New Hampshire Road Test: Your 2025 Granite State Game Plan
Frost heaves, covered bridges, and DMV scoring tackled with steady confidence.
New Hampshire examiners want to see smooth control on frost-heaved streets, thoughtful observation in small towns, and poise on hilly back roads. Arrive with those routines baked in and the test feels like another practice drive.
Break your prep into four predictable parts: scout, drill the score sheet, prep the car, and keep your Driving Tests Prep streak green. That rhythm works whether you test in Concord, Nashua, or the North Country.
- Test Length
- 15–18 minutes including a hill start or backing task
- Passing Score
- Keep deductions under 10; critical errors fail
- App Support
- Winter drills, analytics, readiness reminders
Route Recon
1. Scout the Granite State loop ahead of time
Take a practice lap at test time so traffic, sun glare, and snowbanks match exam day. Look for:
- Frost-heaved two-lanes: ease speed over bumps to keep tire grip and control.
- Covered bridges or narrow spans: slow early, stay centered, and yield politely.
- Downtown rotaries: Salem and Portsmouth loops include tight roundabouts-choose the correct lane and signal exits.
- Hill start or parallel parking: expect a clutch-friendly incline or a tight curbside stall.
Practice at dusk too-moose and deer movement spikes when temperatures drop.
Score Sheet
2. Train the categories the DMV tracks
Keep your focus on the habits that keep the clipboard clean:
- Observation: mirrors every 5 seconds, shoulder checks before turns, and glances toward snowbanks hiding pedestrians.
- Speed management: downshift early on hills, coast gently into 30 mph zones, and respect school flashers.
- Vehicle control: smooth braking on wet pavement, careful steering through frost heaves, and steady backing.
- Courtesy: yield to crosswalks in village centers and communicate intentions clearly at four-way stops.
Launch the New Hampshire permit & road-test guide so your drills match the DMV scoring columns.
Vehicle Prep
3. Arrive with a four-season-ready vehicle
The examiner checks your car before the route. Handle these details the night prior:
- Verify headlights, brake lights, signals, horn, and wipers (front and rear) all work.
- Clear salt crust from windows, mirrors, and plates so visibility stays high.
- Pack proof of inspection, registration, and insurance-New Hampshire asks before you move.
Warm the cabin and defrosters early. Fidgeting with climate controls mid-route is an avoidable deduction.
Drive Script
4. Follow a calm, repeatable script
Before leaving the lot
- Adjust mirrors, buckle up, and verbalize that the parking brake is off.
- Preview the first hill start or rotary you scouted.
- Signal out of the space and pause long enough to show a deliberate check in every direction.
During the route
- Quietly cue yourself: “mirror, signal, shoulder” before lateral moves.
- Comment on hazards-“slowing for frost heave,” “yielding at crosswalk”-so the examiner hears your awareness.
- If sleet muffles directions, stay calm and ask for a repeat before acting.
Consistency
5. Keep your New Hampshire prep streak alive
Driving Tests Prep for New Hampshire offers:
- Permit quizzes tuned to the DMV manual, hands-free law, and right-on-red exceptions.
- Road-sign drills covering moose crossings, frost heave warnings, and rotary lane guidance.
- Analytics that flip green once you’re consistently testing at pass level.
Download the New Hampshire DMV practice app on the App Store, pair it with two short in-car sessions a week, and keep the readiness gauge green through test day.
Ready for Granite State roads?
Stick with the plan-scout, practice, log. By the last stop sign the examiner will know you already belong on New Hampshire roads.
Keep going
Next steps for New Hampshire learners
Jump straight into the practice guide and keep your streak alive in the mobile app.