Free New Hampshire DMV Cheat Sheet 2026

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Most-missed New Hampshire DMV rules

These are the numbers and rules that trip up new drivers most often on the real New Hampshire knowledge test. Every fact below comes from our free New Hampshire DMV practice test question bank, which has 180 questions across 9 topics.

Speed limits

The maximum speed limits in New Hampshire are set by district. In any business or urban residence district as defined in RSA 259:118 the limit is 30 miles per hour. Thirty five applies in a rural residence district and on Class V highways outside the compact part of a city or town, and 45 or 55 applies in other locations. Twenty five is a common default in other states but not here. Remember that limits are maximums for ideal conditions.
The 70 mph limit applies only to the portion of Interstate 93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border. Elsewhere the interstate system, the central New Hampshire turnpike and the eastern New Hampshire turnpike are limited to 65 miles an hour where they are 4-lane divided highways or other divided highways of 4 or more lanes. Class V highways outside compact areas are 35 mph. The minimum speed on an interstate is 45 mph unless conditions make that unsafe.
The minimum speed you may drive on an interstate highway is 45 mph, unless road and weather conditions are so bad that this speed is unsafe. Drivers who go far slower than the normal flow create a hazard by blocking those behind them, causing other drivers to jump from lane to lane or take chances passing. Thirty five and fifty five are not the interstate minimum, and the manual does set a floor, so there is a minimum.
In a posted school zone the speed limit is 10 miles per hour below the usual posted speed limit. It applies from 45 minutes before school opening until the school opening, and from the school closing until 45 minutes after closing. The reduction is a fixed 10 mph, not 15, and not a flat number. Seeing children is not the trigger, the clock is, although drivers must always be prepared to yield to pedestrians near schools.

Right of way

RSA 265:28 states that the driver of a vehicle approaching or entering an intersection on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right, unless an official traffic control device or a police officer directs otherwise. Speed and road width are not the test. The same idea appears at a four way stop when two drivers arrive at the same time: the driver on the right goes first. Never assume the other driver will yield.
RSA 265:29 covers left turns within an intersection or into an alley, private road or driveway. The turning driver must yield to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is within the intersection or so close to it as to constitute an immediate hazard. A turn signal announces the turn but does not create the right to make it. Judge the gap on the oncoming vehicle's speed, and be especially careful with motorcycles and large trucks, whose speed is hard to read.
Funeral processions are on the manual's list of road users to yield to. Drivers should allow vehicles that have their headlights on while following a hearse to pass as a group, which means not cutting into the line. You are not required to stop for the whole procession at a green light unless the procession is crossing your path, and passing the group or squeezing into it breaks the line the escort is trying to keep together.
Crosswalk lines are painted to show pedestrian crossing areas, but the duty to yield does not depend on paint. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians crossing the road in marked crosswalks or at intersections even if no crosswalk lines exist at the intersection. Pedestrians also have the right of way when using a sidewalk across an alley or driveway and when visually impaired and crossing with a guide dog or white cane. Be prepared to yield to pedestrians at all times.
When a train or railroad vehicle is approaching, a driver must stop behind the stop line or not less than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet from the nearest rail of the track. Five feet is too close and 100 feet is outside the window. Do not proceed until the lights stop flashing or the train has passed, and where there is more than one track wait for a clear view in both directions. Then cross quickly without stopping.
The law requires buses that carry passengers and trucks carrying flammable or hazardous material to stop before any railroad crossing, even if there is no sign of a train coming. The manual warns other drivers to be ready to stop when driving behind these vehicles, and its space management section lists them among the vehicles that need extra following distance. Pickups, trailers and motorcycles have no such requirement unless a train is approaching.
Multi-lane roundabout tips start with lane choice, using the signs and pavement markings to pick the lane for your exit before entering. Then yield to the traffic in both lanes in the roundabout and enter when there is an appropriate gap. Once inside, maintain lane position and avoid lane changes, and do not drive beside or try to pass any vehicle, since large trucks and trailers may need to straddle both lanes. Entering traffic never has priority.
Drivers must stop at least 25 feet in any direction for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing or its stop arm extended, at all times, unless the roadway is separated by a physical barrier. Ten feet is too close, and 50 and 100 feet are larger than the law requires. Remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights cease to operate, then proceed slowly while always watching for children.
Drivers shall remain stopped until the school bus resumes motion or until the flashing red lights cease to operate, and then proceed slowly while always watching for children. Not seeing a child is no proof that one is not about to step out from in front of the bus, and no count or honk changes the rule. The stop must be at least 25 feet from the bus in any direction, unless a physical barrier separates the roadway.
New Hampshire law requires drivers to come to a complete stop whenever a person carrying a white cane, the international symbol of blindness, or using a harnessed guide dog is attempting to cross a roadway. The visually impaired person listens to determine that vehicles have stopped before stepping out, so a horn or a shout only confuses them. Stop, use extra caution when proceeding, and remember the manual's separate warning against honking near blind pedestrians at any time.
Pedestrians must use crosswalks at intersections, look both ways before crossing, and, where there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway facing oncoming traffic so they can see vehicles coming. They should wear white or light colored clothing or carry a light at night and never walk on interstate or limited access highways. Drivers should use extra caution near parked vehicles, when backing, and in school zones where children may step out.
Bicycles are vehicles on the roadway, and drivers must exercise due care by leaving a reasonable and prudent distance. The distance is presumed reasonable if it is at least 3 feet when the vehicle is traveling at 30 miles per hour or less, with one additional foot of clearance required for every 10 miles per hour above 30. At 50 mph that means 5 feet. Slow down when approaching or passing, and never sound the horn close to a bicyclist unless a crash is likely.

Alcohol and DUI

Any person who operates a motor vehicle in New Hampshire is considered to have given consent to having their blood, breath, urine, or any combination tested if arrested for an alcohol or drug offense. That is what implied consent means: the agreement was made by driving, not by signing anything at the roadside. It is not a general search permission and has nothing to do with crashes or medical exams. Refusing the test may itself result in loss of driving privileges.
New Hampshire sets two intoxication thresholds. A driver is legally intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher, and at .02% or higher if the driver is under 21. The adult .08% figure is the tempting wrong answer for a young driver, and .04% and .05% are not New Hampshire limits at all. Since a single drink can put a young person over .02%, the practical rule for anyone under 21 is no alcohol before driving.
The manual reports that alcohol and other impairing drugs are involved in approximately 40% of all traffic crashes in which someone is killed each year. That is a large share but not a majority, so the 75% and 90% choices overstate it and 10% understates it. The same passage warns that a blood alcohol concentration as low as .02% can affect a driver's ability, which is the level at which vision is impacted for every driver.
No driver under 21 may transport any liquor or alcoholic beverage in any part of a vehicle except when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or legal age spouse. Sealed containers and trunk storage do not create an exception, because the rule is about who is in the car, not where the bottle is. It is also not an absolute ban, since the accompanied cases are allowed. The same section makes it illegal for an operator under 21 to have physical control of a vehicle at .02 or more.
The manual names three casualties of alcohol and other impairing drugs: judgment, vision, and reaction time. Judgment loss means slower and less clear decisions. Vision effects include blurring, slower focus, double vision, and poor judgment of distance, speed and the movement of other vehicles, and vision is impacted at .02 BAC for every driver. Reaction time loss slows how fast a driver processes information and responds. The other lists mix in effects the manual does not cite.
After drinking there is nothing that will reduce the effects of alcohol except time. Coffee, food, fresh air, exercise, or cold showers might make a person feel more alert, but they do not counter the alcohol in the bloodstream. Each ounce of alcohol takes about an hour to go through the body, so several drinks need several hours. Impairment starts with the first drink, and a person with one or more drinks in the bloodstream can be arrested for driving under the influence.
A first conviction for driving under the influence of drugs or liquor, or driving with excess alcohol concentration, is a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of not less than $500. The driver may also lose driving privileges for 9 months to 2 years and must complete an approved impaired driver education program before privileges are restored. Second and subsequent convictions bring higher fines, longer suspensions, and stronger penalties, and a DUI conviction also requires SR-22 proof of insurance for reinstatement.
The loss of driving privileges for a first DUI conviction is a period of 9 months to 2 years, and restoration also requires completing an approved impaired driver education program. Thirty to ninety days would be a youth operator style suspension for lesser offenses, not a DUI penalty, and the loss is a range rather than a fixed year. Five years is not a first offense figure. The conviction is also one of the offenses that require SR-22 proof of insurance to get driving and registration privileges back.
Over-the-counter drugs for headaches, colds, hay fever, allergies or nerves can make a driver drowsy, and pep pills and diet pills can cause nervousness, dizziness and vision problems. The manual says to check the product label for warnings about its effect and, if unsure whether it is safe to take the drug and drive, to ask a doctor or pharmacist about side effects. Coffee does not cancel drowsiness, a half dose is a guess, and needing no prescription does not make a drug safe behind the wheel.
Combining alcohol with other drugs is singled out because the drugs could multiply the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own that severely impair the ability to drive. The warning applies to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as illegal ones, since many legal medicines affect reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness in ways similar to alcohol. The concern is impairment on the road, not whether a medicine still works or how a breath test reads.

