You need to make sure you have the required documentation and payment to successfully complete a New Hampshire vehicle title transfer. Here’s what you need to initiate an NH vehicle title transfer:
- The buyer and seller of the vehicle are required to sign the vehicle title
- Complete the required New Hampshire vehicle title forms
- A VIN verification may be required
- Pay the NH vehicle title transfer fee of $25
- Take the required documents to your local NH DMV
Be advised you may be required to submit additional documents and payments at the time of the vehicle title transfer.
Smog Certification/Vehicle Inspection
In New Hampshire, vehicles in this state are required to endure emissions tests and vehicle safety inspections in order to renew a vehicle registration or for first-time vehicle registrations in the state. NH inspection stickers will indicate the vehicle’s testing expiration date. Vehicle owners in New Hampshire are required to have their vehicle pass its emissions test 10 days before the end of the vehicle owner’s birth month.
New Hampshire Emissions and Smog Check Requirements
If your motorhome, RV, truck, or car falls into one of the following categories, it is required to pass a vehicle emissions test in the state of New Hampshire:
- A vehicle that is a 1996 model or later
- Gasoline vehicles
- Diesel vehicles that weigh less than 8,500 pounds that is a 1997 model year or later
Emissions tests are valid for 12 months in New Hampshire. Vehicle owners in this state are required to get their vehicle to pass a smog check when renewing their vehicle registration or obtaining an original, initial vehicle registration.
Be aware that all new residents to the state of New Hampshire and all new vehicles that have an expired inspection sticker are required to have a vehicle safety inspection performed.
Smog Check Exemptions in New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire only exempts electric vehicles from smog checks.
How to Transfer Your Vehicle Title in New Hampshire?
Whether you are a new resident of New Hampshire or buying or selling a vehicle in this state, you are required to transfer the vehicle’s title.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title As a New Resident of New Hampshire
After you establish residency in New Hampshire, you have 60 days to transfer your vehicle’s registration and the title for your out-of-state vehicle.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Purchased From a Private Seller
When you purchase a vehicle from a private seller in NH, you need the following to successfully complete a vehicle title transfer:
- A completed vehicle title (unless the vehicle is exempt). If the vehicle is exempt from obtaining a vehicle title, you are required to submit a bill of sale and an NH registration certificate or a valid vehicle title certificate.
- A completed Verification of Vehicle Identification (Form TDMV 19A) if required
- Payment for the NH vehicle title transfer fee of $25
In order to complete the vehicle title transfer process in this scenario, take the above-listed documents and payment to your local NH town or city clerk’s office. Make sure the vehicle’s seller has signed the vehicle title.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Purchased From a Dealership
If you purchased your vehicle from a New Hampshire dealership, the dealer assumes responsibility for completing the vehicle title application and submitting it to the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to successfully complete the title transfer of the vehicle.
The dealer will also pay the vehicle title transfer fee to the NH DMV on your behalf. The dealer will provide you with a copy of the vehicle title application that you will submit to your local New Hampshire town or city clerk’s office to register your vehicle.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle You’re Selling
When you’re transferring the title of a vehicle you’re selling in New Hampshire, you need to provide the vehicle’s buyer with specific documentation. To successfully complete a vehicle title transfer of a vehicle you’re selling, you need to provide the vehicle’s buyer with the following documentation:
- The vehicle title certificate is signed over to the buyer (make sure you sign the vehicle title and include the current odometer reading)
- If the vehicle is exempt from having a title, you are required to provide the following:
- A bill of sale and a completed verification of vehicle identification (Form TDMV 19A) or a bill of sale and a copy of the previous vehicle registration certificate or title.
Keep in mind, it is the buyer’s responsibility to complete the vehicle title transfer with the NH DMV and pay all applicable vehicle title transfer fees.
How to Transfer a Car Title When the Owner is Deceased?
If you are the beneficiary of an estate, and you want to keep the vehicle, gift it to a family member, or sell the vehicle to someone else, you need to transfer the vehicle’s title.
You can be a joint-owner, surviving spouse, or a beneficiary, and maintain the legal obligation to transfer the vehicle’s title to someone else once the vehicle owner passes away.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle in a Probated Estate
When a vehicle’s owner passes away, the process for transferring a vehicle title of a deceased person varies depending on whether the vehicle’s title was in the individual’s name as a descendant or joint ownership. If the vehicle’s title was solely in the descendant’s name, you need to know if the estate is being probated.
The probate process occurs when there is no living spouse or beneficiary listed on the will. This legal process proves the last will and testament are legitimate, and it involves administering the estate of the deceased individual. The Probate Court determines how you should proceed with the individual’s belongings, and during this process, the deceased individual’s property is distributed according to their will.
