Visiting the New Hampshire DMV: appointments, what to bring and what to expect

How New Hampshire splits DMV work between state offices and your town or city clerk, what you can do online or by drop box, how to book the appointment the DMV now requires, and which documents and payment to bring.

Guide · New Hampshire · Appointments · updated October 29, 2026

New Hampshire's driver licenses, non-driver ID cards and the state part of vehicle registration are handled by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a division of the New Hampshire Department of Safety. Vehicle registration also involves your town or city, which starts every registration. This guide covers what you can do without an office visit, how to book one, and what to bring.

Who does what

• State DMV offices handle driver licensing, non-driver IDs, testing, and state vehicle and boat registration work. The DMV's location list includes Concord, Dover, Gorham, Keene, Manchester, Milford, Nashua, Newport, Raymond, Salem, Tamworth and Twin Mountain. Colebrook and North Haverhill have limited availability and offer driver licensing appointments only.
• Your town or city clerk is where vehicle registration begins. You pay the town or city portion there first. Many towns and cities are also Municipal Agents of the state and, for an additional fee, can complete the state portion too, so you may not need a DMV office for a registration at all. The New Hampshire vehicle registration guide explains the two parts.

For offices near you, see the New Hampshire DMV office list on this site, and check the DMV's own hours page before you go.

Check whether you can skip the visit

The DMV lists four ways to complete a transaction: an appointment for things that must be done in person, online services, drop boxes, and mail. Its online services include:

• Renewing a driver license or non-driver ID, if your renewal notice says you are eligible
• Ordering a duplicate license or ID
• Requesting your own driving record
• An online document checker for REAL ID
• Registering for a motorcycle training class

Drop boxes are at the full-time DMV locations and are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. You leave paperwork in an envelope with your name and phone number. The DMV says drop box transactions are processed within 7 to 10 business days and, unless noted otherwise, documents are mailed to you. Examples include non-driver ID renewals, duplicate licenses, address changes, temporary plates and the state portion of a registration renewal. Do not leave cash or credit card details, and anything left after 4:15 p.m. counts as received the next business day.

Appointments

The DMV says it is now fully appointment based. You book online through the "Make an Appointment" scheduler on the DMV website, or call customer service at 603-227-4000 and a representative will help you. You get a confirmation email from noreply@dos.nh.gov, so check your junk or spam folder. The same scheduler has a "Find my appointment" option to verify, cancel or reschedule.

Some services are booked differently:

• Driver license knowledge test: book online.
• Driver license road test: call 603-227-4000. You can only schedule it after you pass the knowledge test.
• Motorcycle road test: call 603-227-4020.

The DMV says driver knowledge and road tests, CDL tests and motorcycle tests are by appointment only. In a video on its home page, the DMV's director says additional same-day appointments are released each day.

What to bring

For a REAL ID license or ID card, the DMV's checklist (form DSMV 634A) asks for:

1. One proof of identity, such as a certified birth certificate with a raised seal or stamp, a valid U.S. passport or passport card, or a valid permanent resident card.
2. One proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card or a pay stub, W-2 or 1099 showing the full number.
3. Two proofs of New Hampshire residency for the legal address on your application, such as a lease, a property tax bill for the current year, a utility bill or a valid New Hampshire vehicle registration. Some of these must be dated within the last 60 days.
4. Name change documents, such as marriage certificates or divorce decrees, if your documents do not all show your current name.

The DMV also has a separate required-documents list for licenses that are not REAL ID, which its license pages link to. Non-U.S. citizens have their own document list, and first-time applicants who are not U.S. citizens must apply at the Concord office. For the differences between card types, see the New Hampshire driver license and ID card guide and REAL ID explained.

Forms to fill in beforehand

• DSMV 450: Application for Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card.
• DSMV 637: Application for Duplicate Driver License or Non-Driver ID.
• DSMV 30: Record Change Request, for an address or name change.
• DSMV 312: Application for a Commercial Driver License.

All are on the DMV's forms page.

Paying

For license and ID transactions, the DMV accepts:

• Credit cards: MasterCard, VISA or Discover, plus American Express for phone and in-person transactions.
• Cash: at the counter only.
• Personal check, money order or traveler's check: made payable to "State of NH - DMV".

Online renewal needs a MasterCard, VISA, Discover or American Express card. Town and city registration fees are paid to your town or city, so ask your clerk how they take payment.

At the counter

Depending on the transaction, you may take a vision test, a knowledge test and a road test. For a first license under age 18, the DMV says you pay the license fee and have your picture taken before testing starts. After a new license, transfer or renewal, you get a 60-day temporary paper license or ID, and the permanent card is mailed to you within 60 days.

Accessibility

The DMV lists TDD access through Relay NH at 1-800-735-2964.