Straight answers to the most common questions about passing the DMV motorcycle knowledge exam.
New Hampshire's knowledge exams require a score of 80% to pass. The motorcycle knowledge test is widely reported as 25 multiple-choice questions, so you need about 20 correct. The questions are based on the New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual; confirm the current format with your NH DMV office.
You need at least 80%. On the commonly reported 25-question test that is 20 correct answers. Every question is drawn from the New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual.
The questions come from the New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual — safe riding practices and the rules of the road. It covers protective gear, controls, lane positioning, the SEE strategy, turning, braking, hazards, crash avoidance, and alcohol and drugs.
Yes. To earn your endorsement you must pass a knowledge test and an on-cycle skill test. The NH DMV gives the standardized Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Skill Test — four exercises (a cone weave with a normal stop, a turn from a stop with a U-turn, a quick stop, and an obstacle swerve). You may lose up to 10 points and still pass.
An endorsement. New Hampshire adds a motorcycle endorsement to your regular driver license rather than issuing a separate motorcycle license.
The minimum age is 16. Any applicant under 18 must successfully complete a motorcycle Basic Rider Class and provide a parental permission form before applying for a motorcycle permit or endorsement.
Yes. Successfully completing the New Hampshire DMV's Basic Rider Course lets you obtain your motorcycle endorsement without taking the DMV on-cycle skills test. The course covers the riding skills the skills test would otherwise check.
The motorcycle learner permit is valid for 45 days from the date it is issued or renewed, or until you obtain your motorcycle endorsement — whichever comes first.
A New Hampshire resident who is 18 or older, or who is 16 or 17, has completed an approved driver education course, and holds a valid New Hampshire driver license. A knowledge test is required for an original permit.
The motorcycle endorsement fee is $30, and a motorcycle learner permit also costs $30. If you pay for the permit within a year before applying for the endorsement, the $30 endorsement fee is waived. You can pay by cash, check, or credit card.
Only for young riders. New Hampshire law (RSA 265:122) requires protective headgear only for operators and passengers under 18. Riders 18 and older are not legally required to wear a helmet, though the manual strongly recommends a DOT-compliant helmet for everyone.
Yes, unless your motorcycle has a windshield or screen that protects your eyes and face when you sit upright. Under RSA 265:123, a rider without such a windscreen must wear eyeglasses, goggles, or a protective face shield while the motorcycle is in motion.
New Hampshire does not authorize lane splitting. The manual states that cars and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely and that lane sharing is usually prohibited.
Only on a motorcycle equipped to carry one. Under RSA 265:120 a passenger must ride on a permanent seat designed for two, or on a seat firmly attached at the rear or side, or in a sidecar — sitting astride and facing forward. The motorcycle should also have passenger footrests, and the passenger may not interfere with your control or view.
For an adult rider, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher is legally intoxicated. For riders under 21, the limit is 0.02% (RSA 265-A:2). New Hampshire is an implied-consent state, so operating a vehicle means you consent to chemical testing.
Yes. New Hampshire requires motorcycles to pass an annual state safety inspection. The inspection checks items such as the headlight on high and low beam, taillight, brake light, and turn signals.
Study the State of New Hampshire Motorcycle Operator Manual published by the NH Division of Motor Vehicles. It is the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual (17th Edition), and the knowledge-test questions are based directly on it.
The NH DMV Motorcycle Rider Training Program runs a Basic Rider Course for new riders, an Intermediate Rider Course, and an Experienced Rider Course. Courses are held at locations around the state from April through October and fill quickly; register at DMV.NH.GOV or by calling 603-227-4025.
Source: Some test details are confirmed by the state agency; the rest reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources. The NH DMV states all knowledge exams require 80%; the 25-question count is third-party consensus. The supplied manual is the generic MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual (17th Edition) with NH covers, so riding content is from the manual and NH-specific legal facts (helmet/eye law, under-21 BAC, endorsement/permit, fees) are from NH RSA 265:120-123 / 265-A:2 and the NH DMV.