The DMV Driver Licensing Office is primarily responsible for the issuance of driver licenses to citizens of NH age 16 and older. Driver Licensing provides all tests necessary for a person to obtain a driver license (eye, written and road) at 18 substations conveniently located throughout NH.

REMEMBER: Always yield the right-of-way to blind persons.
They are usually led by a guide dog or carrying a white cane
(with a red bottom tip) which is used to guide them while walking.

The New Temporary Online Driver License

Beginning December 1, 2009, certain individuals holding a New Hampshire driver license will be able to renew their driver license online. The temporary license generated from this online renewal will be printed on plain paper. This temporary online renewal license will be valid when presented in conjunction with the prior official license issued by the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. In other words, the official old license must be kept with the printed online temporary license for it to be valid.

The temporary paper license, which is to be printed at the end of the renewal process, will look like this:

The New Driver License

As of May 30, 2008, the state of New Hampshire began using a new secure driver license and non-driver identification card to protect New Hampshire citizens from identity theft. All DMV customers – first time driver license applicants, out-of-state driver license applicants, renewals, replacements and ID card applicants – will be issued a temporary license or non-driver ID card while their permanent license or ID card is being processed and mailed.

The temporary driver license is very different in appearance from the previous license and ID card that the DMV issued in the past. The card is made of flexible polyester, tear-resistant security paper with a black and white digital image. All pertinent licensing data that was previously on the driver license is on the temporary. Driver licenses or ID cards issued to anyone under 21 years of age will have vertical orientation to make them readily identifiable.

Required Driver License Documentation

Use of Temporary License for Identification Purposes

The temporary driver license is valid for driving purposes as a stand-alone document. If you intend to use your temporary license for identification purposes, we recommend that you also carry a secondary form of identification (passport, birth certificate, military ID, etc.). For renewals, the old license will be returned to the license holder to be used as backup identification. When traveling, we recommend that you carry your passport if you have one.

The black and white temporary is valid for 60 days from date of issue. See below for an example of what the new driver licenses will look like.

NH Operator Permanent License

NH Operator Permanent License - Under 21

NH Temporary License

NH Temporary License - Under 21

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