New Hampshire DMV Practice 5

4.9 out of 5 (122 votes)
80% Passing score
20 Questions
4 Mistakes allowed
New Hampshire’s permit test rewards people who actually read the rules, which sounds obvious, yes, but it is also where a lot of applicants quietly get themselves into trouble. This NH DMV practice test is built for real preparation, not guesswork dressed up as a “DMV test cheat sheet.” Those shortcuts can look tempting, especially when you just want the license process over with, but they rarely give you the fuller understanding you need for the real DMV permit test — and in a few cases, they can point you toward information that is incomplete, outdated, or just plain risky. This DMV practice test focuses on one of the heavier areas of driver knowledge: blood alcohol content, DUI laws, and alcohol impairment. In New Hampshire, drivers age 21 and older are subject to a legal BAC limit of 0.08%, while commercial drivers and drivers under 21 face stricter standards. That detail matters. So do the penalties, which may include fines, license suspension, and, for repeat offenses, possible jail time. It is not exactly the breeziest part of DMV written test practice, but it is the part that separates memorizing answers from understanding what the state expects from someone holding an Operator License. For adults, the first-time licensing process is more direct than the teen process, though “direct” should not be confused with “show up empty-handed and hope for the best.” If you are 18 or older, you may apply for a New Hampshire Operator License by making a Driver License Knowledge Test appointment, completing the DSMV 450 application, providing proof of identity and residency, paying the required license fee, and passing both the vision and knowledge tests. Once the knowledge test is passed, the road skills test can be scheduled. Adults are not required to complete teen driver education, log 40 supervised driving hours, finish 10 nighttime practice hours, or bring parent or guardian authorization forms. Small mercy, but still worth knowing before you start gathering documents. The questions in this free NH DMV practice permit test are based on the official New Hampshire driver’s manual, which is also the foundation for the real DMV knowledge test. That is the useful part. You are studying from the same rulebook the state uses, with practice that keeps the material focused, legitimate, and accessible without hidden fees or subscription nonsense.
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Sample New Hampshire Permit Test Questions

Question 1

Why should you regularly check traffic behind your vehicle?

You should check traffic behind you:
  1. A It is necessary only on high-speed roads
  2. B It helps you notice vehicles following too closely
  3. C It is necessary only before slowing
  4. D It is necessary only when no passengers are present

Correct answer: B – It helps you notice vehicles following too closely

Drivers need to know what is happening ahead, beside, and behind their vehicles. Continually checking the mirrors helps reveal approaching traffic and vehicles following too closely. Mirror checks are especially important before slowing, stopping, turning, or changing lanes.

Source: New Hampshire Driver’s Manual — §8, “Visual Search”

Question 2

What must you verify before moving into another lane?

Before changing lanes in traffic, you need to:
  1. A That the inside rearview mirror shows no vehicle
  2. B That an arm signal has been given
  3. C That mirrors and a head check show the lane is clear
  4. D That your turn signal has given you the right-of-way

Correct answer: C – That mirrors and a head check show the lane is clear

Before changing lanes, check the mirrors and use a head check to examine blind spots that mirrors may not show. Signal, identify a safe gap, and look again before moving. New Hampshire law requires any movement right or left on a roadway to be made only when it can be completed with reasonable safety.

Source: RSA 265:45, I, IV – Turning Movements and Required Signals, New Hampshire Driver’s Manual — §5, “Changing Lanes”

Question 3

A yellow diamond-shaped sign marked “DIP” warns of:

This sign means:
  1. A A low area in the roadway ahead
  2. B A shoulder that cannot support vehicles
  3. C A pedestrian crossing
  4. D A required stop

Correct answer: A – A low area in the roadway ahead

A DIP sign warns that the roadway drops to a low area before rising again. It is a warning sign rather than a regulatory sign, so it does not require a complete stop. Watch the roadway ahead and select a speed appropriate for the condition.

Source: New Hampshire Driver’s Manual — §6, “Warning Signs”

Question 4

The posted limit is 55 mph, but the pavement is wet. How should you choose your speed?

  1. A Always drive exactly 20 to 25 mph below the limit
  2. B Reduce speed to one that is safe for the wet conditions
  3. C Continue at 55 mph because that speed is posted

Correct answer: B – Reduce speed to one that is safe for the wet conditions

New Hampshire’s posted speed limits apply under ideal conditions. Wet pavement reduces tire grip, increases stopping distance, and makes turning without skidding more difficult. Reduce speed according to the amount of water, visibility, traffic, and available traction rather than relying on a fixed number of miles per hour.

Source: New Hampshire Driver’s Manual — §5, “Adjusting to Roadway Conditions”

Question 5

A yellow warning sign showing another lane joining yours from the right means:

This sign means:
  1. A Two-way traffic begins ahead
  2. B Your lane ends and you must move right
  3. C Traffic may merge into your lane ahead
  4. D A divided highway begins

Correct answer: C – Traffic may merge into your lane ahead

The merging-traffic sign warns that vehicles may enter the roadway ahead. Stay attentive to the traffic entering and traveling around you. Under New Hampshire law, a driver using an entrance ramp must yield to vehicles already on the highway, even when no yield sign is posted on the ramp.

Source: RSA 265:30, III – Vehicle Entering Stop or Yield Intersection or Highway, New Hampshire Driver’s Manual — §6, “Examples of Warning Signs”

Question 6

Following another vehicle too closely:

  1. A Is permitted whenever traffic is moving slowly
  2. B Leaves insufficient time and space to react safely
  3. C Prevents other vehicles from entering your lane
  4. D Improves traffic flow during congestion

Correct answer: B – Leaves insufficient time and space to react safely

Tailgating limits your view and reduces the time available to avoid a collision. New Hampshire prohibits following more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering vehicle speed, traffic, and roadway conditions; a violation carries a $100 fine. The driver’s manual recommends maintaining at least a four-second following interval under normal conditions.

Source: RSA 265:25, I, IV – Following Too Closely, New Hampshire Driver’s Manual — §8, “Providing an Adequate Following Distance”

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