New Hampshire DMV Permit Practice Test

The New Hampshire knowledge test is your gateway to a Youth Operator License or adult license. Use the New Hampshire Driver's Manual as your main study source. With 40 questions and an 80% threshold, every mistake counts.

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  The knowledge test40 questions. Pass at 32 correct (80%). Every missed question counts, so read every option before you answer.
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  Application feeA standard adult license costs $50 ($60 for a REAL ID-compliant one). A Youth Operator License costs $10 per year up to age 21. You pay the license fee at the DMV before testing begins.
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  What to bringProof of identity (such as a birth certificate or passport), proof of New Hampshire residency, and your Social Security number. Check the DMV's Required Documents list for exactly what is accepted.
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  Under 18? Driver ed is requiredYou must complete a state-approved Driver Education Program: 30 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours of behind-the-wheel training, and 6 hours of observation before you can test.
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  Start ageYou can begin supervised driving at 15½. You must be 16 to test for a Youth Operator License.
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  Every question countsA 40-question test at 80% means you can only miss 8, so gaps in your knowledge matter. The manual also covers GDL rules, so read that section too.
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  No traditional learner's permitNH doesn't issue a learner's permit card. Until you pass and receive your Youth Operator License, you practice under "learning to drive" rules with a 25+ year old supervisor — no permit document in hand.

Traffic laws, safety situations, and road signs make up a large part of the New Hampshire Driver's Manual. Master those three areas and you'll be in strong shape.

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  Road signsShape, color, and meaning. Regulatory signs (white rectangle), warning signs (yellow diamond), guide signs (green rectangle), and construction zones (orange). Learn to recognize each sign by sight, not just by a text description.
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  Right-of-way at four-way stopsFirst to arrive goes first. Tie? Yield to the driver on your right.
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  Signal distanceNH law requires you to signal for at least the last 100 feet before a turn. For lane changes and exits on the highway, the Driver's Manual asks for a signal 500 feet ahead. Know both numbers.
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  Railroad crossing stop distanceStop no closer than 15 feet from the nearest rail when signals are flashing or a gate is down. The safe range is 15–50 feet from the tracks.
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  Following distanceNew Hampshire recommends a minimum of 4 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead. Remember 'four seconds.'
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  BAC limit — 21 and older0.08% or above is a DUI. That is the illegal threshold, not a safe level.
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  Under-21 BAC ruleAnyone under 21 who drives with a BAC at or above 0.02% is breaking the law. Remember the number: 0.02%.
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  Speed limit — business and urban residence districts30 mph unless otherwise posted; rural residence districts are 35 mph. School zones are 10 mph below the posted limit.
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  School bus stop ruleStop at least 25 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights. On a two-lane road, both directions stop.
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  Headlight dimmingDim your headlights at least 150 feet when meeting or following another vehicle at night.

These rules are easy to mix up. If you only have time to drill a few, drill these.

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  Three-car right-of-way scenarios'Yield to the right' is the rule for a tie, but three vehicles arriving at once is easy to get wrong. Work through multi-car intersection scenarios until it's automatic.
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  School bus rules — exact stop distanceStop at least 25 feet from the bus. Both directions stop on a two-lane road; divided highways may differ.
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  Hill parking — downhillTurn your wheels to the right (toward the curb or road edge). If the brakes fail, the car rolls away from traffic.
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  Hill parking — uphill with a curbTurn your wheels away from the curb (to the left). The curb acts as a stopper if the car rolls back.
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  Impairment vs. legal BAC0.08% is the legal threshold for 21+ drivers — NOT the point where impairment begins. Legal limit and safe limit are not the same thing. Impairment starts well below 0.08%.
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  Bicycle passingWhen passing a cyclist, slow down and give as much space as possible. Do not crowd them — they may swerve to avoid debris.

Reading the handbook once may not be enough to pass. A simple plan is three loops: read once, drill once, listen once.

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  Loop 1 — read the handbookDownload the New Hampshire Driver's Manual free from dmv.nh.gov. Read once without trying to memorize. This guide compresses the key points into bullets — use it alongside the manual.
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  Loop 2 — drill the practice examsTake one of the free 40-question practice exams cold. Anything under 32/40 means re-drilling the categories you missed. Run multiple rounds until you're consistently above 36.
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  Loop 3 — listen along on YouTubePlay our New Hampshire Full Practice Test video in the background a day or two before your test. Hearing questions and answers out loud can help reinforce recall.
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  Sleep beats crammingMemory consolidates during sleep. Get a full night's sleep before your test rather than cramming late.
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  Study signs visuallyDon't just memorize sign descriptions in text. Look at the actual shape, color, and symbol.
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  Read every option before pickingWrong answers can look plausible. The first option may look correct until you read them all, so always read to the end.

Passing the vision, knowledge and road tests earns you a Youth Operator License — not a full unrestricted license. New Hampshire's GDL rules are strict in two areas: the supervisor age requirement (25+) and the 1–4 AM nighttime curfew.

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  Supervisor ruleWhile learning to drive, a licensed adult who is at least 25 years old must sit in the front seat.
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  No permit hold periodNew Hampshire issues no learner's permit, so there is no permit holding period. You can start logging supervised practice at 15½, but you must be at least 16 to apply for a driver license.
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  Supervised practice hoursIf you are under 18, log 40 hours of supervised driving in addition to your driver-ed hours, with at least 10 of them at night, before you apply for your license.
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  Night curfewYouth operators under 18 may not drive between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM. There is no exception for work or emergencies; the only exemption is for holders of a school-hardship license.
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  Passenger restriction — first 6 monthsDuring your first 6 months as a Youth Operator, you may carry only one passenger who is under 25 and not a family member. Family members of any age are always allowed. A licensed adult supervisor 25+ in the vehicle overrides the restriction.
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  When restrictions liftThe night curfew ends when you turn 18. The limit on non-family passengers under 25 lasts only for your first 6 months with the license, or until you turn 18 if that comes first. You do NOT have to wait until age 21, but the Youth Operator designation itself stays on your license until 21.
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  International licensesVisitors with a valid license from their home state or country may drive in New Hampshire without an NH license. Once you move here and become a resident, you have up to 60 days to get an NH license.