New Hampshire DMV Handbook 2025

In New Hampshire, you must pass three official tests (and meet some other requirements) for a driver’s license: a vision test, a knowledge test on driving theory, and a road test. You must take the knowledge test at a DMV office, not online. New Hampshire is unique in that it does not issue learner’s permits to student drivers to practice supervised driving. Instead, a student driver is allowed to practice driving without any official driving credential, provided that the driver is supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, or adult at least 25 years old and seated in the front passenger seat.

If you’re under 18, you have additional requirements to meet.

Before applying for a Youth Operator license (the next step in graduated driver licensing), you must submit written consent from your parent or guardian and complete a DMV-approved driver education in-person course. (Online courses are not acceptable.) You must also complete an additional 40 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 at night. If you’re at least 18 years old, you’re not required to do these things; you may take the road test for a license as soon as you feel ready.

All questions on the official knowledge test are based on information in the official New Hampshire DMV driver’s 2025 handbook (New Hampshire DMV Handbook (NH Driver's Manual) 2025). This manual is in English and can be easily downloaded from this webpage in PDF format.

We have also created an audiobook of the official driver’s handbook. It’s formatted as a downloadable series of MP3 files, one for each section of the manual: driving in New Hampshire, the driver license, dangerous driving, and so on. The longest file is Section 5: Basic Driving, whose running time is 17 minutes and 55 seconds. The audiobook has a total running time of 1 hour, 53 minutes, and 21 seconds, so you should be able to go through it in a day or two.

However, knowing all the material is still not enough. You need to prepare yourself physically and mentally and know what to take with you to the knowledge test. In addition to the official handbook, we also offer our own permit test study guide to help you prepare for the day of the test. It covers how to prepare your mind and body for the test, what documents you must submit to the DMV, what fees you may have to pay, frequently missed knowledge test questions, and tips for taking multiple-choice tests.

There are no learner’s permits in New Hampshire, but don’t let that throw you. As long as your driving practice is properly supervised, you’ll do just fine!