New Hampshire motorcycle permit test numbers to know
Distances, speeds, limits, fines and deadlines are the questions people miss most, because they have to be memorized. Here are 26 New Hampshire numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 16 number questions in our New Hampshire bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.
Free and unlimited. Your answers count toward your readiness and mistake review.
Numbers flashcards
16 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.
Each deck starts with 20 free cards. Swipe right if you knew it, left to see it again.
See 3 of the cards
Alcohol & drugs
On a long motorcycle trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to fight fatigue?
At least every two hours
Riding a motorcycle is more tiring than driving a car. Take frequent rest breaks, stopping and getting off the motorcycle at least every two hours, and limit your distance; experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day.
Fines, points & penalties
What is the state fee to renew a New Hampshire motorcycle learner's permit?
$25
State law sets a $25 fee for each motorcycle learner's permit renewal.
New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles website
Speed limits
In the quick stop and obstacle swerve exercises on the New Hampshire skill test, what speed should you stabilize at by the first line?
Between 12 and 18 mph
For both the quick stop and the obstacle swerve, you accelerate straight up the path and stabilize your speed between 12 and 18 mph by the first line, then hold it steady.
Every New Hampshire motorcycle number, by topic
Official New Hampshire laws come first in each group, then the numbers from our handbook questions. Tap a source to read the exact words it comes from.
Alcohol & drugs
6 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | gc.nh.govQuoteWhile such person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 0.02 or more. |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for drivers under 21 | gc.nh.govQuoteWhile such person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 0.02 or more. |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | gc.nh.govQuotewho drives a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater shall in addition to the penalties provided in this chapter be subject to the additional penalties and sanctions provided in RSA 263:94. |
| $500 | Drunk driving (DUI)Fine of at least $500 | gc.nh.govQuoteAny person who is convicted of any offense under RSA 265-A:2, I shall be: (1) Guilty of a class B misdemeanor; (2) Fined not less than $500; |
| 9 months, 2 years, 6 months | Drunk driving (DUI)License revoked at least 9 months (up to 2 years, and the court may suspend up to 6 months of it) | gc.nh.govQuoteThe person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 9 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. The court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence |
| two hours | On a long motorcycle trip, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle to fight fatigue?Answer: At least every two hours | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 47QuoteStop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours. |
Fines, points & penalties
2 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | What is the state fee to renew a New Hampshire motorcycle learner's permit?Answer: $25 | New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuotefor each motorcycle learner's permit renewal-$25 |
| 10 points | On the New Hampshire DMV two-wheel motorcycle skill test, what is the most points you can have and still pass?Answer: 10 points | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 50QuoteA maximum of 10 points are allowed for a successful score. |
Speed limits
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 12 and 18 mph | In the quick stop and obstacle swerve exercises on the New Hampshire skill test, what speed should you stabilize at by the first line?Answer: Between 12 and 18 mph | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 51QuoteStabilize your speed between 12 - 18 mph by the time you reach the first line. |
Distances & following gaps
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two seconds | In normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance behind the vehicle ahead?Answer: Two seconds | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 17QuoteNormally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead. |
| Three seconds | The pavement is slippery and you cannot see through the vehicle ahead. What following distance should you use?Answer: Three seconds or more | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 17Quoteif you cannot see through the vehicle ahead, or if traffic is heavy and someone may squeeze in front of you, open up a three-second or more following distance. |
| one second | In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: In the right side of the lane, at least one second behind the leader | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 40Quotethe second rider stays at least one second back and rides in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
9 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 80% | Passing score | dmv.nh.govQuoteAll knowledge exams require a passing grade of 80%. ... Tests are multiple choice and are specific to the license type. |
| $30 | Fee | dmv.nh.govQuotePayment of $30.00, $25 for permit renewal |