Signals and markings

The manual gives two signaling distances. Drivers should signal at least 100 feet before a turn, and on the highway they should signal at least 500 feet before changing lanes or exiting the roadway. Highway speeds cover 100 feet in about a second, which is why the longer distance applies there. Signal sooner still when it is raining, snowy or foggy so other drivers have room to stop. Signals are required for lane changes, turns, entering or leaving a highway, and pulling away from a curb.
New Hampshire law requires every motor vehicle to display at least two lighted front lamps from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and whenever rain, snow or fog interferes with the view of the road so that persons and vehicles are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1000 feet ahead. A motorcycle needs one lamp. The threshold is 1000 feet, not 500, and it is about visibility, not wipers or road type, although low beams are the right choice in fog.
Among the basic rules of the road, the manual states that a police officer directing traffic overrules any traffic light or sign and must be obeyed. Traffic control devices include the directions given by law enforcement, highway personnel and school crossing guards, not only signals, signs and pavement markings. When an officer waves you through a red light or holds you at a green one, the officer's direction controls. Choosing the more convenient instruction is not an option.
A flashing yellow traffic light means slow down and proceed with caution, and the manual adds that drivers should be prepared to stop for any traffic flow entering the intersection. It is not a stop signal, so waiting for green or treating it like a stop sign is wrong, but holding normal speed on the assumption that cross traffic will stop is dangerous. Flashing red is the signal that requires a complete stop before proceeding.
A flashing red traffic light requires drivers to come to a complete stop behind a stop line, crosswalk, or intersection before proceeding through the intersection, yielding any right-of-way. It works like a stop sign, so the stop is required whether or not cross traffic is present, and the light will not change to green. Slowing without stopping is the flashing yellow rule. After stopping, look in all directions and go only when it is safe.
A green arrow means drivers may turn in the direction of the arrow after yielding to traffic and pedestrians. The arrow gives the turning movement a green indication, but the manual still requires yielding to anyone already in the intersection or crosswalk. It permits only the direction shown, not any turn and not straight travel unless a green light accompanies it. A yellow arrow means slow down and proceed in the arrow's direction with caution.
A red arrow means drivers may not enter the intersection unless permitted by other indications shown at the same time, such as a green light for a different movement. The manual adds that, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the roadway. It is not a stop and then turn signal like a flashing red, and it applies to every vehicle, not only trucks.
A solid green traffic light means a driver may go through the intersection and, if it is clear to do so, proceed with caution. The manual specifically says drivers must yield to pedestrians and vehicles in an intersection even on green. When the light changes, avoid moving into the intersection immediately; look left, right and left again and make sure the path is clear of crossing traffic. Emergency vehicles must be yielded to at any signal.
A solid red light means stop prior to entering the intersection and wait behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection until the light turns green. The manual's exception is that drivers may make a right turn on a red signal only if there is no sign prohibiting a right turn on red. The stop still comes first, and the turn is made only after yielding. There is no time of day condition, and the turn is not banned outright.
White stop lines show drivers where to stop. If there is no white stop line but a crosswalk is present, drivers must stop before the crosswalk. If no crosswalk lines are present either, come to a full stop before entering the intersection. After the initial stop, look both ways and move forward only when it is safe to continue. Stopping in the crosswalk blocks pedestrians, and the sign post is not the reference point.
Single broken lines mark traffic lanes. White lines mean the lanes of traffic are moving in the same direction, and yellow lines mean the lanes are moving in opposite directions. Drivers may pass other vehicles over broken lines when it is safe to do so, whichever color they are. Edge markings are a separate single line, white on two way roads and on the right edge of one way roads, and yellow on the left edge of one way roads.
Solid white lines are a boundary: drivers are prohibited from changing lanes or passing another vehicle across them. Broken white lines are the ones that permit a lane change when safe. Solid white also appears near intersections and exits where a late lane change would be dangerous. The marking has nothing to do with speed, pedestrians or vehicle type. Wait until the line becomes broken before moving over.
With double white or yellow lines, drivers must not pass if the line on the driver's side is solid. If the line on the driver's side is broken, they may pass when safe to do so. The solid line governs the other direction, not yours. Safe still means no oncoming traffic, a clear view not blocked by a curve or hill, no intersection, and no railroad crossing or bridge ahead. A wave from the driver ahead never makes a pass legal.
Edge markings are the single line that marks the edge of the road. The line is white on two way roads and on the right edge of one way roads, and it is yellow on the left edge of one way roads. A yellow line on your left edge therefore confirms you are on a one way street, with no oncoming lane beyond it. It is not a passing marking or a bicycle lane, and it does not announce two way traffic.
The shared center lane sign and markings tell a driver where a lane is reserved for the use of left turning vehicles from either direction. The lane is not to be used for through traffic or for passing other vehicles, and it is not a place to park or wait. Enter it only to make a left turn, watch for drivers from the opposite direction using it for their own turns, and do not travel along it for long distances.

Parking

Any vehicle parked along a rural highway must be moved off the paved or main traveled portion of the road. If it is impossible to pull completely off, drivers should pull off as much as they can, as long as there is a clear view for a distance of 200 feet in each direction and enough space for other vehicles to pass. Police often tow abandoned vehicles, so a driver leaving a car for several hours should leave a note on the windshield explaining the problem and when it will be moved.
When parked, drivers should secure the vehicle, and the law requires drivers to turn off the engine and remove the key when leaving a vehicle unattended. The manual also says to lock the vehicle, place an automatic transmission in park or a manual in gear, set the parking brake, and turn the wheels into the curb on a hill. Neutral lets the vehicle roll, and open windows and flashing hazards do nothing to secure it.
To make sure a parked vehicle cannot move, place it in park with an automatic transmission or leave it in gear with a manual, set the parking brake, and turn the wheels into the curb if the vehicle is parked on a hill. The manual gives one direction for hills, into the curb, so the curb can catch a tire if the brake fails. Park alone is not enough. The same section adds a simple rule: never open a door into traffic.
Even without a posted sign, it is illegal to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. The other numbers in the manual's list belong to other places: 30 feet from a stop sign, yield sign or traffic control signal, 50 feet from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, and 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection or from a fire station driveway. Firefighters need the hydrant space and the hose line, so the 15 foot zone stays empty.
Access aisles are the crosshatched areas parallel and adjacent to an accessible parking space, marked with yellow or white diagonal stripes. They give a person with a walking disability room to open the door fully and maneuver. Exiting or entering a van with a lift or ramp requires the entire access aisle, which can be up to 8 feet wide, to engage the lift and move a wheelchair on or off. Parking in the aisle carries a fine that increases for each subsequent offense.
Leaving a parallel space starts with checking traffic in all directions with mirrors and head checks, backing as far as possible toward the vehicle behind, then signaling and moving forward slowly while steering into the lane. Make sure the front bumper will clear the vehicle ahead, correcting in reverse if it will not, and move into the lane when the door post of the vehicle clears the rear bumper of the vehicle parked ahead. Signaling alone does not make the path clear.

