New Hampshire Road Signs Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.
Download the PDFThe numbers to remember
- Passing score: 80% on every knowledge exam.
- Test format: computer-based, automated touch screen, fully randomized — retakes see a different set of questions.
- Vision screening: read the 20/40 line with both eyes to pass.
- Vision and knowledge tests must be passed before you can schedule a road test.
- Failed the knowledge test? Wait 10 calendar days before retesting.
- Road test runs about 15-20 minutes.
- Failed road test: wait 10 days. Missed or late-cancelled road test: wait 30 days.
- NH issues no separate learner's permit — learning drivers practice under supervision instead.
- Minimum age to start learning to drive: 15½. Supervising licensed adult must be 25 or older.
- Driver education is required for anyone under 18.
- License fees: Operator $50, REAL ID Operator $60, duplicate license or non-driver ID $10 each.
- Tests offered in 8 languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Portuguese, Farsi, and ASL.
Sign shapes at a glance
- Octagon, red — Stop.
- Downward triangle, red/white — Yield.
- Round, yellow — Railroad crossing.
- Diamond, yellow — General warning.
- Rectangle, white — Regulatory rule (speed, turns, parking).
- Green — Guide/directional.
- Orange — Construction zone.
- Blue — Services.
- Pentagon — School zone.
Right-of-way in one breath
First to arrive at a stop goes first; if tied, yield right. Left turns yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Yield to traffic already circulating in a roundabout. Pedestrians in a crosswalk always have the right-of-way once they step off the curb. Pull right and stop for emergency vehicles running lights and sirens.
Top traps
- Treating the speed limit as a target instead of a ceiling — slow down further for rain, ice, fog, or curves.
- Assuming high beams help in fog — they reflect back and hurt visibility; use low beams.
- Forgetting the retest wait: 10 days after a failed knowledge or road test, 30 days after a missed road test appointment.
- Confusing "buzzed" with "fine to drive" — any impairment, even mild, counts as impaired driving.
- Not knowing that NH has no learner's permit document, only supervised-driving conditions.
- Assuming the exam has a fixed length or question order — it's randomized, so recognition of concepts beats memorized sequences.
Frequently asked questions
What should I memorize the night before the New Hampshire knowledge test?
Focus on sign shapes and colors, right-of-way rules, and the passing score of 80%. Since New Hampshire randomizes every exam, memorizing question order won't help — recognizing concepts will.
How long is the real New Hampshire knowledge test?
The NH DMV does not publish a fixed question count or time limit for the knowledge test itself; it's a computer-based touch screen exam taken at your own pace. The road test that follows typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
What score do I need to pass?
You need a score of 80% or higher on the knowledge exam. Fall short and you'll wait 10 calendar days before you can retest.
Is this cheat sheet free and can I print it?
Yes — this cheat sheet is free to read and print as many times as you like, so you can review the numbers and rules right up until test day.
Do I need a learner's permit before I can practice driving in New Hampshire?
No — New Hampshire doesn't issue a separate learner's permit. Instead, drivers as young as 15½ may practice under supervision, accompanied by a licensed adult who is 25 or older.
What happens if I fail the vision or road test?
You must pass the vision screening (reading the 20/40 line with both eyes) and the knowledge test before scheduling a road test. If you fail the road test, you wait 10 days to retest; if you miss or late-cancel the appointment, the wait is 30 days.
Sources
- 1.Driver Licensing Testing Requirements | NH Division of Motor Vehicles — New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV), a Division of the NH Department of Safety (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 2.Licensing Fees | NH Division of Motor Vehicles — New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV), a Division of the NH Department of Safety (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 3.Learning to Drive | NH Division of Motor Vehicles — New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV), a Division of the NH Department of Safety (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
Official sources
Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.
- Driver Licensing Testing Requirements | NH Division of Motor VehiclesNew Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV), a Division of the NH Department of Safetydmv.nh.gov
- Learning to Drive | NH Division of Motor VehiclesNew Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV), a Division of the NH Department of Safetydmv.nh.gov
- Licensing Fees | NH Division of Motor VehiclesNew Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV), a Division of the NH Department of Safetydmv.nh.gov
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