New Hampshire Demerit Point System
New Hampshire uses a demerit point system to track moving violations and trigger administrative actions against drivers who accumulate too many. Points are assessed by the NH DMV after a court conviction or guilty plea on a moving violation; they remain on the driver's record for 3 years from the conviction date. The point thresholds are stricter for under-21 drivers than for adults.
How points are assigned
Each moving violation in New Hampshire carries a fixed number of demerit points. The most common assessments:
- Speeding 1-9 mph over the limit: 3 points.
- Speeding 10-24 mph over the limit: 4 points.
- Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit: 6 points.
- Failure to obey a stop sign or traffic signal: 3 points.
- Failure to yield right-of-way: 3 points.
- Improper passing or improper lane change: 3 points.
- Following too closely: 3 points.
- Reckless driving: 6 points.
- DWI (first): 6 points.
- Leaving the scene of an accident: 6 points.
- Driving on a suspended license: 6 points.
- Negligent driving: 4 points.
Equipment violations, parking violations, and most administrative offenses do not carry demerit points.
Suspension thresholds
The NH DMV administratively suspends a license when a driver crosses the point threshold for their age category:
Under age 18
- 6+ points in 12 months: first warning; mandatory hearing before the NH DMV.
- 12+ points in 12 months: automatic license suspension; up to 6 months for a first action.
- 18+ points in 24 months: longer suspension at the NH DMV's discretion.
Age 18-20
- 9+ points in 12 months: first warning; mandatory hearing.
- 15+ points in 24 months: automatic license suspension; up to 6 months for a first action.
Age 21+
- 12+ points in 12 months: first warning letter; no automatic suspension.
- 18+ points in 24 months: automatic license suspension; up to 6 months for a first action.
- 30+ points in 36 months: license revocation at the NH DMV's discretion; longer reinstatement path.
The under-21 thresholds are markedly lower than the adult thresholds — a feature of New Hampshire's GDL framework that persists all the way to the licensee's 21st birthday. See Youth Operator License for the full set of under-21 rules.
How points roll off
Points are assessed against the conviction date and remain on the driver's record for 3 years. After 3 years, the points roll off the record automatically — but the conviction itself remains on the underlying driving history and can still be relevant to insurance pricing, employer background checks, and DWI-priors counting under the 10-year DWI lookback. The roll-off is points only, not the conviction.
Hearings and appeals
Before any suspension based on points, the NH DMV must give the driver written notice and an opportunity to request an administrative hearing before the Bureau of Hearings. The hearing is held at the NH DMV's Concord headquarters, and the hearings examiner can:
- Confirm the suspension as proposed.
- Reduce the suspension length.
- Suspend the suspension pending completion of a Driver Improvement Program.
- Vacate the suspension if procedural errors are shown.
Drivers must request the hearing in writing within 30 days of the notice — see suspended license for the full reinstatement framework.
Driver Improvement Programs
The NH DMV may waive a portion of points in exchange for completing an approved Driver Improvement Program. The program is typically a 6-8 hour classroom or online course offered by approved providers. Completion can remove up to 3 points from a driver's record once every 3 years and may reduce the length of an administrative suspension.
Pulling your point balance
The current point balance and conviction history are visible on a New Hampshire driver record. The standard 3-year MVR shows current point balance and all points assessed in the past 3 years. Pulling the record once a year is a reasonable habit for any driver close to a threshold, especially after a recent moving violation. See also traffic tickets for how a citation flows from court conviction to point assessment.