Safe driving

The fatigue advice is specific: during long trips, plan to stop at least every 2 hours to stretch or get a cup of coffee or a soft drink. Waiting until you feel sleepy is exactly what the manual warns against, because fatigue slows decisions before you notice it. The other tools are getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep, taking a 15 to 20 minute nap at the next exit or rest area before you get too tired, avoiding late night driving, and sharing the driving with a companion.
The manual compares drowsy driving to drunk driving with three data points. A driver who has been up for a continuous 18 hours typically performs like a person with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%. After 21 hours without sleep performance mimics 0.08%, and after 24 hours it mimics 0.10%. The higher figures are the wrong answers for the 18 hour mark. Unlike alcohol, there is no breathalyzer for sleep, so the choice not to drive tired rests on the driver.
Drivers who must wear corrective lenses should always wear them when driving and should avoid using dark or tinted corrective lenses at night. Tint cuts the little light that is available after dark and makes pedestrians and animals at the edge of the headlight beam harder to spot. The manual repeats the point in its night driving section: do not wear sunglasses or colored lenses at night or on overcast days. Contacts and anti-reflective coatings are not the concern.
Aggressive driving occurs when a person intentionally commits an action that endangers other people or property. The manual's list of typical behaviors includes speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, improperly signaling, and failing to obey traffic control devices such as stop signs, yield signs, traffic signals and railroad grade crossing signals. Driving a little under the limit, signaling early, and stopping fully are the opposite of aggressive. The advice is to concentrate on driving and stay patient and courteous.
Being overly worried, excited, afraid, angry or depressed can interfere with a driver's ability to process information. The manual's ways of dealing with emotions are to take time to calm down before getting behind the wheel, which a short walk or nap may help, to avoid stressful situations by leaving a few minutes early and planning for traffic or bad weather, and to have someone else drive. Speeding, loud music, and picking a different road all keep an impaired mind at the wheel.
In warm weather a vehicle begins to heat up immediately after it is turned off, and it takes only minutes to reach dangerous temperatures. The manual passes on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advice never to leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. An open window or cool day does not create a safe interval. Check the whole vehicle, especially the back seat, before locking it, and keep keys and fobs out of children's reach.
Accidents due to tire maintenance are preventable. Driving on underinflated or overinflated tires, or on tires with low tread, can lead to safety problems, so the manual recommends having tire pressure checked once a month. Weekly is more than it asks, yearly is far too seldom, and waiting for a long trip ignores daily driving. Proper pressure and good tread depth also matter for hydroplaning, which the manual says is best prevented by slowing down in rain and keeping tires properly inflated.
Hands belong at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions or the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, with knuckles and thumbs on the outside of the wheel. The older 10 and 2 position is not what the manual teaches and puts the hands closer to a deploying air bag. Hand to hand steering is used for slight corrections and hand over hand for larger steering inputs. Keeping both hands on the wheel also matters in a blowout or a swerve.
The horn is for communicating with other road users when it is needed, and a light tap is usually enough. The manual says drivers should not use the horn when near blind pedestrians, who rely on sound to judge traffic, or when approaching or near a horse, because it may frighten the animal and cause a crash. It separately warns against honking close to bicyclists unless a crash is likely. A honk at a truck or motorcycle is not what the passage forbids.
Total stopping distance is the distance traveled from the moment a driver realizes a stop is needed until the vehicle actually stops, and speed is its biggest factor. The manual states that the stopping distance of a vehicle increases 4 times when the speed of the vehicle is doubled. It does not simply double, and good brakes cannot cancel the physics. At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes it can take about 158 feet to stop.
Perception time is the time and distance it takes an operator to recognize that they must stop, and the manual puts the average for an alert driver at three quarters of a second to 1 second. Reaction time, the time to move the foot from the gas to the brake, averages the same three quarters of a second to 1 second. Braking distance is added on top, which is why at 50 mph on dry pavement a stop can take about 158 feet.
The manual gives one concrete braking figure: at 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take about 158 feet to stop. That is braking distance alone, before adding the three quarters of a second to 1 second each for perception and reaction. Fifty feet would be far too short, and 300 feet is closer to what a loaded truck needs. Since stopping distance quadruples when speed doubles, 100 mph would need roughly four times that distance.
The manual's answer to a tailgater is to find a safe location to pull over and let the vehicle pass. Brake tapping invites a rear end crash, speeding up only moves the problem faster, and stopping in the lane is dangerous. The same passage says following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent is a violation punishable by a fine, and that drivers should avoid traveling closer than a four second following distance.
Before changing lanes a driver should check the vehicle's mirrors, check all blind spots, which are the areas around the vehicle that cannot be seen in the mirrors, by using head checks, then identify a gap in traffic, signal, look again in the direction of the lane change, adjust speed and steer into the lane. Even properly adjusted mirrors do not eliminate blind spots, and a blind spot monitor is a backup, not a substitute for looking over your shoulder.
Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of other vehicles before pulling onto the roadway, then identify a gap in traffic and merge with the flow. Stopping at the end of the ramp leaves you trying to enter fast traffic from a standstill, and the ramp is never a passing lane. Drivers already on the highway have the right of way, and the manual asks them to allow space for entering vehicles by moving over a lane or adjusting speed.
The manual's exit steps are to move early to the lane closest to the exit to avoid a quick lane change, maintain vehicle speed while on the main roadway, check the posted speed for the deceleration lane, then signal, move into the deceleration lane and slow to exiting speed. Slowing on the main roadway surprises the traffic behind you, and speeding up in the deceleration lane defeats its purpose. If you miss the exit, continue to the next one.
Pass only where signs or road markings permit it and only when conditions are favorable. The manual says not to attempt to pass when an oncoming vehicle is approaching, when the view is blocked by a curve or a hill, at intersections, or before a highway railroad crossing or bridge. Broken white and broken yellow lines are the markings that allow passing when safe, and a farm tractor may be passed with caution once it is safe to do so.
On multi-lane roads the left-most lane is intended for passing slower vehicles, and the manual says never pass on the shoulder, whether it is paved or not. The pavement on a shoulder does not make it a lane. Before passing, estimate the time and space needed, check for oncoming traffic, check mirrors and do a head check, signal, steer smoothly into the passing lane, and continue until the complete front of the passed vehicle shows in your rearview mirror.
The manual's passing sequence says to continue to pass until the complete front of the passed vehicle is visible in the rearview mirror, then signal the intention to return and steer smoothly back into the lane. Pulling in as soon as your bumper is ahead cuts the other driver off, and there is no fixed count or flash signal. The same rule matters even more with large trucks, which need far more stopping distance than a car.
When being passed, the manual tells drivers to stay in the lane they are traveling, maintain a constant speed so the other driver can complete the pass, and never increase speed to prevent someone from passing. Speeding up stretches out the time the passing driver spends in the oncoming lane and can force a crash. Staying in your lane and holding speed are the correct behaviors, and letting the vehicle back in ahead of you finishes the pass safely.
Before backing, all drivers should check behind the vehicle before getting in, because children or small objects cannot be seen from the driver's seat. Mirrors and head checks are used for backing, but they do not show the area immediately behind the vehicle. Backing should be slow with the vehicle much harder to steer, steering slightly in the direction the rear should move and looking to the rear until the vehicle stops completely.
Many vehicles have backup cameras, and the technology can help drivers back up safely when used in conjunction with the mirrors and proper head checks. The manual is direct that backup cameras should never be used as the primary tool for backing safely. The same caution applies to every warning system: they are passive aids, and drivers should not become dependent on them. Check side mirrors, the rearview mirror, over the shoulders, and the camera if equipped.
Hydroplaning happens when the steering tires start to ride up on pooled water, like water skis. The manual says the best way to avoid traction loss from hydroplaning is to slow down in the rain or when the road is wet with pooled water or puddles. Good tread depth and proper tire pressure also help. Cruise control and hard braking on standing water both invite a skid, and following in tracks does not fix speed that is too high.
