New Hampshire Driving Test: Knowledge Exam, Road Test, and Fees

To get a New Hampshire driver’s license, you have to pass two parts of the New Hampshire driving test: a 40-question computer-based knowledge exam and an on-road skills evaluation. Both are given by appointment at Division of Motor Vehicles offices, and the knowledge test requires an 80% score (32 of 40 correct) to pass.¹

How to Practice Before the Test

New Hampshire does not issue learner’s permits. Anyone at least 15½ years old can practice on public roads as long as a licensed adult 25 or older sits in the front passenger seat. The person learning must carry proof of age in the car, and the vehicle has to be a non-commercial car or truck. The supervising adult is legally responsible for any traffic violation the unlicensed driver commits during practice.²

Anyone whose driving privileges are suspended or revoked in New Hampshire or any other state cannot practice this way. There’s no fee, no permit card, and no application. You meet the conditions and start driving with a qualified adult beside you.²

Extra Steps If You Are Under 18

Applicants under 18 have to complete a New Hampshire-approved driver education program and log at least 40 hours of supervised driving practice before taking the road test.³ Driver education is also required for non-U.S. citizens temporarily living in the state who have no previous driving experience.²

On the day of your appointment, minors need to bring four extra items along with the standard paperwork:

The original green driver education completion certificate from your instructor.
A signed parent or guardian authorization certificate.
A completed out-of-class driving log sheet, signed by a parent or guardian, showing your 40 practice hours.
Two documents from the DMV’s accepted identity list.

Written consent from a parent or legal guardian is required before the DMV will issue the license.⁴

What to Bring on Test Day

Every applicant has to complete Form DSMV 450, the Application for Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card. You can download it from the DMV website or fill one out at any DMV office.⁵

You also need proof of identity. What else you bring depends on whether you want a standard license or a REAL ID-compliant one. Since May 7, 2025, REAL ID is enforced at airport security and federal facilities.⁶ If you want to board domestic flights with your license instead of a passport, you need the REAL ID version, which requires documents proving your identity, your Social Security number, and your New Hampshire residency. If your current legal name differs from the name on your identity document, you’ll need paperwork showing each name change in the chain.⁷ A standard license skips the residency documents but is marked “Federal Limits Apply” and won’t get you through TSA.

Vision Screening

Before the knowledge test, you go through a short vision screening. Bring your glasses or contacts if you use them. If you need corrective lenses to pass, the restriction will be noted on your license.

The Knowledge Test

The knowledge exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice test on New Hampshire traffic laws, road signs, right-of-way rules, and safe driving practices. State law specifically requires questions on distracted driving, driving under the influence, and driving in poor weather.⁸ Everything comes from the official New Hampshire Driver Manual, so that booklet is the best study material.

The test has 40 questions. You need 32 correct to pass. A time limit applies and varies by license type.¹

If you fail, you have to wait 10 calendar days before trying again. That waiting period applies to every failed attempt.¹

The test is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Portuguese, Farsi, and American Sign Language. Every version also has an optional audio feature through headphones. Ask the licensing representative to turn it on before your test begins.¹

The Road Test

After you pass the knowledge exam, you schedule a separate appointment for the road skills evaluation. The drive itself usually runs 15 to 20 minutes and is conducted by Department of Safety personnel.⁸

You bring your own vehicle. It has to be street-legal with current registration and insurance. Before the drive, the examiner checks the headlights, brake lights, turn signals, horn, mirrors, and seatbelts. If any safety equipment fails, the test is cancelled and you’ll need to reschedule, so check everything the night before.

During the drive, the examiner scores four areas:¹

How smoothly you handle the vehicle in traffic.
Your driving habits, including consistent signal use, mirror checks, and lane positioning.
How you respond to signs, signals, speed limits, and right-of-way situations in real time.
Your composure under the stress of actual traffic conditions.

Causing a collision, forcing another driver to take evasive action, or committing a serious traffic violation ends the test on the spot. Smaller errors like missing a blind-spot check or forgetting a mirror add up on the scorecard, and enough of them will fail you without any single dramatic mistake.

Scheduling and the Order of the Day

The DMV is appointment-only. Book at any of the state’s 15 locations through dmv.nh.gov or by calling 603-227-4000. Same-day slots are released each morning, so check early if the calendar looks full.⁹ The knowledge test and road test each need their own appointment.

On appointment day the usual order is vision screening, then the knowledge test, then the road test. Bring your completed Form DSMV 450 and all identity documents. If you’re under 18, add the driver education certificate, the driving log, and the signed parental authorization. If you’re using your own vehicle for the road test, park it at the DMV before your scheduled time.

Fees and What You Leave With

A standard five-year license costs $50. A REAL ID-compliant five-year license costs $60.¹⁰ Both expire on your birthday in the fifth year after issuance.

Once you pass the road test and pay, the DMV issues a temporary paper license valid for 60 days. Your permanent card arrives by mail within that same 60-day window.¹¹ The paper version is a fully legal license, so you can drive with it immediately. Keep it in a safe place. If the card is delayed and the temporary expires, contact the DMV for a replacement.

If You Are Under 18, Expect Restrictions

A license issued to a driver under 18 is a youth operator’s license, and it carries restrictions until your 18th birthday:

No driving between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.
During the first six months, you can carry only one passenger under 25 who isn’t a family member, unless a licensed adult 25 or older is also in the car.
You can never carry more passengers than the vehicle has seatbelts.

A curfew or passenger violation can bring a fine up to $100 and a license suspension up to 30 days on a first offense. Repeat violations carry fines up to $200 and suspensions up to 90 days. The restrictions end automatically when you turn 18.⁴

1
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Driver Licensing Testing Requirements
2
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Learning to Drive
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New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Driver Licensing Requirements for Minors
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New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 263:14 – Original and Youth Operators Licenses
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New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Application for Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
8
New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 263:6 – Examination
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New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
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New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 263:42 – Drivers License Fees
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New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Temporary Paper License