New Hampshire Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your New Hampshire learner's permit — age, fees, required documents, supervised-hours rules, and what happens after — summarized from the official DMV pages and linked to the source.
Last verified 2026-07-18 · Source: New Hampshire DMV — Driver Licensing Requirements for Minors ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
How to get your permit in New Hampshire
- Apply for the New Hampshire learner's permit at age 15 years and 6 months
- Drive only while supervised by a licensed driver age 25 or older
- Hold the permit at least 6 months before moving to the youth operator stage
- Move into the youth-operator phase at age 16+ and follow the first-year passenger and late-night restrictions
- Qualify for the full New Hampshire license at age 18
New Hampshire GDL restrictions for new drivers
- Passenger rule: During the first 12 months of the youth operator license, no more than one non-family passenger under 25 is allowed
- Curfew: During the first 12 months of the youth operator license, no driving is allowed from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.
- Permit supervision: Learner's-permit holders must be supervised at all times by a licensed driver age 25 or older
The details
- Permit eligibility: New Hampshire's driver manual says you can apply for a learner's permit at age 15 years and 6 months
- Practice hour details: NH DMV, directly confirmed: "completed forty (40) hours of additional supervised driving time" after driver education, before applying for a license under 18. The page does not break out a night-driving sub-requirement.
- Knowledge test: 40 questions; 80% to pass; Web search: 40-question test, 32 correct (80%) to pass
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in New Hampshire?
You can get a learner's permit in New Hampshire at 15.5. New Hampshire's driver manual says you can apply for a learner's permit at age 15 years and 6 months.
How long do you have to hold your permit in New Hampshire?
You must hold your New Hampshire permit for at least 6 months before the driving test.
How many practice driving hours does New Hampshire require?
New Hampshire requires 40 hours of supervised practice driving.
Where can I practice for the New Hampshire permit test?
Right here — take a free New Hampshire practice test in your browser, or get the free DMV Prep app for the full DMV-format experience with a readiness score.