The advice for flooded roadways is short: do not drive through large bodies of standing water on a road, and if there is a flooded roadway, find another route. Depth and current cannot be judged from the driver's seat, and water can stall the engine, wash the vehicle off the road, or soak the brakes. Low gear, a lead vehicle, and speed do not remove those risks. Turning around costs time; driving in can cost the vehicle.
Rural roads can include narrow and single lane bridges, and the manual tells drivers to look for the warning signs that identify them and to take turns crossing. Generally the first driver to reach the bridge has the right of way. Weight and grade are not the deciding factors, and two vehicles cannot share a single lane bridge. Open bridge gratings and steel bridges are another rural hazard because they reduce traction, so slow down and keep a firm grip.
Some intersections on rural roads are not controlled by yield or stop signs, and the manual calls them very dangerous when a driver does not approach with caution. When approaching an uncontrolled rural intersection, slow down and be prepared to stop for crossing or oncoming traffic. The vehicle on the right has the right of way, but never assume the other driver will yield. Blind corners from woods, crops, and hills make reduced speed even more important.
Use high beams when there are no oncoming vehicles and dim them for all approaching traffic. If a vehicle coming the other way keeps its high beams on, look toward the right side of the road to keep from being distracted or momentarily blinded, using the fog line or the edge of the roadway as a guide. Staring into the lights or at the center line pulls you toward the glare. Use low beams when following another vehicle and in fog, rain or snow.
In fog, rain or snow, use the low beams. Light from the high beams reflects off the moisture, may cause glare, and makes it more difficult to see ahead, so the higher beam actually shortens your view. Some vehicles have fog lights that may help in those conditions. The rule is about your own visibility, not battery use or courtesy alone, although dimming for approaching traffic is also required. Increase following distance at night and in bad weather.
Night driving limits how far you can see to the reach of the headlights, so the manual adds time to the four second following distance. Add at least one additional second for night driving conditions, and at least two additional seconds when driving on unfamiliar roadways at night. One second is the ordinary night increase, five is more than the manual asks, and keeping the daytime gap ignores the shorter view. Search well ahead of the beams for dark shapes such as pedestrians or animals.
Most warning system technologies are passive, meaning they warn the driver by sound, light or vibration of a potential issue, but do not automatically prevent a problem or collision. The driver may still need to change how the vehicle is being operated. The manual says these systems are an additional monitoring resource to mirrors and head checks, and drivers should not become complacent or depend on them alone. A forward collision warning, for example, will not brake for the driver.
The blind spot monitor helps a driver be more aware of other traffic, and its warnings can be helpful when changing lanes, but the manual says the driver should still always check their mirrors and look over their shoulders before doing so. Like the other warning systems, it is a backup to head checks rather than a replacement. A horn or hazard lights are not part of a lane change, which needs a mirror check, a head check, a signal and a second look.
In work zones, traffic may be controlled by a person with a sign or flag who tells drivers which direction to travel, to slow down or to stop, and drivers must follow their instructions. Barriers such as drums, cones and tubes keep traffic out of hazardous areas, and temporary signals may be used. Reduce speed, be prepared to stop suddenly, do not tailgate, and remember that fines may be doubled in a work zone, which will be clearly marked before you enter it.
Right turns should always be made from the right-most portion of the lane, and the manual says to avoid swinging wide to the left before making the turn. A wide swing invites a bicyclist or another car into the gap on your right. Left turns are the mirror image, made from the left-most portion of the lane after yielding to oncoming traffic. Before any turn, search all corners, signal, and look through the turn to the farthest point on the intended path.
If a driver misses an exit on a divided highway, the manual says to drive to the next exit to reverse direction. Drivers should never stop, back up or try to turn around on the highway. Backing on a shoulder puts you in the path of traffic entering at 65 mph, and crossing a median is both illegal and dangerous. The extra miles to the next exit are the price of a safe correction.
A three point turn is reserved for a road or street that is too narrow to make a U-turn, and the manual says it should only be used on a two lane roadway. The sequence is to signal right and pull to the right side, then signal left and turn hard left across the road, reverse with a hard right while checking blind spots, and finally drive forward into the right lane of the new direction. On multi-lane roads and divided highways use the next exit or a legal U-turn instead.
U-turns can be extremely dangerous and are not legal everywhere, so a driver who must reverse direction should first check for signs indicating that U-turns are prohibited. The manual's method is to pull over to the right shoulder using the turn signal, wait for the road to be clear, signal again, and turn into the nearest lane going the opposite direction. Lane count, speed limit and shoulder surface are not the tests the manual gives.
Drivers should not rely on other road users to obey signals or signs, so before moving after stopping at an intersection take the extra time to check for crossing traffic and bicyclists. The manual recommends looking left, then right, and then left again before entering. The last look is to the left because that is the first lane you will cross. When a light turns green, avoid moving immediately; make sure the path is clear and there is no crossing traffic.
The manual warns drivers not to turn into a lane in front of another vehicle just because that vehicle has a turn signal active. The driver with the signal on may plan to turn after passing the intersection you are at, or may simply have forgotten to cancel the signal from an earlier turn. The point matters most with motorcycles, whose signals usually do not cancel automatically. Wait until the other vehicle actually begins to turn.
In 2022, 891 people were killed and 37,701 people were injured as a result of work zone crashes nationwide, and New Hampshire itself reports more than 30,000 crashes of all kinds each year. Work zone signs are orange, fines are doubled, and drivers should slow down, keep following distance, obey flaggers and expect sudden stops and lane shifts. Workers stand only feet from moving traffic.
The visual search section opens with a phrase to remember: turn your head before you turn the wheel. Drivers need to be aware of what is happening ahead, to the sides and behind the vehicle, and should develop a searching pattern used every time. Keep the eyes moving, look ahead past the vehicles in front, search the sides so other road users will not cross your path, and check mirrors continually before slowing, stopping, turning or changing lanes.
Looking ahead means looking down the road past the vehicles in front and continually checking mirrors, which is impossible when a large vehicle fills the windshield. Drivers should avoid situations that limit how far they can see, like following too close to a larger vehicle, and should adjust speed and road position when behind one. Trucks actually take longer to stop, and the 500 foot rule applies only to fire trucks responding to an alarm.
Watch when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole or other stationary point, then count the seconds it takes to reach the same point, one-thousand-one through one-thousand-four. If you pass the point before finishing the count, reduce speed and count again at another point until you are following no closer than four seconds. Car lengths and mirror guesses do not adjust for speed, which is why the manual uses time.
Drivers should increase following distance on slippery roads, when following large vehicles like trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers, at night, in fog or in bad weather, and when following vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, like transit buses, school buses or vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Those vehicles will stop at every crossing even with no train in sight. A dry straight road with light traffic is the baseline where four seconds is enough.
Space on the sides of the vehicle is what lets a driver move right or left to avoid trouble. The manual says to avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods of time, because your vehicle may be in their blind spot and it reduces the space needed to avoid a collision. It also advises against crowding the center line, keeping as much space as possible from oncoming traffic, and making room for vehicles entering a limited access road by moving over a lane or adjusting speed.
Motorcyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers, but because most motorcycles are only about two feet wide they may not be easily identifiable in traffic and can be hidden in a vehicle's blind spot. It is also hard to judge how fast they are traveling. Never share a lane with a motorcycle, allow at least four seconds of following distance behind one, check carefully for motorcycles before turning left, and remember that most motorcycle turn signals do not cancel automatically.
Be aware that most motorcycles do not have automatic cancel for turn signals, so a blinking signal may be left over from an earlier turn. Before taking a turn in front of a motorcycle with its signal on, be sure the rider is actually turning. The manual gives the same caution for cars, whose drivers may plan to turn later or forget to cancel. Also check oncoming traffic carefully for motorcycles and judge their speed before any left turn across traffic.
Large trucks and buses have big No-Zones on both sides, much larger than a car's blind spot, with a large blind area on the right starting behind the cab and running the length of the truck. The test is simple: if the truck driver's face cannot be seen in the side view mirror, the truck driver cannot see the other vehicle. Avoid driving alongside a large vehicle any longer than necessary, because a swerve or lane change by the truck then has nowhere to go but into you.