| 45 days | Motorcycle permit45 days from issue, with a one-time renewal for another 45 days | gc.nh.govQuoteThe permit shall be valid for 45 days from the date of issuance, expiration of the renewal period, or until the holder of the permit obtains a special license to drive motorcycles, whichever is sooner. |
| under 18 | Motorcycle permitRiders under 18 must complete the state motorcycle rider education program to get the endorsement | gc.nh.govQuotethe department shall issue a motorcycle learner's permit to a person 18 years of age or older or a person who is 16 years of age or older and under 18 years of age who has successfully completed an approved driver education course and has a valid New Hampshire driver's license. |
| 45 days | How long is a New Hampshire motorcycle learner's permit valid?Answer: 45 days from the date it is issued or renewed | New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuoteThe permit shall be valid for 45 days from the date of issuance or renewal |
| 45-day | Under New Hampshire's licensing rules, how many motorcycle learner's permits can an applicant normally receive?Answer: One permit plus one 45-day renewal | New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuoteOnly one motorcycle learner's permit and one 45-day renewal shall be issued to an applicant |
| 80% | What score do you need to pass the New Hampshire motorcycle knowledge test?Answer: 80% | New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles websiteQuoteAll knowledge exams require a passing grade of 80%. |
| 12 months | Who is the one-day Intermediate Rider Course in New Hampshire designed for?Answer: Riders who did not pass the BRC skills test within the past 12 months | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 3QuoteThis one day course is designed for riders who were unsuccessful in passing the skills test of the BRC within the past 12 months |
| at least 45 | You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. How should you cross it?Answer: Move away from it, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 34Quotemove far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45˚. |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
4 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| under 18 | HelmetsAnyone under 18 driving or riding on a motorcycle or autocycle must wear protective headgear of a type approved by the director, with a neck or chin strap | gc.nh.govQuoteNo person less than 18 years of age may drive or ride upon a motorcycle or autocycle unless he or she wears protective headgear of a type approved by the director. Such headgear shall be equipped with either a neck or chin strap. |
| 5 miles | According to the manual, when do most motorcycle crashes happen?Answer: On short trips of less than 5 miles, soon after starting out | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 6Quotetrips (less than five miles long), just a few minutes after starting out. |
| Three times | Compared with riders without helmets, how much more likely are helmeted riders to survive head injuries?Answer: Three times more likely | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 6Quotehelmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets |
| under 18 | Under New Hampshire law, which motorcycle riders and passengers must wear a DOT-approved helmet?Answer: Riders and passengers under 18 | New Hampshire Driver's Manual, page 18QuoteNew Hampshire law requires all riders and passengers under the age of 18 to wear helmets approved by the United States Department of Transportation. |
Other numbers
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | About how much of your total stopping power can the front brake provide?Answer: At least 70% | New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 14QuoteThe front brake is more powerful and can provide at least 70% of your total stopping power. |
Memory tips
How to study them (our advice, not official rules):
- Learn the number with its unit and its place. “15 feet from a hydrant” sticks; “15” on its own gets mixed up with 15 mph.
- Say the answer before you look. Recalling the number yourself is harder than spotting it among four options, and it is what makes it stick.
- Come back to the ones you miss. The quiz above brings missed questions back more often. Short rounds over several days beat one long session.
Questions about the numbers
What numbers do I need to know for the New Hampshire motorcycle permit test?
Mostly distances (how close you may park to a hydrant or crosswalk, when to signal, when to dim your high beams), speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, and the ages, hours and deadlines for your permit and license. This page lists 26 of them for New Hampshire, each with its source.
Why focus on numbers?
A California DMV study of its own knowledge test found that many of the hardest questions “are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.” Numbers are easy to mix up under pressure, so they are worth drilling on their own.
Where do these numbers come from?
Each one is quoted from the New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual, New Hampshire statutes or DMV pages. Our build checks that every number on this page appears word for word in the quote it cites.
Is the numbers drill free?
Yes. The table and the numbers quiz are free and unlimited, and so are the first 20 flashcards.