New Hampshire Motorcycle Endorsement Practice Test 2025

No. New Hampshire does not require motorcycle helmets for riders or passengers who are 18 years of age or older (RSA 265:122). The NH helmet law requires helmets only for riders and passengers under 18. This adult exemption makes New Hampshire one of a small number of states where adults have a legal choice about helmet use. The NH DMV motorcycle manual strongly recommends helmet use for all riders regardless of the legal exemption.

No. Lane splitting is explicitly ILLEGAL in New Hampshire under RSA 265:121, II, which prohibits operating a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. However, two motorcycles may share one lane side-by-side (maximum 2 abreast) — this is permitted and is different from lane splitting. Riders visiting from California or other states where lane splitting is legal should note that NH law is more restrictive.

Yes — and unusually, NH waives BOTH tests. Under RSA 263:32, completing an approved MSF Basic RiderCourse or equivalent rider education program waives both the written knowledge test AND the road skills test at the NH DMV. Most states only waive the skills test; NH waives both. If a rider fails the road skills test twice without the course, the MSF course then becomes mandatory. The permit restricts riders to daylight only, no passengers, and is valid 45 days with one 45-day renewal.

The Kancamagus Highway (NH-112) is one of New England's most scenic motorcycle roads, but it presents specific hazards. There are no gas stations, restaurants, rest areas with services, cell phone towers, or emergency call boxes anywhere along the 34.5-mile route — riders must enter with a full tank and be self-sufficient. The road has active moose and deer crossing zones, particularly at dawn and dusk. Fall foliage season (late September to mid-October) brings wet leaves and reduced traction in curves. The road may be closed in winter.

New Hampshire motorcycle endorsement (Class M) is added to an existing NH driver's license by passing the NH DMV motorcycle knowledge exam (25 questions, 20 correct, 80%) and a skills road test. Alternatively, completing an approved MSF Basic RiderCourse waives BOTH the written knowledge test AND the road skills test (RSA 263:32). If a rider fails the road test twice, the MSF course becomes mandatory. The motorcycle permit restricts riders to daylight hours only, no passengers, and is valid for 45 days with one 45-day renewal.

New Hampshire's OUI statute (RSA 265-A:2) applies equally to motorcycle operators. The BAC threshold is 0.08% for operators 21 and older and 0.02% for operators under 21. New Hampshire uses OUI (Operating Under the Influence) terminology — not DUI. New Hampshire's Implied Consent law (RSA 265-A:14) requires motorcycle operators who are lawfully arrested for OUI to submit to chemical testing — a first refusal triggers a 180-day administrative suspension; a prior conviction or refusal triggers a 2-year suspension.

RSA 265:1-c prohibits law enforcement officers from using the fact that a person rides a motorcycle as the sole basis for initiating a traffic enforcement stop. This motorcycle profiling ban is a distinctive New Hampshire law. An officer may still stop a motorcyclist for observable traffic violations or other legitimate reasons — the ban only applies when riding a motorcycle is the sole justification for the stop.

Franconia Notch is the only section of the U.S. Interstate Highway System where a standard interstate has been permanently reduced to 2 lanes. I-93 through Franconia Notch State Park operates as NH Route 18 in this section — motorcycles are permitted. For motorcycle riders, Franconia Notch's significance includes: the narrower lane profile compared to a standard interstate; scenic cut sections through the notch's rock walls where traction can be affected by moisture and debris; and the fact that the notch compresses tourist traffic onto a 2-lane road, requiring more conservative technique than standard multi-lane highway riding.

The New Hampshire motorcycle learner's permit restricts riders to daylight hours only (no nighttime riding), prohibits carrying passengers, and is valid for 45 days. One 45-day renewal is allowed, giving a maximum of 90 days on a permit before a full endorsement must be obtained or the permit lapses. Permit holders may ride on public roads but must observe all permit restrictions.