Road signs

The manual defines a full stop as the wheels completely stopping. The stop must happen behind the stop line or crosswalk, or, if there is no line or crosswalk, before entering the intersection. A crawl is not a stop, the sign post is not the stopping point, and the requirement does not depend on other traffic being present. After stopping, look for crossing vehicles and pedestrians in all directions and yield the right-of-way before proceeding.
A yield sign is a red and white downward pointing triangle with red letters, and it means the driver must slow down and allow traffic that has the right-of-way to cross before entering. Unlike a stop sign it does not demand a full stop every time, though stopping is required whenever that is the only way to yield. Speeding up to beat cross traffic reverses the sign, and the duty is to all traffic with the right-of-way, not only pedestrians.
The manual's examples of prohibition signs are the stop sign, the yield sign, Do Not Enter, No Trucks, Wrong Way, No Left Turn, No Right Turn and No U-Turn. Red is the standard color for prohibition, meaning stop or do not do something. Warning signs are yellow diamonds, guide signs are green, brown or blue rectangles, and route number signs identify highways. Seeing this sign means the road or ramp ahead is closed to your direction of travel, so do not enter.
Wrong Way is one of the manual's prohibition sign examples, and its red color carries the standard meaning of prohibition: stop or do not do something. Yellow is general warning, orange is road repair work, and green is direction or guidance. A Wrong Way sign facing you means you have entered a roadway or ramp against traffic. Stop as safely as possible and get turned around rather than continuing, since the next vehicle may be coming straight at you.
One-Way Street signs tell a driver that traffic flows only in the direction of the arrow, and the manual adds a flat rule: never drive the wrong way on a one-way street. The sign does not reserve a turn lane, does not announce two way traffic, and does not close the road. Before turning onto a street, look for the arrow so you enter with the flow. A yellow edge line on the left side of a roadway is another clue that the street is one way.
Some regulatory signs have a red circle with a red slash over a symbol, which prohibits the action shown, and No U-Turn is one of the manual's listed prohibition signs. The slash cancels the movement, so the sign neither requires nor permits a U-turn, and it is not a curve warning, which would be a yellow diamond. If you must reverse direction, the manual says to check for signs prohibiting U-turns first, then use a legal method such as driving to the next exit or a two point turn.
No Left Turn is one of the prohibition signs the manual lists alongside Do Not Enter, No Trucks, Wrong Way, No Right Turn and No U-Turn. The red slash over the left arrow bans only the movement pictured, so going straight, turning right, and changing lanes remain governed by other signs and markings. When the sign is posted, plan a different route to reach a destination on the left, such as continuing to the next intersection where a left turn is allowed.
Regulatory signs are square or rectangular, and some carry a red circle with a red slash over a symbol to prohibit an action. No Right Turn is one of the manual's named prohibition signs, and its red color means stop or do not do something. Yellow diamonds warn, green rectangles guide, and orange signs mark road work, so none of those describe this sign. The ban applies at the location where the sign is posted, so turn right at another intersection instead.
Speed limit signs are black and white and indicate the maximum legal speed allowed in ideal conditions. They are regulatory signs, so the number is a legal ceiling, and the manual adds that safe speed is determined by road conditions, visibility, traffic and the vehicle, which can require driving slower. The sign is not a curve advisory, not a minimum, and not a night only limit. When there is no sign, the statutory limits apply, such as 30 mph in a business or urban residence district.
The manual's standard shapes give each sign family a job. A rectangle carries traffic regulations or directions to drivers, and a keep right instruction is that kind of direction. A diamond warns of special hazards ahead, a pentagon marks a school zone or crossing, and a circle gives advance warning of a railroad crossing. When you see this arrow, stay to the right of the island or obstruction and do not try to pass it on the left.
The manual assigns the X shape a specific meaning: a crossbuck indicates where a railroad crossing is. It marks the crossing itself, while the round yellow sign with the X and RR letters is the advance warning placed along the road before the crossing. At the crossbuck, look and listen for a train. When a train or railroad vehicle is approaching, stop behind the stop line or not less than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet from the nearest rail.
A round warning sign with an X symbol and black RR letters is placed along the road prior to a highway railroad grade crossing. It cautions the driver to slow down or stop and to look and listen for a train or railroad vehicle before proceeding. The circle shape is reserved for advance warning of a railroad crossing, so it is not a roundabout sign and does not mean the tracks are abandoned. Buses carrying passengers and hazmat trucks must stop at every crossing.
The pentagon, or five sided sign, is reserved for school zones and school crossings. Seeing it means children may be crossing and that a posted school zone speed limit may apply, which in New Hampshire is 10 mph below the usual limit from 45 minutes before school opens until opening and from closing until 45 minutes after. Where a crossing guard is present, stop and yield when signaled. The shape is not used for hospitals or playgrounds.
Pedestrian Crossing is one of the manual's example warning signs, listed with School Crossing, Share the Road with Bicycles, Bicycle Crossing and Slippery When Wet. The single walking figure warns that people may be crossing ahead, while the school crossing sign is the five sided pentagon with two figures. Drivers must be prepared to yield to pedestrians at all times and must yield to anyone crossing in a marked crosswalk or at an intersection even where no lines are painted.
Traffic Signal Ahead is one of the warning signs the manual lists, alongside Stop Sign Ahead, Sharp Curve Ahead and Advisory Speed Around Curve. It is posted where the signal itself may be hidden by a hill, curve or trees, so drivers have time to slow and prepare to stop if the light is red. It says nothing about the signal being broken or flashing, and railroad crossings use the round RR sign instead.
Stop Sign Ahead is a warning sign, and the manual says warning signs tell a driver to slow down because of a curve or intersection ahead and to be prepared to stop if necessary. The stop itself happens at the red octagon farther on, behind the stop line or crosswalk, with the wheels completely stopped. Stopping at the yellow warning sign is not required, treating it as a yield misreads it, and speeding up defeats its purpose.
Merging Traffic is in the manual's warning sign list, next to Lane Ends and Added Lane. It warns that another roadway joins yours ahead, so adjust speed or move over a lane when safe to give entering vehicles room. Added Lane is the different sign for a lane that continues without a merge. Drivers entering from an acceleration lane should reach the speed of traffic, identify a gap, and merge with the flow.
Lane Ends is one of the manual's warning sign examples. It gives advance notice that the lane you may be in will disappear, so signal, check mirrors and blind spots with a head check, and move into the continuing lane before the pavement runs out. It does not require a turn, and it is the opposite of the Added Lane sign. Merging early avoids the last second squeeze that causes sideswipe crashes.
The manual's standard colors give a quick read on any sign. Yellow means general warning, so this sign is alerting you that traffic will be moving in both directions ahead and you should keep right and expect oncoming vehicles. Orange is road repair work warning, blue is driver services, and white is a law or rule of the road. Reading the color first lets you react before you can make out the symbol.
Divided Highway Begins is the manual's name for the sign whose arrows split around a median. It warns that opposing traffic will be separated by a divider ahead, so keep to the right of the median and expect a matching Divided Highway Ends sign later, where two way traffic resumes. Added Lane and Y-Intersection Ahead are different warnings in the same list. On a divided highway, a missed exit means driving to the next exit, never stopping or backing up.
The skidding car symbol is the Slippery When Wet warning sign. The manual's advice for slippery roads is to reduce speed at the first sign of rain, snow, sleet or ice, because tires do not grip as well, it takes longer to stop, and it is harder to turn without skidding. Holding speed or braking hard in a curve is what causes tires to lose traction. Slowing before the slick section is the safest response.
Right Curve is one of the manual's warning signs, and its section on curves says to always reduce speed prior to entering the curve to a safe speed, meaning one that allows the driver to apply slight and constant acceleration through the curve. Reduce more when traction is poor, when following other vehicles, or when the end of the curve cannot be seen. Hard braking after entering a curve could cause the tires to lose traction.
A right angle arrow is the Sharp Curve Ahead warning, listed in the manual next to Advisory Speed Around Curve. The sharper bend needs more slowing than the gentle Right Curve sign, and it may be paired with an advisory speed plate. Curvy Road Ahead shows a snaking arrow for several curves, and T-Intersection Ahead shows the road ending at a cross street. Slow before the turn and steer smoothly; hard braking inside the curve can break traction.
The snaking arrow is Curvy Road Ahead, warning of a series of curves rather than a single bend. Because the road keeps changing direction, choose a speed you can hold through the whole stretch and reduce it further when the end of a curve cannot be seen or traction is poor. Right Curve marks one gentle bend, Sharp Curve Ahead marks one tight turn, and Side Road Ahead warns of a road joining from the side.
Cross Road Ahead is the first warning sign in the manual's list. It tells you another road crosses yours, which on rural roads may be an uncontrolled intersection with no stop or yield signs. The manual says to slow down at such intersections and be prepared to stop for crossing or oncoming traffic. Hospitals are shown on blue service signs, railroad crossings on the round RR sign, and a four way stop uses red octagons.
The pennant, a sideways triangle, is the no passing sign. The manual says it is found on the left side of the road and gives the driver warning of no passing zones ahead. It marks the beginning of the restriction, not the end, and it is never used to invite passing. The pavement usually confirms it with a solid yellow line on your side. Passing is also barred near curves, hills, intersections, and before railroad crossings and bridges.
The manual's standard shapes assign the circle to advance warning of a railroad crossing, while the crossbuck X marks the crossing itself. The octagon means stop, the pentagon marks a school zone or crossing, and a rectangle carries traffic regulations or directions. The round yellow sign with the X and RR letters appears along the road before the tracks and tells the driver to slow down or stop and look and listen for a train before proceeding.
The color chart pairs each color with a message. Brown means tourist and recreation guidance, such as parks and historic sites. Orange is road repair work warning, pink is incident management, and blue is driver services such as fuel, food and lodging. Green gives direction or guidance, white marks a law or rule of the road, yellow is general warning, red is prohibition, and purple identifies E-ZPass lanes. Reading the color tells you the kind of message before you read the words.
Purple is the newest color on the manual's list and it means E-ZPass, the electronic toll collection system that lets drivers pass through designated lanes without stopping to pay cash. In an E-ZPass lane, obey the posted speed limit but do not come to a stop, never back up or reverse direction, and do not get out of the vehicle. Cash only lanes are different: come to a complete stop at staffed lanes.
Work zone signs are generally diamond or rectangular shaped and orange with black letters or symbols. These construction, maintenance or emergency operation signs alert drivers that people are working on or near the roadway and warn of workers ahead, reduced speed, detours, slow moving equipment and poor or suddenly changing road surfaces. Yellow signs are ordinary warnings, red is prohibition, and blue is driver services. Always reduce speed in a work zone even without a posted change.
Interstate routes are numbered by code. Even numbers are west and east routes and odd numbers are north and south routes. Three digit routes follow a second rule: an odd first number marks a route into a city, and an even first number marks a route that goes through or around a city. The shape and color of route signs also tell you the type of road, whether interstate, US route, state route, or local road.
Three numbered interstate routes carry their own code. Those with an odd first number are routes into a city, and those with an even first number go through or around a city, such as a beltway. The base rule for two digit routes is that even numbers run west and east and odd numbers run north and south. Nothing in the numbering marks scenic or truck routes; those are shown by separate guide and regulatory signs.
Guide signs are square or rectangular and are green, brown or blue. They give information on intersecting roads, help direct drivers to cities and towns, and show points of interest along the roadway. Guide signs can also help drivers find hospitals, service stations, restaurants and hotels. Red and white signs are prohibitions, orange signs mark work zones and detours, and yellow signs are warnings. Green is direction, brown is tourist and recreation, and blue is driver services.

