New Hampshire learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where New Hampshire doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
15 years, 6 months
To pass the knowledge test
32 of 40 correct (80%)
Fees
$50 total
Supervised driving
40 hours (10 at night)

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
40 questionsSources 123
Passing score
32 of 40 correct (80%)Sources 123
Time limit
40 minutesSources 123
Permit and test fees
$50 totalNew Hampshire has no car learner's permit: teens may practise with a licensed adult. The knowledge test is taken when applying for the license, and the $50 license-and-examination fee covers it (youth licenses are $10 per year, capped at $50; a REAL ID license is $60).Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
15 years, 6 monthsNo car learner permit in NH. RSA 263:25 lets a person 15 1/2 or older drive while being taught when accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, certified instructor or responsible licensed adult 25+. Youth operator license from age 16.Sources 567
Supervised driving
40 hours (10 at night)Sources 567
Test languages
8 languagesEnglish, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Farsi, American Sign LanguageSources 123
Take it online
No, in personSources 123
If you fail
If the test terminates (time exceeded or more than 8 wrong), an appointment to retest may be requested no…sooner than ten days from the failed test.Sources 123
Vision standard
20/40 with both eyes20/30 if sighted in only one eyeSources 567

From permit to full license

  • Practice driving from 15.5 (no permit) with a parent, legal guardian, certified driving instructor, or a licensed responsible adult 25+. Applicants 16-17 must complete an approved driver education course (30 h classroom, 10 h behind the wheel, 6 h observation) plus 40 hours of additional supervised driving including 10 at night, with parental consent.
  • Youth operator license issued at 16, expires at 21.
  • While under 18: no driving 1:00-4:00 a.m., and for the first 6 months no more than one passenger under 25 who is not family unless a licensed responsible adult 25+ is present.

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles website: dmv.nh.gov.

Sources

  1. dmv.nh.gov: nhdm
  2. dmv.nh.gov: driver licensing testing requirements
  3. gc.nh.gov: saf c1000
  4. gc.nh.gov: 263 42
  5. gc.nh.gov: 263 25
  6. gc.nh.gov: 263 19
  7. gc.nh.gov: 263 14
  8. dmv.nh.gov: learning to drive
  9. gc.nh.gov: 263 14
  10. gc.nh.gov: 263 25

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