Teen Driving in the State of New Hampshire
Teen drivers in New Hampshire may
begin practice driving in a non-commercial vehicle when they have reached the
age of 15 ½. The new driver must be accompanied by a licensed adult 25
years or older in the front passenger seat. The teen must carry identification
that shows proof of age.
State of New Hampshire Youth Operator License
After the teen driver has reached the age of 16
they may apply for a State of New Hampshire Driver License.
- If qualified all applicants
16 years of age and under the age of 21 will receive a Youth Operator License.
- The Youth Operator License
expires on the 21st birthday of the driver. If the applicant is 16 or 17 years
of age, they must first pass a State of New Hampshire approved driver education
course.
- Prior to receiving a
license the teen driver must pass a vision screening, a written test and a
driver road test.
- Teen drivers under the age
of 18 must accrue 40 hours of supervised practice driving. 10 of the 40 hours
must be night time driving . These hours must be documented in a driving log.
When a driver
education licensing student applies for a license they must bring the following
documents:
- A Licensing Certificate
- A Driver Log Sheet Download
- A Signed Parent or Legal Guardian
Authorization Certificate Download
- An Original Birth Certificate Plus 1 Other
Form of Legal Identification
- Social Security Number
- Check, Money Order or Cash for Driver
License Fee
Under 18 Restrictions Youth Operator License
Teen drivers that
hold a youth operator license and are under the age of 18 fall under the
following restrictions:
- Driving between the hours of 1:00 AM
5:00 AM is prohibited
- Unless accompanied by a licensed adult
that is a minimum of 25 years of age, the Youth License Holder may not drive
with passengers under the age of 25 that are not immediate family members.
- May not drive with more passengers than
there are safety belts in the vehicle.
State of New Hampshire Insurance Requirements
Unusually, the State of New
Hampshire has no mandatory insurance law. This means you can legally drive without an insured vehicle. If
you are in an accident, however, you may be held responsible for all damages to
the other person's property, up to and including all medical bills.
New Hampshire 's financial responsibility law
requires that the DMV suspends your license until a settlement has been
reached. If you have an accident without insurance, you may be required to
carry insurance for a time after the accident. Below are the financial
responsibility limits.
- $25,000 Injury or Death of any 1
Person
- $50,000 Injury or Death of more
than 1 Person
- $25,000 For the Property Damage of
Others
You may be required
to carry insurance if the following apply:
- you have been convicted of drunk
driving
- you have been convicted of drugs
- you have been convicted of a hit &
run
- you have been convicted of a homicide
while operating a motor vehicle
- you have been a second conviction for
reckless driving
- the courts have just cause to require it
based on a review of a person's driving record for violations after a hearing
State of New Hampshire Source Links for This Information
State of New Hampshire Website - Bureau of Driver Licensing
State of New Hampshire Website - Driver Log Sheet
State of New Hampshire Website - Parent or Guardian Authorization Certificate
State of New Hampshire Website - Driver Manual (Download)
Other New Hampshire Information
New Hampshire Drunk Driving Laws, Penalties & Fines
New Hampshire Text Messaging Law