Laws and paperwork

New Hampshire driver education is built around several fixed hour counts, and the classroom portion is 30 hours with a certified driver education instructor. The 10 hour figure is the in-car practice component with the instructor, and 40 hours is the separate supervised driving requirement with a parent or other responsible adult. Keep the four numbers straight: 30 classroom, 10 instructor driving, 6 observation, and 40 supervised. Sixteen and seventeen year old applicants must finish the whole program before they can apply for a license.
The supervised driving requirement is 40 hours with a parent, guardian or other responsible adult, and 10 of those hours must be completed at night. Night driving shrinks how far you can see and changes how you judge speed and distance, so the program makes sure new drivers practice it before licensing. Five hours would fall short of the requirement, and twenty is double it. Log the night hours separately so the total and the night portion can both be verified.
State law RSA 263:19 requires everyone who is 16 or 17 years of age and wants a driver's license to have first completed an approved driver education program. The requirement is tied to those two ages, so an adult applicant is not required to take the course and an applicant under 16 cannot yet apply for a license at all. Failing a test does not trigger the requirement. More than 13,000 students go through the program each year at state approved driving schools.
New residents have up to 60 days after moving into the state to obtain a New Hampshire driver's license. Thirty days is shorter than the law allows, while 90 days and a full year would leave the driver operating on an out-of-state license past the deadline. When you apply, the one license concept requires you to surrender every valid license issued by another jurisdiction, and the application will not be accepted while your privileges are suspended or revoked anywhere else.
RSA 263:4 requires new residents to surrender all valid driver licenses issued by any other jurisdiction when they apply for a New Hampshire license. The idea is one driver, one license, so keeping an old license as a spare or simply not carrying it does not satisfy the law. The DMV, not the former state, collects the old license at the counter. An application is also refused while the driver's privileges are under suspension or revocation in another state.
The manual lists three groups exempt from getting a New Hampshire license: non-residents with a valid home state license, members of the US military stationed here who hold a valid license from their home state, and foreign tourists with a valid license from their home country. A person who has lived in the state for 90 days has passed the 60 day deadline, an expired license is not valid, and a suspended driver may not drive in New Hampshire under any circumstances.
New Hampshire does not issue learner permits. Instead the law lets a person who is at least 15 and a half years old and holds no license drive while being taught, as long as a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed responsible adult who is 25 or older is accompanying them. Fifteen and fourteen and a half are too young, and waiting until 16 is not required. The exception never applies to someone whose driving privileges are suspended or revoked in this or any other state.
Because the state issues no learner permit, the supervising adult carries the responsibility. The learner must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a responsible adult who is 25 years of age or older and who is a licensed driver. An 18 year old licensed driver is too young to supervise, and a non-driver ID holder is not a licensed driver at all. The same 25 or older standard applies to out-of-state teens driving in New Hampshire without a license.
The vision test standard for an applicant with sight in both eyes is 20/40. An applicant who has sight in only one eye must meet a stricter 20/30 standard, which is why 20/30 is a tempting but wrong answer for the two eye case. Perfect 20/20 vision is not required. If you need glasses or contact lenses to reach the standard, you must wear them whenever you drive and the license will carry the B restriction for corrective lenses.
The automated knowledge test has 40 multiple choice questions on the rules of the road and general driving conditions, and testers have 40 minutes to finish. It runs on a touch screen with four possible answers per question, so no computer experience is needed. There is a time limit, and the test does not run to 50 questions. One more detail matters on test day: if more than 8 questions are answered incorrectly, the test ends automatically.
The knowledge test is scored as you go. Once more than 8 questions have been answered incorrectly, the touch screen test ends automatically, and the applicant is scheduled to retest no sooner than ten days later. There is no bonus set of questions and no examiner walkthrough. Since 8 misses is the ceiling on a 40 question test, study the sections on signs, right of way, speed limits, and impaired driving where most missed questions come from.
During the road test no person except the applicant and the authorized Division of Motor Vehicles licensing examiner may be present in the vehicle. A parent or instructor must wait at the test site. The examiner gives clear instructions but cannot coach, and questions are answered before or after the test unless a direction needs clarifying. The test takes about 20 minutes and grades vehicle handling in traffic, driving habits, and working knowledge of signs and rules.
If either the knowledge test or the road test is not passed, the applicant is given an appointment to retest not sooner than ten days from the failed test. Same day and next day retakes are not offered, and there is no 30 day penalty. Applicants who pass receive a 60 day paper temporary license, with the permanent card mailed within 45 days. Use the ten days to review the sections that produced the missed questions or the road test errors.
Applicants who pass are issued a 60 day paper temporary driver's license at the office, and the permanent license is mailed within 45 days. The plastic card is not printed on the spot, and there is no learner card because New Hampshire issues no learner permits. Keep the paper license with you while driving during that window. If a test is failed instead, the retest appointment is set no sooner than ten days later.
The applicant must bring a licensed driver to drive the test vehicle to and from the testing site, and that person is required to remain at the test site until the road test has been completed. They cannot ride along, because only the applicant and the examiner may be in the vehicle, and they may not leave. The vehicle itself must be legally registered, inspected, in safe running condition, and of the proper class for the license being tested.
No person under 18 can be issued a license unless a parent, guardian, or, if there is none, another responsible adult gives written permission, insurance coverage is presented at the time of application, or the person under 18 is emancipated by marriage. Employment, vehicle ownership, and practice hours are not substitutes for that consent. The written permission is part of the application itself, so bring the signed form along with proof of identity and residency.
Every license or non-driver ID application gives the applicant the chance to designate consent to be an organ and tissue donor, and the choice can be revoked or changed at any time by submitting a Record Change Request form in person at any DMV office. You do not have to wait for renewal, and a phone call or a letter to the donor organization does not update the DMV record. The DMV shares the designation with New England Donor Services so the decision can be honored.
Class D is the ordinary operator license. It allows a driver to operate a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less, provided it is not towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds, not transporting hazardous materials, and not designed to seat more than 16 persons including the driver. Combinations over 26,001 pounds belong to Class A, vehicles seating more than 16 or placarded for hazmat fall under Class C, and motorcycles need their own license.
Drivers do not need a moped license if they already possess a Class A, B, C, D or motorcycle license, so a Class D holder can ride a moped without any added credential. A separate moped license exists only for people who hold none of those licenses. A motor-driven cycle license is a different credential for a bicycle with a motor of no more than 5 brake horsepower, and a motorcycle license covers motorcycles, three wheeled motorcycles, motor driven cycles and mopeds.
The motor-driven cycle license allows the operator to operate a bicycle with a motor attached which has no more than 5 brake horsepower. The manual defines this class by horsepower, not by engine displacement, so the 50 cubic centimeter figure is not the New Hampshire test. Ten horsepower would exceed the class, and two would be well under it. Anything more powerful falls under the motorcycle license, which also covers motor driven cycles and mopeds.
