Suspensions, points and habitual offenders

Key points

1. For a driver under 20, a first offense brings a suspension of 20 to 40 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “A minimum of 20 days, but not more than 40 days for a first offense”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

2. A second offense brings 45 to 90 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “A minimum of 45 days, but not more than 90 days for a second offense”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

3. A third or later offense brings 90 to 180 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “A minimum of 90 days but not more than 180 days for a third or subsequent offense.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

4. Youth operators convicted of DUI, reckless driving or speeding more than 30 mph over the limit face extra penalties.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “A holder of a youth operator license who is convicted of a driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless operation or speeding more than 30 mph over the posted speed limit will face additional penalties.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

5. Any driver is considered to have agreed to blood, breath or urine testing if arrested for an alcohol or drug offense; refusing can cost your license.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “is considered to have given consent to having their blood, breath, urine, or any combination tested if arrested for an alcohol or drug offense. Refusal to allow testing may result in loss of driving privileges.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

6. Demerit points build up for violations such as speeding, running traffic lights, drunk driving, improper passing and stop sign violations.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “Points are accrued for violations such as speeding, failure to obey traffic lights, driving while intoxicated, improper passing and failure to obey a stop sign.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

7. A Habitual Offender loses the privilege to drive for 1 to 4 years.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “the Director shall revoke the person's driving privileges for 1 to 4 years.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

8. Driving after being declared a Habitual Offender can mean 1 to 5 years in prison.

   Source: Handbook p. 6

   “that person may be subject to imprisonment for not less than one year, and up to five (5) years.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 6

Numbers to know

3 questions from the New Hampshire practice test

1. 1. For a first offense under New Hampshire's Youth Operator Under 20 law, how long may a license be suspended?

   1. A minimum of 45 days but not more than 90 days
   2. Exactly 30 days
   3. A minimum of 90 days but not more than 180 days
   4. A minimum of 20 days but not more than 40 days
   Show answer

   A minimum of 20 days but not more than 40 days. 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.

2. 2. If a hearing finds a New Hampshire driver to be a Habitual Offender, for how long are driving privileges revoked?

   1. Permanently
   2. 6 months to 1 year
   3. Exactly 5 years
   4. 1 to 4 years
   Show answer

   1 to 4 years. 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: driving after being declared a Habitual Offender is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

3. 3. Under current New Hampshire law, what penalty applies to a Habitual Offender convicted of driving while the revocation order is in effect?

   1. Guilty of a felony, with imprisonment of not more than five years
   2. An additional 30 day suspension
   3. A fine only, with no jail time
   4. Mandatory driver education
   Show answer

   Guilty of a felony, with imprisonment of not more than five years. Driving after a Habitual Offender order is a felony under RSA 262:23, punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years. Older handbooks describe a one year minimum, but the current statute sets only the five year maximum, and any sentence of one year or less is served in a county correctional facility. The penalty is separate from and much heavier than the underlying one to four year revocation, so drivers near the threshold should treat every ticket as significant.

Source: the New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Section 2: Driver's License and Non-Driver ID Information. 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.