New Hampshire Driver's Permit

A New Hampshire driver's permit is the first stage of the state's Graduated Driver License program. The permit lets a teen practice driving with a licensed adult and is the prerequisite for the Youth Operator License. New Hampshire uniquely does not require a knowledge test for the permit — the test is taken later, before the road test for the full Youth Operator License.

Eligibility

To apply for a New Hampshire driver's permit, the applicant must be at least 15 years and 6 months old. A parent or legal guardian must sign the application giving consent and accepting financial responsibility for the minor's driving. The applicant must also be enrolled in or have a written agreement to enroll in an approved New Hampshire driver education course.

Documents required

Bring the following to the substation:

• Proof of identity and date of birth: certified U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport.
• Proof of Social Security number: SSN card, W-2, or SSA-1099.
• Two proofs of New Hampshire residency from two different sources, dated within the last 60 days. Acceptable items include utility bills, school enrollment records, and parental documents in the applicant's name.
• A signed parental consent application — the parent or guardian must sign in person at the substation, or provide a notarized signature.
• Proof of driver education enrollment from a state-approved provider.

What the permit allows

A New Hampshire driver's permit allows the holder to operate a passenger vehicle only when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years old, has held a license for at least three years, and is seated in the front passenger seat. The supervising driver must be alert, sober, and capable of taking immediate control of the vehicle.

The permit holder is subject to a zero-tolerance BAC of 0.02% for alcohol — see New Hampshire DWI laws. The permit is valid for two years from the date of issue.

Driver education and the 40-hour rule

To advance to a Youth Operator License, the permit holder must complete an approved New Hampshire driver education course consisting of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and 10 hours of in-car observation. In addition, the parent or guardian must certify 40 hours of supervised practice driving, including at least 10 hours of nighttime driving. The certification is signed by the parent and submitted at the road-test appointment.

Knowledge test

New Hampshire does not require a knowledge test to issue the permit itself — the test is taken later as part of the road-test appointment for the Youth Operator License. The 40 multiple-choice questions are drawn from the current New Hampshire Driver Manual; applicants must answer at least 32 correctly to pass. Studying the manual during the permit period is strongly encouraged because the test feeds directly into the road test.

Fees

The New Hampshire driver's permit fee is $10. There is no separate fee for the parental consent application. If the permit expires before the holder advances to a full license, a renewal can be issued for an additional fee.

How long the permit must be held

A New Hampshire driver's permit must be held for at least 6 months before the holder can take the road test for a Youth Operator License. The 6-month clock starts on the date the permit is issued, regardless of when driver education is completed. Driver education and the supervised-practice hours must both be complete before the road test, but the 6-month minimum is independent of either.

Penalties for permit violations

Driving without an accompanying licensed adult, after curfew, or with passengers other than the supervising driver, voids the permit and triggers a delay in eligibility for the Youth Operator License. Any moving violation during the permit period extends the 6-month minimum hold and may require additional supervised practice. New Hampshire's demerit point system applies to permit holders, and under-21 drivers face lower point thresholds for suspension.