Any person 16 years of age or older and under 21 is issued a Youth Operator license. It is printed vertically so it can be recognized at a glance, and it expires on the holder's 21st birthday rather than after the ordinary five year cycle. Turning 18 removes the special under 18 restrictions but does not end the license. Some of the youth restrictions, such as the 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. driving ban, apply only until age 18.
License restriction codes are letters. B means corrective lenses, and it is placed on the license of anyone who needed glasses or contacts to pass the vision test. E is the automatic transmission restriction, G is daylight only, and F is the outside mirror restriction. C and D cover mechanical and prosthetic aids, IID means an ignition interlock device, and RTW restricts the holder to a three wheel motorcycle. Driving without the lenses violates the B restriction.
A Youth Operator license holder who is under 18 shall not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. Other states use windows that start at 10, 11, or midnight, which is why those choices are tempting, but New Hampshire's ban is the three hour block from 1 to 4. The same holder is also limited to one non-family passenger under 25 during the first six months and may never carry more passengers than seat belts.
For the first six months of holding the license, a Youth Operator under 18 may not drive with more than one passenger under 25 who is not a member of the driver's family unless a licensed, responsible adult who is at least 25 is in the vehicle. The limit is one, not zero and not two or three. Family members do not count against it. A separate rule that never expires bars carrying more passengers than there are seat belts or safety restraints.
Drivers under 18 shall not use a cellular or mobile telephone or other mobile electronic device, whether hands-free or not, while driving or while temporarily stopped in traffic. The only exception is reporting an emergency to the enhanced 911 system or a public safety agency. Adults over 18 may use a hands-free device under RSA 265:79-c, which is why hands-free feels permitted, but that allowance does not extend to minors. Being stopped at a light or having a parent aboard changes nothing.
Non-driver identification cards may be issued to New Hampshire residents who do not hold a valid driver's license and who are at least 12 years of age. Applicants provide the same documentation needed for a driver's license, and a REAL ID compliant version is available. The card is for identification only and does not permit driving. Sixteen and eighteen are licensing ages, not the ID card minimum, and the manual does set a floor, so it is not open to every age.
Only a vision test is required for drivers new to New Hampshire who hold a valid out-of-state driver's license. The full set of vision, knowledge and road tests is required only if the out-of-state license has been expired for more than one year. Applying for a different class of license than the one currently held also requires the written and road tests for that class. Remember to surrender the out-of-state license at the counter.
New Hampshire licenses expire on the applicant's birthday every 5 years. A reminder is mailed to the last known address about two months before expiration, but renewal is the driver's responsibility, and no reminder is sent if the address changed without notice to the DMV or the license is under suspension. Drivers who will be temporarily out of state may renew up to six months early. Youth Operator licenses follow a different rule and expire on the 21st birthday.
Under RSA 263:14 the Director of Motor Vehicles may suspend or revoke the license of a driver under 20 after a hearing for certain motor vehicle offenses. The first offense period is a minimum of 20 days but not more than 40 days. The 45 to 90 day range applies to a second offense, and 90 to 180 days applies to a third or later offense, which also requires an in-person driver attitude program before reinstatement. Convictions for DUI, reckless operation, or speeding more than 30 mph over the limit bring additional penalties.
When a driver's record contains the number of valid convictions required by law, the driver must appear for a hearing. If deemed a Habitual Offender, the Director revokes driving privileges for 1 to 4 years. The revocation is not permanent and is not a fixed five years. The five year figure belongs to a different consequence: a person convicted of driving after being declared a Habitual Offender may be imprisoned for not less than one year and up to five years.
Driving after a Habitual Offender declaration is treated as a serious crime, not a paperwork violation. The manual says a person convicted of it may be subject to imprisonment for not less than one year and up to five years. That is separate from, and much heavier than, the underlying 1 to 4 year revocation. Because out-of-state violations can also be reported to New Hampshire and counted on the record, drivers close to the threshold should treat every ticket as significant.
The hand-held device law covers more than texting. While driving or temporarily halted in traffic, no person may use a hand-held mobile electronic device to read, compose, view or post a message, initiate or conduct a conversation, access the Internet, input information into a global positioning system or navigation device, or manually type data into any portable electronic device. Radio, conversation with a passenger, and climate controls are not electronic device use under the statute, although any distraction can still be dangerous.
The statute closes an obvious loophole. An operator who holds a cellular telephone or other device capable of voice communication in the immediate proximity of his or her ear while the vehicle is in motion is presumed to be engaging in a call. The officer does not need to prove the conversation, and the call's length does not matter. Drivers over 18 may use a hands-free device, but holding the phone to the ear is not hands-free.
Only drivers over 18 may use one hand to transmit on a non-cellular two way radio, use a Bluetooth enabled or other hands-free device integrated into the vehicle to send or receive information, or perform an action required by an ignition interlock device. Even for adults the hands-free device may not require diverting attention from the road ahead. Reading a text at a light, holding a phone to the ear, and typing an address while stopped in traffic are prohibited for every driver.
New Hampshire's vision standard is stricter for a driver who depends on a single eye: if an applicant has sight in only one eye, they must have a visual acuity of 20/30, compared with the 20/40 standard that applies with both eyes. The examiner screens vision at licensing and renewal, and a driver who fails may be referred to an eye specialist before a license is issued.
At cash only toll lanes drivers should obey the posted speed limits within the plaza, come to a complete stop at staffed lanes, never back up or reverse direction at a toll plaza, and not get out of the vehicle. E-ZPass lanes are the ones where you keep moving without stopping. Rolling through a staffed lane or backing up when you pick the wrong lane are both dangerous in a plaza where lanes merge at speed.
Since 2002 New Hampshire drivers have been legally required to clear snow and ice off their vehicles before getting on the road, and penalties for the offense can be $250 to $500 for a first offense with increased penalties for subsequent offenses. Ice sliding off a roof can blind or crush the car behind, so clear the roof, hood, trunk, lights and every window before leaving.
New Hampshire law requires an accident report to be filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles within fifteen days if there is a fatality, injuries, or if the combined property damage totals more than $1,000. If a police officer investigates the crash, the police report satisfies the requirement and the driver need not file separately, although they may. The Operator Accident Report, form DSMV 400, is available at DMV offices, police departments and online. When unsure whether damage exceeds $1,000, file anyway.
Unlike almost every other state, New Hampshire has no mandatory insurance law, so a driver may drive within the state without insurance. The risk is personal: a driver in an uninsured accident can be held responsible for all damage to the other person's property and all medical bills, and if unable to pay, the DMV must suspend driving privileges until a settlement is reached. The driver may then have to carry SR-22 insurance for several years.
The manual lists the convictions that require a driver to show the DMV proof of insurance, an SR-22, to have driving and registration privileges reinstated: driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failing to stop and report when involved in a crash, homicide arising out of operating a motor vehicle, second offense reckless driving, and a just cause hearing after review of the driver's full violation record. Ordinary speeding, parking, and inspection violations are not on the list.

