Preparing for the New Hampshire DMV Knowledge Test

Before you study: why the test comes last

Since anyone 15 and a half or older can practice with a qualified adult and no permit, New Hampshire has no permit exam at the start of the process. Instead the knowledge test sits at the end, alongside vision and road, when you apply for a first license at 16 or older.

That shifts how you prepare. By test day a teen has usually finished the course and logged 40 hours, so the material feels familiar in a way it does not for a nervous 15 year old in a permit state. The downside is that a fail now delays the license itself.

On test day: how the 40 questions work

According to the manual, the touch screen test asks 40 multiple choice questions about road rules and general driving conditions, each with four possible answers, and 40 minutes on the clock. You need no computer skills; you just touch the letter you choose. Every knowledge exam needs 80 percent, and each one is randomized, so a retake is a fresh set of questions.

The screen ends the test early if you get more than 8 wrong or time runs out. So the target is 32 correct, and do not panic if the test stops before question 40 either way. Roughly a minute per question is a comfortable pace.

Weeks before: what the manual covers

The current manual, which begins with a welcome letter from Governor Kelly Ayotte, is organized in 12 sections. The driving rules are mostly in Sections 5 through 8. Teens should not skip Section 2, which covers Youth Operator restrictions, or Section 3 on impaired and distracted driving, which turns up on nearly every test.

• Section 2: licenses and Non-Driver IDs, tests, license classes and Youth Operator rules
• Section 3: dangerous driving, including alcohol, drugs, distraction and aggression
• Section 4: vehicle checks, seat belts and child restraints before you drive
• Sections 5 and 6: basic driving and rules of the road, including signs, signals, right of way and speed
• Sections 7 and 8: general driving, parking and driving safely
• Sections 9 to 11: sharing the road, emergencies, and crashes and insurance
• Section 12: 100 self test questions

The state's own practice questions

Section 12 holds 100 fill in the blank questions, covering the vision standard, blood alcohol limits, how much room to give a cyclist and business district speed limits. There is no answer key, so each blank means a trip back into the manual, and that searching is the studying.

The format differs from the touch screen test, but the topics line up. A study plan that works: do 25 questions a night for four nights, then redo the whole set without the book. If your teen can fill in all 100 and explain each answer, 40 multiple choice questions should feel manageable.

If you need another language or audio

You can take it in Mandarin Chinese, Farsi, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, French, English or American Sign Language, written or spoken. Anyone may use the audio feature with headphones; just tell the customer service representative before starting.

If you wear glasses or contacts, have them with you for the eye test. The standard is 20/40 with both eyes, or 20/30 with sight in only one eye. Fail the screening and an eye doctor must certify your vision before testing goes on.

After the test: fees and retakes

There is no separate exam fee; you pay for the license before testing. As of October 2026, the Youth Operator License is $10 for each year until 21, and an adult license is $50, or $60 for REAL ID. Clear all three tests and a paper license good for 60 days covers you until the card arrives by mail.

A failed knowledge or road test means booking again at least 10 days later. For the road test, a no-show or a cancellation within 24 hours pushes the next attempt back 30 days.

If you are an adult, new resident or visitor

Never-licensed adults take the same 40 question test with no course required, except non-U.S. citizens temporarily living here with no driving experience, who must complete an approved program. Adults practice permit-free too, beside a licensed adult 25 or older.

Drivers under 18 arriving with another state's license still have to meet the minor rules, driver education included, and out-of-state permits are not honored. If you are an adult transferring a valid license, look at the DMV transfer page to see which tests are waived.