for a New Hampshire driver's license is 16. Because the state issues no learner permit, a person at least 15½ years old who holds no license may practice-drive when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed responsible adult age 25 or older seated in the front seat. Every 16- and 17-year-old must complete an approved driver education program before being licensed, as required by RSA 263:19. Commercial driver license (CDL) applicants must be at least 18.
Does New Hampshire issue learner's permits?
No. New Hampshire is one of the few states that does not issue learner permits at all, and it does not honor or transfer driving permits from other states. Instead, a person at least 15½ years old who does not yet hold a license may practice driving as long as a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed responsible adult who is at least 25 years old is seated in the front passenger seat. Anyone under 18 needs written parental or guardian consent to be licensed, and proof of insurance coverage must be presented at the time of application.
What driver education is required for teens in New Hampshire?
All 16- and 17-year-olds must complete an approved driver education program before they can be licensed. The program consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours of practice driving with a certified instructor, and 6 hours of driving observation with an instructor. On top of that, teens must log 40 hours of additional supervised driving with a parent, guardian, or responsible adult, of which at least 10 hours must be at night. When you apply, you bring the original green Driver Education Completion Certificate and your completed out-of-class driving log.
How can an adult 18 or older get licensed in New Hampshire?
Adults 18 and over are not required to complete driver education. You make an appointment with the DMV, bring the adult driver license application (form DSMV 450) and two proofs of identity, and pass the vision, knowledge, and road tests. All tests are by appointment only, and the vision and knowledge tests must be passed before the road test is scheduled. Fees are paid before testing begins. Even though driver education is optional at this age, supervised practice before the road test is strongly encouraged.
What documents do I need to bring to the New Hampshire DMV?
You need the driver license application (form DSMV 450 for adults) and two documents proving your identity. Applicants under 18 must also bring the original green Driver Education Completion Certificate, a signed Parent or Guardian Authorization Certificate, and a completed Driver's Out-Of-Class Log Sheet, and proof of insurance coverage must be presented. If you want a REAL ID compliant license, the DMV must additionally verify your lawful status, Social Security number, and New Hampshire residency. Name changes must be documented, and all fees are paid before testing begins.
How many questions are on the New Hampshire written test and what score do I need to pass?
The New Hampshire automated knowledge test has 40 multiple-choice questions on the rules of the road and general driving conditions, and you must score at least 80 percent to pass. That means you need 32 correct answers, so you may miss no more than 8 questions — if more than 8 answers are wrong, the test automatically ends. You have 40 minutes on a touch-screen monitor, and each question shows four possible answers. Every exam is randomized, so you never see the same test twice, and audio is available on request. You can study the official New Hampshire Driver's Manual before you go.
In what languages is the New Hampshire knowledge test offered?
The computerized knowledge exam is offered in both written and audible form in English, American Sign Language, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Farsi, and Mandarin Chinese. Optional audio is delivered through headphones on request. Keep in mind that the official printed New Hampshire Driver's Manual is published only in English — there is no official Spanish or Russian edition of the manual, even though the test itself is available in these languages.
What is the vision requirement for a New Hampshire driver's license?
You must have at least 20/40 visual acuity in both eyes, or 20/30 if you have sight in only one eye. If you fail the vision screening, an eye doctor must certify your visual capability before you can be licensed. If you need corrective lenses to meet the standard, a "B" restriction is added to your license and you must wear the lenses whenever you drive. The vision test must be passed before a road test can be scheduled.
What happens during the New Hampshire road test?
The road test is given by a Licensing Examiner and averages about 20 minutes (the DMV website says 15 to 20). Only you and the examiner may be in the vehicle. You are graded on how you handle the vehicle in traffic, your driving habits, and your working knowledge of signs and the rules of the road. When you pass, you receive a 60-day paper temporary license, and your permanent license is mailed to you, generally within 45 days. You must pass the vision and knowledge tests before the road test is scheduled.
What happens if I fail the New Hampshire knowledge or road test?
Operator and motorcycle applicants must wait 10 calendar days after a failed knowledge or road test before retesting, while CDL applicants wait 5 calendar days. Every exam is randomized, so a retake never repeats the test you saw before. If you fail to appear for a scheduled road test, or you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice, the wait grows to 30 days for operator and motorcycle applicants (10 days for CDL). All tests are by appointment only, so plan ahead.