Emergencies

Right of way must be given to emergency vehicles approaching from any direction when they are sounding a siren or operating flashing lights. Drivers should drive immediately to the right side of the road and stop until the emergency has passed, and they should avoid blocking an intersection when stopping. Once it has passed, signal and turn back into the roadway only when it is safe. Stopping in an intersection or moving left blocks the path the responders need.
When emergency vehicles are approaching, do not enter a roundabout; pull over to the right and let other vehicles clear the intersection so the emergency vehicles can move through. If you are already inside, never stop while inside the roundabout. Instead move through and exit, then pull over to the right and allow the emergency vehicles to pass. Lane changes inside the circle are to be avoided at all times, and reversing is never an option.
The crash checklist is to stop, move the vehicle off the road if possible so traffic is not blocked, call 911 if there are injuries, and give aid to any injured people but not move them unless it is necessary, making sure an ambulance has been called. Then collect names, addresses, license numbers and states, plate numbers, vehicle make, model and year, and insurance information for everyone involved, plus names and addresses of witnesses.
Vehicles with an anti-lock braking system let a driver stop without skidding and keep steering control, but only if the driver presses on the brake pedal and keeps applying pressure. ABS works only while pressure stays on the pedal. The driver may feel the pedal vibrate and hear a clicking noise, which is normal and not a reason to let up. Pumping is an old technique for vehicles without ABS; check the owner's manual for those.
Swerving means quickly steering around a problem. The manual says to keep a good grip with both hands, steer in the direction you want to go while avoiding other traffic, and never swerve to the left to avoid a crash, because the left puts you into the oncoming lane the other vehicle came from. Once the problem clears, steer in the opposite direction to straighten out and regain control. Accelerating may also be needed to avoid being hit from behind or the side.
Skidding is caused by traveling too fast for conditions, stopping too suddenly, or tires that can no longer grip the road. If the vehicle begins to skid, ease up on the accelerator and steer in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is sliding, which lets the vehicle go straight instead of sideways. Be ready to steer the other way if it swerves back, and once the skid stops, straighten the wheels and steer in the original direction. Hard braking makes a skid worse.
In a brake failure, engage the parking brake by pulling the handle or pushing the foot pedal slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels and causing a skid, and be ready to release it if the vehicle starts to skid. If engaging the parking brake does not work, turn off the engine and look for a safe place to slow to a stop off the roadway. Yanking the brake locks the rear wheels, and waiting to shut off the engine first wastes the tool that works.
Tire blowout is the rapid deflation of a tire and can cause sudden loss of control. If a front tire blows out, the vehicle will pull sharply in the direction of the blowout; if a rear tire blows, the vehicle will wobble, shake and pull some in the direction of the blowout. Grip the wheel firmly, keep the vehicle straight, slow gradually by easing off the accelerator, brake gently only if necessary, and pull off the road in a safe place with the flashers on.
For headlight failure the manual gives two steps: try the turn signals or emergency flashers so other drivers can see you, and pull off the road as quickly and safely as possible, leaving the emergency flashers on. Following another vehicle's tail lights leaves you unable to see hazards and unseen by others. For a vehicle breakdown, the same flashers plus flares or reflectors 200 feet in front of and behind the vehicle give other drivers time to change lanes.
Once stopped, use a cell phone or other device to notify authorities that the vehicle has broken down. If none is available, raise the hood and tie a white cloth, or red in a snowstorm where white would vanish against the snow, to the driver's door handle or the antenna, which alerts drivers that help is needed. If possible stay with the vehicle until help arrives, unless it sits in a hazardous location, in which case get everyone out and well away from traffic.
For a stuck accelerator the manual says to keep your eyes on the road and shift the vehicle into neutral, which disconnects the racing engine from the wheels. Then brake firmly to counteract the acceleration, pull off the road when it is safe, bring the vehicle to a stop and turn off the engine. Shifting into park while moving can damage the transmission, a lower gear keeps power flowing, and braking against a stuck throttle wears out the brakes.
Sherrill's Law, RSA 265:37-a, covers fires, collisions, utility work, traffic stops, and any stopped or standing vehicle displaying warning signals such as hazard lights, flares, cones or caution signs. Every driver other than an emergency responder must maintain a reduced speed and, if practical, give a wide berth to public safety personnel, people in the roadway and vehicles showing blue, red or amber lights, obey anyone directing traffic, and vacate any lane wholly or partially blocked as soon as possible. Violations bring a fine plus penalty assessment.
During a traffic stop, come to a complete stop and place the vehicle in park, remain in the vehicle unless asked to get out, turn off the engine, and turn on the hazard flashers and, at night, the interior lights so the officer can see that everything is in order inside. Keep the safety belt fastened, put your hands on the steering wheel, limit movements, and when asked for documents say where they are and reach slowly with one hand still on the wheel. If the car is unmarked, make sure its blue lights are activated.

Signs

Sign shape and color carry meaning before you even read the words. A red octagon always means stop, a red-bordered triangle pointing down means yield, and yellow diamonds warn of a hazard ahead. For every sign image used in our practice test, with the exact meaning and explanation, see the full road sign glossary.

Keep studying

This cheat sheet is a summary, not a substitute for practice. Test yourself with the free New Hampshire DMV practice test, which explains the reasoning behind every answer, or see New Hampshire DMV facts and fees before test day.

Reviewed by Kevin Vu, CA DOI #4037122 · Last updated 2026-07-22

New Hampshire DMV cheat sheet