The NH licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.nh.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 30 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the NH agency runs the licence case
- Administrative Licence Suspension is imposed under RSA 265-A:30 for a refusal or a test result of 0.08 or more.
- A written request stating the grounds triggers an administrative review or hearing under RSA 265-A:31.
- Appeals from Bureau of Hearings decisions go to Superior Court within 30 days under RSA 263:76.
- Restoration fees are paid through the DMV's restoration fee process.
- Revocation on conviction, and the right of appeal, are covered by RSA 265-A:26.
New Hampshire licence facts
New Hampshire DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the New Hampshire code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (New Hampshire)
- Controlling statute
- N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265-A:2
- Implied consent
- N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265-A:4
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 30 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 10 years
- First-offense fine
- $500–$1,000
- Licence suspension
- 9 months
- Ignition interlock
- Not automatic on a first offense
- Trial court
- the Circuit Court, District Division
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense carries a fine and a suspension usually measured in months, not weeks.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an ignition interlock device if the court or agency orders one.
- New Hampshire requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on dmv.nh.gov before you travel to an office.
New Hampshire ZIP codes covered
These New Hampshire ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these New Hampshire resources
Counties
Other New Hampshire official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to challenge a New Hampshire licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 30 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the NH licensing agency at dmv.nh.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in New Hampshire?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 9 months suspension in New Hampshire. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.