The 8 Most Common Ways to Get a Suspended License in New Hampshire

Serious traffic violations could result in your New Hampshire driver’s license being suspended—and young drivers have to be especially careful!
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From accumulating too many points on your license to illegally transporting drugs or alcohol, there are several violations that could result in your New Hampshire driver’s license being suspended or revoked. Aside from being inconvenient, this could make it harder to find
cheap car insurance in New Hampshire
in the future.
Driving is considered a privilege, not a right, and everyone in possession of a New Hampshire driver’s license must be sure to follow all of the relevant laws laid out by the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 
Accessing, interpreting, and memorizing all of these laws can quickly get confusing. Fortunately, the nation’s number one car insurance app,
Jerry
, does more than provide great deals on
car insurance
—we’ve also compiled a list of common reasons for license suspension and revocation in New Hampshire.
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What’s the difference between a license suspension and revocation?

You may be using the words “suspension” and “revocation” interchangeably, but when it comes to your New Hampshire driver’s license, the terms actually refer to different things.
  • Having your license suspended means that you’ll temporarily lose driving privileges
  • Having your license revoked refers to a more serious, long-term loss of those privileges
If your license is revoked, you’ll have to reapply for a new driver’s license at the end of the revocation period and may even have to retake the relevant exam(s). In New Hampshire, anyone who has their license suspended for a total of three or more years will also have to retake the full driver’s license exam before getting back out on the road. 

What can your license be suspended for in New Hampshire? 

If you are licensed to drive in the Granite State, you’ll want to avoid committing the following offenses to protect and maintain your driving privileges. 

1. Accumulating too many points on your license 

In New Hampshire (and in many other U.S. states), drivers can receive
points on their license
after being found guilty of certain traffic violations, such as speeding or failure to yield. The number of points you receive will depend on the severity of your violation, but receiving too many points in a certain period could result in license suspension. 
When it comes to points, age matters. The younger you are, the fewer points you’ll need before risking suspension. This chart outlines what amount of points result in certain suspension lengths, according to age:
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2. Illegally transporting alcoholic beverages 

Per New Hampshire’s Open Container Law, all alcoholic beverages must be transported in their original container and must remain sealed. Violating this law even once could result in a 60-day suspension, with subsequent offenses resulting in a suspension that lasts an entire year.

3. Refusing to submit to a chemical test 

If you’re pulled over because a law enforcement officer suspects you’re driving under the influence and you refuse to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test, your license will be revoked for 180 days—assuming you have no prior offenses.
The revocation period will last even longer—up to 2 years—if you have previously refused to submit to a chemical test or have been convicted of a DWI.

4. Refusing to take a field sobriety test

Similarly, if you’re pulled over and refuse to participate in a field sobriety test (given the officer has reason to suspect that you’re under the influence), you could face a license suspension lasting up to 2 years. The exact length will depend on whether you have previous DWI convictions. 

5. Driving while intoxicated

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is incredibly dangerous and will result in a DWI if you get pulled over. Those convicted of a
DWI in New Hampshire
will have their license revoked for a period of 90 days to 2 years

6. Driving while under the influence of drugs

Like drunk driving, driving while high or while using controlled substances is a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road. If caught, your license will be revoked for at least 90 days and potentially as long as 2 years. 

7. Don’t drive recklessly 

Reckless driving refers to a serious disregard for the rules of the road, which has caused or could potentially cause an accident or other damages. Examples include excessive speeding, street racing, and road rage. There are serious consequences for
reckless driving in New Hampshire
.
Your first offense will result in your license being revoked for 60 days, while subsequent offenses could result in revocation lasting up to 1 year.

8. Transporting illegal drugs

Using your vehicle to transport illegal drugs—or to transport prescription drugs with the intent to illegally sell—is a serious offense punishable by up to two years of license revocation. Your exact consequences may depend on the drug and the amount being transported. 

How to save money on car insurance in New Hampshire

Even though New Hampshire has no mandatory
minimum car insurance law
, driving without car insurance is a big risk. And if your New Hampshire license was suspended or revoked, providing proof of insurance to the DMV may be a mandated condition of restoration. 
Unfortunately, a flawed driving history drives up the rates of car insurance policies. That’s where
Jerry
comes in. As a
licensed broker
, Jerry helps you secure affordable car insurance by quickly comparing more than 50 providers and providing you with customized quotes in under a minute. 
Whether you’re looking for basic liability insurance or more comprehensive coverage, Jerry will help you shop and sign up for an insurance policy in minutes!
“My past tickets were making it hard to find affordable insurance. With
Jerry
, I went from paying $450/month to $273/month. They took care of everything—such a relief!” —Josephine R.
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