How to Get Your New Hampshire Learner's Permit (DMV Guide)

To get a Youth Operator License (New Hampshire does not issue a separate learner's permit) in New Hampshire, you must be at least 15½ (youth operator permit) and apply in person at the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Safety (DMV). Applicants under 18 generally need a parent or guardian to sign, and many states also require enrollment in or completion of a driver-education course.

New Hampshire's DMV knowledge test covers traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving — including winter and moose-country driving — from the NH Driver's Manual. Note that New Hampshire has no adult seat-belt law, though buckling up is strongly advised.

Bring original or certified documents (not photocopies) that establish:

• Proof of identity, name, and date of birth: two documents from the DMV's acceptable documentation list (such as a certified birth certificate, U.S. passport, or immigration documents)
• Proof of your Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, or other accepted document showing the full number)
• Two documents proving New Hampshire residency (such as a utility bill, bank statement, or lease showing your current physical address)
• Parent or Guardian Authorization Certificate signed by a parent or legal guardian (required for applicants under 18)
• Original green Driver Education Completion Certificate issued by an approved New Hampshire driver education instructor (required for applicants under 18)
• Signed driving log documenting the required 40 hours of supervised driving (including 10 nighttime hours) for applicants under 18

In New Hampshire, the knowledge test is taken in person. The knowledge test is taken in person at a DMV office on a computerized touch-screen system and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions on New Hampshire traffic laws, with a 40-minute limit and no more than 8 misses allowed to pass.

The DMV charges $50 for a standard Youth Operator License (about $60 for a REAL ID-compliant license) for the permit. Amounts can change and sometimes include separate knowledge-test or service fees, so verify the current cost with the DMV before you visit.

New Hampshire issues no learner's permit; instead, a teen at least 15 years and 6 months old may practice driving whenever supervised by a licensed driver age 25 or older. To earn a Youth Operator License at 16, an applicant under 18 must complete an approved driver education program (30 hours class, 10 hours behind-the-wheel, 6 hours observation) plus 40 hours of supervised driving including 10 nighttime hours, and pass the vision, knowledge, and road tests. The Youth Operator License then carries restrictions such as a 1 a.m.-4 a.m. driving curfew and, for the first 6 months, a limit of one non-family passenger under 25 unless a supervising adult 25 or older is present.