New Hampshire · Handbook chapter 1 · 5 min read

How New Hampshire licenses new drivers: no learner's permit, practice driving from 15 and a half, driver education for 16 and 17 year olds, the three tests, the Youth Operator license and its limits, and what to bring.

Why this chapter matters

New Hampshire does things differently from most states: there is no learner's permit. Questions about practice driving, the Youth Operator rules and the three tests come up often, and the numbers are easy to mix up, so learn them carefully.

Practice driving without a permit

• From 15 and a half, a person with no license may drive while being taught.
• The supervisor must be a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed responsible adult aged 25 or older.
• This exception never applies to anyone whose driving privileges are suspended or revoked in New Hampshire or any other state.
• A visiting non-resident without a valid home-state license may also drive in New Hampshire only if at least 15 and a half and with a licensed responsible adult of 25 or older.

Driver education (ages 16 and 17)

State law (RSA 263:19) says anyone aged 16 or 17 who wants a license must first finish an approved driver education program:

The three tests

To get an operator (non-commercial) license you must pass all three:

1. Vision test: 20/40 with both eyes, or 20/30 if you have sight in only one eye. If you need glasses or contacts to pass, you must wear them to drive and your license carries the B restriction. Fail it and you need an eye examination with a doctor's recommendation before more testing.
2. Knowledge test: 40 multiple-choice questions on the rules of the road and general driving conditions, taken on a touch screen, each with four possible answers. The pass mark is 80% (32 correct); the test ends automatically once more than 8 answers are wrong or time runs out. The manual gives 40 minutes; the DMV testing page says the time limit depends on the number of questions. You can ask for audio with headphones, and the test is offered in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Portuguese, Farsi and American Sign Language. Exams are random, so a retake is a different exam.
3. Road test: an examiner grades your control of the car, driving habits and knowledge of signs and rules. It lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. The examiner gives instructions but cannot coach you, and only you and the examiner may be in the car.

All tests are by appointment, and you must pass the vision and knowledge tests before you can book the road test.

Passing and failing

• Pass: you get a 60-day paper temporary license, and the permanent one is mailed within 45 days.
• Fail the knowledge or road test: wait 10 calendar days before a retest (5 for a CDL).
• Miss a road test, or cancel with less than 24 hours' notice: wait 30 days.

What to bring

• Every driver's license issued to you by any state.
• Proof of identity and residency (the full list is on the DMV website).
• A vehicle that is registered, inspected, safe and of the right class for the license.
• A licensed driver to bring the car to and from the test site, who must stay until the road test is finished.

Under 18, a license is issued only with written permission from a parent or guardian (or another responsible adult if there is none).

Types of license and restrictions

• Class D is the regular car license, for vehicles of 26,000 pounds or less that do not tow over 10,000 pounds, carry hazardous materials or seat 16 or more.
• Classes A, B and C are commercial classes. A motorcycle license also covers mopeds and motor-driven cycles; a motor-driven cycle has no more than 5 brake horsepower. You need no moped license if you already hold a Class A, B, C, D or motorcycle license.
• Restriction codes include B (corrective lenses), C (mechanical aid), D (prosthetic aid), E (automatic transmission), F (outside mirror), G (daylight only) and IID (ignition interlock).

The Youth Operator license

Anyone from 16 to under 21 gets a Youth Operator license, printed vertically, which expires on the 21st birthday. Until 18, the holder may NOT drive:

• between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.;
• during the first six months, with more than one passenger under 25 who is not family, unless a licensed responsible adult aged 25 or older is with them;
• with more passengers than there are seat belts.

Drivers under 18 may not use a phone or other mobile device at all while driving, even hands-free, except to report an emergency.

New residents and renewals

• New residents have 60 days to get a New Hampshire license and must surrender all other licenses (the one-license rule).
• With a valid out-of-state license, only a vision test is needed. If it expired more than one year ago, you take all three tests.
• Licenses expire on your birthday every 5 years. Renewing is your responsibility even if no reminder arrives.
• Non-driver ID cards are available from age 12.