New Hampshire
What New Hampshire asks of a teen driver before the first license, from the practice hours to the road test.
40hours
of supervised practice, including 10 at night
- Permit
- No permit; supervised practice under RSA 263:25
- License
- Youth Operator License
- Practice can start at
- 15 years, 6 months
Depends on your answer
Does your child have a parent or guardian with a driver’s license?
- YesOnly the hours with a parent or guardian count.
- NoHours with another licensed adult over 25 count too.
Before the road test
- No waiting periodNew Hampshire has no learner’s permit and no holding period.
- Minimum age16 years old
- Driver education certificate30 classroom hours, 10 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours observing.
- Signed form DSMV 38A parent or guardian signs the authorization certificate for the licence application.
- Signed form DSMV 509The applicant and a parent or guardian both sign it. Bring it with the licence application.
Where this comes from
- Form DSMV 509, Certification of Additional Supervised Driving
- RSA 263:25 — persons learning to drive
- RSA 263:19 — driver education
- RSA 263:14 — youth operators' licenses
- RSA 265:79-c — mobile devices under 18
- Saf-C 1000 — driver licensing rules
Moonroof checked these sources on October 9, 2026. Rules change, so check with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles before booking the road test.