Key points
Anyone 16 or older and under 21 gets a Youth Operator license, which expires on the 21st birthday.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“Any person 16 years of age or older and under the age of 21 will be issued a Youth Operator license. Youth Operator's licenses are printed vertically, and they expire on the holder's 21st birthday.”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4Youth Operators under 18 may not drive between 1:00 am and 4:00 am.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“who is under the age of 18 years of age shall NOT operate a motor vehicle: Between the hours of 1:00 am and 4:00 am;”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4For the first 6 months, a restricted Youth Operator may carry only 1 passenger under 25 who is not family, unless a responsible adult 25 or older is along.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“With more than one passenger less than 25 years of age who is not a member of the driver's family unless accompanied by a licensed, responsible adult who is at least 25 years of age during the first six (6) months holding the license;”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4A restricted Youth Operator may not carry more passengers than there are seat belts.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“With more passengers than seat belts or safety restraints in the vehicle.”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4Drivers under 18 may not use a phone or mobile device at all while driving, even hands free, except to report an emergency.
Source: Handbook p. 4
“Drivers under the age of 18 years of age shall not use a cellular or mobile telephone or other mobile electronic device, whether hands-free or not, while driving”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4Licenses expire on your birthday every 5 years.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“NH Driver's licenses expire on the applicant's birthday every 5 years.”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 5Drivers new to New Hampshire with a valid out of state license need only a vision test.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“Only a vision test is required for drivers new to New Hampshire holding a valid out-of-state driver's license.”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 5A non driver ID card is available to residents at least 12 years old who do not hold a license.
Source: Handbook p. 5
“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.”
New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 5
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 21 | ages that receive a Youth Operator license | Handbook p. 4 |
| 1:00 am to 4:00 am | hours a Youth Operator under 18 may not drive | Handbook p. 4 |
| 1 passenger under 25 | nonfamily passenger limit for a restricted Youth Operator | Handbook p. 4 |
| 6 months | length of the passenger restriction | Handbook p. 4 |
| 18 | age below which drivers may not use any phone while driving | Handbook p. 4 |
| 5 years | how often a license expires | Handbook p. 5 |
| 12 | minimum age for a non driver ID card | Handbook p. 5 |
3 questions from the New Hampshire practice test
1. When does a New Hampshire Youth Operator license expire?
- On the holder's 21st birthday
- Five years after issue
- On the holder's 25th birthday
- On the holder's 18th birthday
Show answer
On the holder's 21st birthday. 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.
2. During which hours may a New Hampshire Youth Operator under 18 not drive?
- Between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.
- Between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
- Between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
- Between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
Show answer
Between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.. 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. The windows that start at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., or midnight do not match New Hampshire's rule, which is the three hour block from 1 to 4. During the first six months the same holder may not carry more than one passenger under 25 who is not a family member unless a licensed responsible adult at least 25 is along, and may never carry more passengers than seat belts.
3. During the first six months of holding a New Hampshire Youth Operator license, how many non-family passengers under 25 may the driver carry without a supervising adult?
- No more than one
- Up to two
- None at all
- Up to three
Show answer
No more than one. 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.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free New Hampshire practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
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.