Driving Tests

New Hampshire Written Driving Test: 80% to Pass and Up to 50 Questions

informational·how to guide·Published August 28, 2026

How many questions are on the New Hampshire written driving test, and what score do you need?

You need 80% of the answers correct to pass the New Hampshire written driving test, called the knowledge test. It has up to 50 multiple choice questions, and you have up to 60 minutes. A pass stays valid for one year. If you fail, you take no other test that day, and your next test date is at least 10 days later.

Where the New Hampshire written test facts come from

The test format, pass mark, retake and cheating rules come from the New Hampshire Department of Safety rules for driver licenses, Saf-C 1000. The topics the test must cover come from RSA 263:6, the state law on license examinations. The rules for practice driving come from RSA 263:25, and the rule on missed appointments comes from RSA 263:42. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.nh.gov) before you drive.

New Hampshire knowledge test at a glance

New Hampshire knowledge test at a glance
Item	What New Hampshire requires
Questions	Up to 50 multiple choice questions, each with only one correct answer
Time	Up to 60 minutes
Pass mark	80% of the answers correct
Topics	New Hampshire motor vehicle laws. State law adds questions on distracted driving, driving under the influence and driving in poor weather.
Choice of questions	The director picks them for the class of license you request
How long a pass lasts	One year

The order of the New Hampshire license tests

1
Pass the vision test
A first-time applicant starts with the visual acuity examination.
2
Pass the knowledge test
The written test comes second. Department of Safety staff give every license examination.
3
Pass the road test
The road skills examination comes third. The director also requires a check of your motor vehicle record.

Taking the test in another language

If you speak or read a language other than English, the rule has you take an oral or written test of the same format, set by the director. Only licensing staff, or an interpreter if applicable, give an oral test. Our practice questions are free and in English only.

If you fail or are caught cheating on the New Hampshire written test

If you fail the knowledge test

You hear the specific reasons for the failure. You take no other test that day, unless the director decides otherwise.

If you want to test again

The director sets a new date no sooner than 10 days after the failed test. Our free question on the knowledge test retest wait checks this rule.

If a test cannot go on for a reason that is not your fault

The director may allow another test on the same day. The rule names computer-based testing software that fails, weather that is a risk to you or other drivers, and traffic that stops you from showing basic skill.

If you are caught cheating

Cheating in any way, or getting help from anyone other than licensing staff, disqualifies you at once. Your new test date is no sooner than 30 days later.

If you fail the road test several times

After 3 failed road tests, you need 5 hours of training with an approved New Hampshire driving school and 10 hours of documented supervised driving before the next road test. After 9 failed road tests, you cannot take a road test for 3 months. The guide to the New Hampshire road test covers these steps.

Practice driving and study before the written test

Under RSA 263:25, a person who is 15 1/2 or older and has no license may drive while being taught. This exception does not apply if your driving privilege or license is suspended or revoked for cause. The person in the seat beside you must hold a license for the vehicle and be a certified driving instructor, a parent, a legal guardian, or a responsible adult who is 25 or older. Carry proof of your age. The guide to practice driving at 15 1/2 explains the steps.
To study, take the free New Hampshire non-commercial operator practice test, then review each answer you miss. The questions are practice questions, not the real test.

Key takeaways

You need 80% of the answers correct on the New Hampshire knowledge test.
The test has up to 50 multiple choice questions and gives you up to 60 minutes.
A passed knowledge test is valid for one year.
After a fail, no other test that day, and the next date is no sooner than 10 days later.
Next step: practice on the free New Hampshire non-commercial operator practice test.

New Hampshire written test: common questions

How many questions can I miss on the New Hampshire written test?

You need 80% of the answers correct, so you can miss one question in five. On a test with the full 50 questions, you can miss up to 10 and still pass. The rule says the test has up to 50 questions, so your test can be shorter, but the 80% pass mark stays the same.

Do I take the written test if I move to New Hampshire with a license from another state?

Yes. The rule lists the vision and knowledge tests for a person who surrenders a valid license from another state, or one that expired no more than 12 months before. It lists the road test only if the director finds that the other state's standards do not comply, or that you might be a hazard because of an apparent impairment. If your license expired more than 12 months before, the rule lists all three tests. Confirm with the DMV.

What if my New Hampshire license ran out years ago?

If your New Hampshire license was expired, suspended or revoked for more than 3 years before the division received your application, you complete the same steps as a first-time applicant: the vision test, the knowledge test and the road test, in that order.

What happens if I miss my license test appointment?

State law says that when you do not appear for a driver's license appointment, your application is kept for 12 months. After that, the application is destroyed and you lose the fee. Also, no license fee is refunded once you take an examination or get a license, except as RSA 263:43 provides.