What is a Youth Operator License and what are its restrictions?
Anyone 16 or older and under 21 receives a Youth Operator License, printed vertically and marked "Under 21 until" the relevant date, expiring on the holder's 21st birthday. A Youth Operator under 18 may not drive between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., and during the first six months may not drive with more than one passenger under age 25 who is not a family member unless a licensed responsible adult at least 25 years old is present. They also may not carry more passengers than there are seat belts, and drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone or any mobile device — even hands-free — except to report an emergency to 911.
How much does a New Hampshire driver's license cost?
Under RSA 263:42, an original license and examination — or a renewal — costs $60 for a REAL ID Act compliant license and $50 for a standard (non-REAL ID) license. A special motorcycle original license, examination, or renewal is $50, an original motorcycle endorsement is $25, and a 3-wheeled motorcycle endorsement is $25 (endorsement renewals are free). A duplicate photographic license is $20. All fees are paid before testing begins.
How long is a New Hampshire driver's license valid and how do I renew it?
New Hampshire licenses expire on the holder's birthday every 5 years. A renewal reminder is mailed about two months ahead, and eligible drivers can renew online. You may renew up to 6 months in advance if you are temporarily out of state, with a possible 6-month extension. No reminder is sent if you changed your address without notifying the DMV or if your privileges are suspended. Service members who were New Hampshire residents and license holders at induction renew at no cost. You must report address and name changes within 30 days.
What is a REAL ID and do I need one in New Hampshire?
A REAL ID compliant license meets federal identification standards for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal facilities. In New Hampshire you may choose a REAL ID compliant license for $60 or a standard license for $50. To get the REAL ID version, the DMV must verify your identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and New Hampshire residency with acceptable documents. A REAL ID is optional — if you use a passport for federal purposes, a standard license is enough for driving.
I just moved to New Hampshire. How do I transfer my out-of-state license?
New residents have 60 days to obtain a New Hampshire license, and under the One License Concept (RSA 263:4) you must surrender all valid licenses from other jurisdictions — you may hold only one. If your out-of-state license is valid, you generally need only a vision test. However, if that license has been expired for more than one year, you must pass all three tests (vision, knowledge, and road). An application is refused while your privileges are suspended or revoked in any other state.
Does New Hampshire require car insurance?
New Hampshire is unique in that it has no mandatory auto insurance law — you may legally drive within the state without insurance. However, if you are in an accident while uninsured, you are personally liable for all property damage and medical bills, and if you cannot pay, the DMV must suspend your driving privileges until a settlement is reached. New Hampshire law may also require you to file an SR-22 certificate for several years afterward. Driving without proof of financial responsibility when required (RSA 263:63) carries 4 demerit points.
How does the New Hampshire demerit point system work?
The DMV assigns 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 demerit points per conviction, and points stay on a certified record for 3 years from the violation date. For example, disobeying a traffic control device or following too closely is 3 points, using a mobile device while driving or speeding 25 mph or more over the limit is 4 points, and reckless driving or DWI is 6 points. Accumulation suspensions depend on age: drivers 21 and over face suspension at 12 points in one year, 18 in two years, or 24 in three years, while drivers under 21 and under 18 hit those limits at lower thresholds.
What are New Hampshire's BAC limits and DWI penalties?
Under RSA 265-A:2 you are legally intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher, 0.02 percent if you are under 21, and 0.04 percent for commercial drivers. A first-offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor carrying a fine of at least $500, loss of driving privileges for 9 months to 2 years, and a mandatory approved impaired-driver education program before your license is restored. By operating in New Hampshire you give implied consent to blood, breath, or urine testing if arrested — refusal can cost you your driving privileges. DWI adds 6 demerit points.
Does New Hampshire have a seat belt law?
New Hampshire is the only state with no adult seat belt law — belts are legally required only for anyone under 18 (RSA 265:107-a), though the manual strongly recommends them for everyone. A child under 7 years old and under 57 inches tall must be secured in a USDOT-compliant child passenger restraint, and children under age 2 must ride in a rear-facing restraint. Penalties for child-restraint violations run from $50 for a first offense to $100 for later ones. Motorcycle helmets are required only for riders and passengers under 18.
