The vision, knowledge and road tests

Key points

1. You need 20/40 vision in both eyes, or 20/30 if you have sight in only one eye.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “Applicants must have a visual acuity of 20/40 vision in both eyes. If an applicant has sight in only one eye, they must have a visual acuity of 20/30.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 2

2. If you need glasses or contacts to pass, you must wear them to drive and get a B restriction.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “glasses or contacts must be worn while driving, and the “B” restriction for corrective lenses will be placed on the applicant's license.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 2

3. The knowledge test has 40 multiple choice questions, and you have 40 minutes.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “knowledge test consists of 40 multiple choice questions pertaining to the rules of the road and general driving conditions. Testers have 40 minutes to complete the test.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 2

4. If you answer more than 8 questions wrong, the test ends automatically.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “If more than 8 questions are answered incorrectly, the test will automatically end.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 2

5. The average road test takes about 20 minutes.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “The average test will take approximately 20 minutes.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 2

6. Only you and the Licensing Examiner may be in the vehicle during the road test.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “No person except the applicant and the authorized Division of Motor Vehicles Licensing Examiner may be present in the vehicle during the road test.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

7. If you pass, you get a 60 day paper temporary license, and the permanent one is mailed within 45 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “Pass: Applicants will be issued a 60-day paper temporary driver's license. The permanent license will be mailed within 45-days.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

8. If you fail, the retest cannot be sooner than 10 days after the failed test.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “the applicant will be provided with an appointment to retest not sooner than ten days from the failed test.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

Numbers to know

3 questions from the New Hampshire practice test

1. 1. How many questions are on the New Hampshire automated knowledge test, and how long do testers have?

   1. 40 questions in 40 minutes
   2. 25 questions in 30 minutes
   3. 50 questions in 60 minutes
   4. 40 questions with no time limit
   Show answer

   40 questions in 40 minutes. 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.

2. 2. On the New Hampshire knowledge test, what happens once a tester has answered more than 8 questions incorrectly?

   1. The tester may keep going and needs 32 correct overall
   2. The test automatically ends
   3. The tester gets 10 extra questions
   4. The examiner reviews the missed questions with the tester
   Show answer

   The test automatically ends. 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.

3. 3. After failing the New Hampshire knowledge or road test, how soon can an applicant retest?

   1. The next business day
   2. After a mandatory 30 day wait
   3. Not sooner than ten days from the failed test
   4. Immediately, on the same visit
   Show answer

   Not sooner than ten days from the failed test. 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.

Source: the New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Section 1: Driving in New Hampshire. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.