New Hampshire Passenger Test
Loaded with ski country school bus routes, I-93 commuter traffic, and the black ice you'll face on Rt 16 in the White Mountains.
Select Test Mode
20 questions, 80% to pass, 25 minutes. This Passenger test covers NH school bus and passenger vehicle rules — no fluff.
Key Topics
- •Pre-trip inspection & emergency exits
- •Loading/unloading & winter driving
- •Passenger safety & railroad crossings
About the New Hampshire Passenger Test
Topics Covered
- ✓Pre-trip inspection for passenger vehicles — NH examiners check your inspection routine hard because a missed brake line on a school bus on I-93 can be fatal.
- ✓Loading and unloading passengers safely — especially important on NH's narrow shoulders and high-crown roads where a kid stepping off can fall into a ditch.
- ✓Emergency evacuation procedures — you need to know the steps by heart for a bus full of tourists on Rt 16 if the engine catches fire.
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
NH examiners love scenario questions. They won't just ask 'what's the proper following distance?' They'll say 'you're driving a school bus on Rt 101 in a snow squall, how much space do you leave?' So while you study, think about actual New Hampshire conditions. Picture the road, the weather, the passengers.
Focus on the pre-trip inspection section of the manual. In NH, examiners often ask you to list every step of inspecting the emergency exits and the wheelchair lift if you're getting a school bus endorsement. They want you to say 'check the warning lights, check the stop arm, check the mirrors' in order. Repeat that sequence until it's automatic.
Winter driving questions are more common here than in southern states. Know the minimum tire tread depth for passenger vehicles (4/32 inch on steering axle, 2/32 on others) and when you're required to use chains. NH doesn't require chains on all roads, but if you're driving a school bus on unplowed back roads, you better know how to put them on.
The New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles handles all CDL testing at its three main locations: Concord (headquarters), Manchester, and Berlin. Some smaller DMV offices offer CDL testing by appointment only — call ahead. You'll need to bring your current CDL permit, a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate, and proof of residency. The Passenger endorsement test costs $10 on top of the standard CDL fees.
NH has a separate School Bus endorsement (S) that requires the Passenger test plus a background check and a driving skills test in a school bus. Many school districts in the state are desperate for drivers, especially in the North Country and Lakes Region. If you're planning to drive a school bus, take the Passenger test seriously — you'll need every point.
One quirk: New Hampshire allows you to take the Passenger endorsement test before you pass the skills test, but you can't get the endorsement on your license until you complete the road test. Also, if you're only getting the Passenger endorsement for a bus that carries 16 or more, you don't need the Air Brakes endorsement unless the bus has air brakes — most NH school buses are hydraulic, but check your vehicle.
About the New Hampshire Passenger Test
The Passenger endorsement is required for any CDL holder in New Hampshire who drives a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people — including school buses, tour buses, and municipal transit. You'll take this test after General Knowledge, and the NH DMW expects you to know more than just the federal rules. They want you to understand how those rules apply on our roads.
New Hampshire's terrain and weather make passenger transport different than in flat states. You're not just dealing with passengers — you're dealing with steep grades on I-93 through Franconia Notch, narrow roads in the Lakes Region, and sudden ice patches on Rt 16 near the Mount Washington Valley. The test covers safe loading, emergency exits, and how your bus handles when a family of moose decides to cross the road at dusk.
The NH DMV follows FMCSA standards for the Passenger test — 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need 16 correct to pass. But the examiners in Concord, Manchester, and Berlin all add their own emphasis on winter driving and evacuation procedures. You'll see questions about proper tire chains and how to handle a school bus full of kids when the heater fails in January.
Don't expect extra time. You get 25 minutes, same as every other endorsement. Our practice test simulates that clock so you're not surprised. Study the NH CDL manual, but pay extra attention to the passenger transport chapter — that's where the tough questions come from.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
NH examiners love scenario questions. They won't just ask 'what's the proper following distance?' They'll say 'you're driving a school bus on Rt 101 in a snow squall, how much space do you leave?' So while you study, think about actual New Hampshire conditions. Picture the road, the weather, the passengers.
Focus on the pre-trip inspection section of the manual. In NH, examiners often ask you to list every step of inspecting the emergency exits and the wheelchair lift if you're getting a school bus endorsement. They want you to say 'check the warning lights, check the stop arm, check the mirrors' in order. Repeat that sequence until it's automatic.
Winter driving questions are more common here than in southern states. Know the minimum tire tread depth for passenger vehicles (4/32 inch on steering axle, 2/32 on others) and when you're required to use chains. NH doesn't require chains on all roads, but if you're driving a school bus on unplowed back roads, you better know how to put them on.
New Hampshire Specific Information
The New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles handles all CDL testing at its three main locations: Concord (headquarters), Manchester, and Berlin. Some smaller DMV offices offer CDL testing by appointment only — call ahead. You'll need to bring your current CDL permit, a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate, and proof of residency. The Passenger endorsement test costs $10 on top of the standard CDL fees.
NH has a separate School Bus endorsement (S) that requires the Passenger test plus a background check and a driving skills test in a school bus. Many school districts in the state are desperate for drivers, especially in the North Country and Lakes Region. If you're planning to drive a school bus, take the Passenger test seriously — you'll need every point.
One quirk: New Hampshire allows you to take the Passenger endorsement test before you pass the skills test, but you can't get the endorsement on your license until you complete the road test. Also, if you're only getting the Passenger endorsement for a bus that carries 16 or more, you don't need the Air Brakes endorsement unless the bus has air brakes — most NH school buses are hydraulic, but check your vehicle.