New Hampshire DMV Permit Practice Test

The New Hampshire knowledge test is your gateway to a Youth Operator License or adult license. The test pulls directly from the New Hampshire Driver's Manual, and the NH DMV will not tell you which questions you missed if you fail — you only get the verdict. With 40 questions and an 80% threshold, every mistake counts, and the $50 fee is non-refundable.

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  The knowledge test40 questions. Pass at 32 correct (80%). Unlike most states' 20–25 question exams, New Hampshire's 40-question format gives you less margin for error.
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  Application fee$50 permit fee — one of the higher permit fees in the country. Pay at the NH DMV office when you sit for the test.
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  What to bringProof of identity (birth certificate or passport), proof of New Hampshire residency, and your Social Security number. All applicants must present originals — photocopies are not 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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  Why NH is harder than averageA 40-question test at 80% means you can only miss 8. Most states give 25 questions — NH's format punishes gaps in knowledge that would pass elsewhere. The manual also covers GDL rules that many first-timers overlook.
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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.

New Hampshire's 520-question bank concentrates most heavily on traffic laws (196 questions), safety situations (160 questions), and road signs (110 questions). Those three categories alone account for over 89% of the bank — master them and you're in strong shape.

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  Road signs — 110 questions in the bankShape, color, and meaning. Regulatory signs (white rectangle), warning signs (yellow diamond), guide signs (green rectangle), and construction zones (orange). The test shows you the sign image, not 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. (Q19007)
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  Signal distanceNH law requires a signal at least 100 feet before any turn. On the highway at 55 mph, signal at least 500 feet ahead — that's what the test will ask. (Q18960)
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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. (Q19194, Q19243)
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  Following distanceNew Hampshire recommends a minimum of 4 seconds — higher than the 2–3 seconds most states teach. Pick 'four seconds' on any following-distance question. (Q18959)
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  BAC limit — 21 and older0.08% or above is a DUI. The test states this as the illegal threshold, not a safety floor. (Q18951, Q19390)
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  Under-21 BAC ruleIt is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with a BAC of 0.02% or above. On a multiple-choice question, look for the 0.02% option — not 'zero tolerance' or 'any amount.' (Q18951 explanation)
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  Speed limit — business/residential districts30 mph unless otherwise posted. School zones are 10 mph below the posted limit. (Q18958, Q19357)
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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. (Q18950, Q19152)
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  Headlight dimmingDim your headlights at least 150 feet when meeting or following another vehicle at night. (Q18946)

These are the categories that sink more first-time test-takers than any other. If you only have time to drill a few, drill these.

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  Three-car right-of-way scenariosEveryone remembers 'yield to the right' at a tie. Almost no one correctly handles three vehicles arriving at once. Work through every multi-car intersection scenario in the practice exams until it's automatic. (Q19007)
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  School bus rules — exact stop distanceStop at least 25 feet from the bus — the test will offer 5 feet as a trap answer. Both directions stop on a two-lane road; divided highways may differ. (Q18950, Q19152)
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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. (Q19428)
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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. (Q19180, Q19419, Q19430)
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  Impairment vs. legal BAC0.08% is the legal threshold for 21+ drivers — NOT the point where impairment begins. The test distinguishes between legal limit and safe limit. Impairment starts well below 0.08%. (Q19158, Q19087)
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  'All of the above' is often right in NHThe NH bank frequently uses 'All of the above' as the correct answer — especially for safety situations and alcohol effects. Read every option before assuming the first plausible answer is correct.
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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. (Q19156, Q19212)

Reading alone reliably tops out around 60% on the real test. The students who pass first try use three loops: read once, drill once, listen once. That's it.

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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 highest-yield 20% into bullets — use it alongside the manual.
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  Loop 2 — drill the practice examsTake the free 40-Q exam below cold. NH's bank has 520 questions spread across 6 categories — 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 reinforces recall faster than re-reading.
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  Sleep beats crammingMemory consolidates overnight. A full sleep the night before is worth more than two extra hours of late-night reading.
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  Study signs visuallyDon't just memorize sign descriptions in text. Look at the actual shape, color, and symbol. The test shows you the sign image — not words.
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  Read every option before pickingNH writes plausible wrong answers. The first option often looks correct until you read all four — and NH frequently makes 'All of the above' the right answer, so always read to the end.

Passing the knowledge test earns you a Youth Operator License — not a full unrestricted license. New Hampshire's GDL rules are notably strict in two areas: the supervisor age requirement (25+, vs. most states' 21+) and the absolute no-exceptions nighttime curfew.

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  Permit supervisor ruleWhile learning to drive (and during the permit phase), a licensed adult who is at least 25 years old must sit in the front seat. This is stricter than most states, which require only 21+.
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  Minimum hold timeHold your permit for at least 6 months before applying for the road test.
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  Supervised practice hoursLog at least 40 total supervised driving hours, including 10 hours at night, before taking the road test.
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  Night curfewYouth operators under 18 may not drive between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM. There are no statutory exceptions for work, school, or emergencies — it is an absolute restriction.
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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 liftFIRST: passenger restrictions and the night curfew drop automatically when you turn 18 — you do NOT have to wait until age 21. The Youth Operator designation itself remains on your license until 21, but the behavioral restrictions end at 18.
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  International licensesNew Hampshire recognizes valid licenses from other countries. Visitors may drive on a foreign license for up to 12 months — but once you establish NH residency, you must obtain an NH license.