If a vehicle is part of a probated estate, you need to follow these steps to transfer the vehicle title of a deceased individual:
Contact Probate Court and an Attorney
The executor or administrator of the deceased needs to contact an attorney or Probate Court to determine their next steps in the probate process as soon as possible because a vehicle’s title can’t be transferred until the probate is completed. When the probate is complete, the heir will receive the vehicle unless the executor was given the vehicle. If the executor was given the vehicle, they can choose to sell it.
Gather the Necessary Documentation
The necessary documentation varies by state, but in New Hampshire, you are required to have the following documents to successfully transfer a vehicle’s title:
- The death certificate
- Certificate of the vehicle title
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Order from Probate Court to transfer the vehicle’s title
- Transfer fee
Visit the Title Office
As the beneficiary of the vehicle or the administrator of the deceased individual’s estate, you can visit your local NH title office with the above-mentioned documents to begin the vehicle title transfer process.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Without Probate
In the state of New Hampshire, the deceased person’s property can’t exceed a certain amount and a specific amount of time needs to have passed since the person passed away before the vehicle title transfer process can be initiated.
If you are the beneficiary, joint-owner, spouse, or administrator of the estate, you may only be required to submit the death certificate and the vehicle’s title to your local NH title office for them to retitle the vehicle title. No court orders or attorneys are required in this instance.
Transferring the Title of an Inherited Vehicle
In New Hampshire, you are required to provide proof of a relationship if the vehicle title transfer is within the family to be exempt from paying sales tax. In order to transfer the title of an inherited vehicle, you are required to provide:
- Proof of inheritance (ex. A copy of the will)
- A signed vehicle title certificate (the executor of the estate is required to sign)
- The death certificate to prove the death of the previous owner
Make sure you have these documents to ensure there are no delays with the vehicle title transfer in this scenario.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title After a Lease Buyout
Congratulations! You paid off your vehicle loan. Once you pay off your vehicle and would like the vehicle title in your name, you need to provide:
- A completed Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (Form TDMV 18)
- A completed Release of Lien or Other Encumbrances (Form TDMV 20A)
- Check or money order to pay the NH duplicate vehicle title fee of $25
You can take the above documentation and payment in-person to your local New Hampshire DMV office or mail it to the following address:
Department of Safety
Bureau of Title
23 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305
Before heading to your local NH DMV branch, call ahead of time to make sure they process duplicate vehicle title applications.
How to Transfer Ownership of a Vehicle Without a Title in New Hampshire?
If your vehicle was manufactured before 1999, a vehicle title isn’t required when it is sold or registered in the state of New Hampshire. However, you will need to provide a bill of sale that includes information regarding the vehicle, such as its vehicle identification number (VIN), the year, model, and make, the size of the vehicle’s engine, number of doors, and passenger capacity. It’s a good idea to bring the vehicle’s previous registration with you to your local NH DMV office.
If you are considering purchasing a vehicle without a title that was manufactured in 2000 or later, ask the vehicle’s seller to provide a duplicate vehicle title before purchasing the vehicle.
Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member?
Yes, you are able to gift a vehicle to a family member with the proper documentation. If you received a vehicle as a gift, or the vehicle is being transferred from a relative, you are required to complete a vehicle title transfer at your local NH DMV office. The process for transferring the vehicle title of a gifted vehicle is similar to the steps you need to take when you are buying or selling a vehicle in New Hampshire.
In the “price” section of the vehicle’s title, write “0”. The individual receiving the vehicle may be exempt from paying the vehicle sales tax. Just as you would with a private vehicle sale, you must fill out the transfer of ownership sections on the back of the original vehicle title.
Even if the vehicle is being gifted to a relative, they may owe a tax on the current market value of the vehicle when they are registering the vehicle. Make sure you take the signed original vehicle title to the city clerk to have the application for a new vehicle title completed.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When You Have an Out-of-State Title
When you are transferring the title of an out-of-state vehicle in New Hampshire, you are required to meet a variety of requirements. The following out-of-state vehicle title transfer paperwork is required to correctly transfer the title from one state to New Hampshire:
- The original out-of-state vehicle title
- A completed application for a certificate of ownership
- A completed New Hampshire vehicle registration application
- Proof of a valid NH vehicle insurance policy
- Proof of identification (ex. A valid driver’s license)
If a lien holder is in possession of your vehicle title, you need to fill out an application for the release of the title, which will be sent to the DMV. Keep in mind, you may be required to submit additional information.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title in New Hampshire
If you have lost, damaged, or destroyed your vehicle’s title, you will need to request a duplicate vehicle title. You can also request a duplicate vehicle title if the title has been stolen. In the state of New Hampshire, vehicle titles are processed by the Division of Motor Vehicles – Bureau of Title and Anti-Theft.
If you are interested in selling your vehicle, you must have the vehicle’s title. If you have a lien on your vehicle title, the vehicle’s title is mailed to the lien holder.
You can apply for a duplicate New Hampshire vehicle title by mail or in-person at your local NH DMV office. To receive a duplicate vehicle title, you must:
- Complete an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (Form TDMV 18) If the vehicle has joint ownership, all vehicle owners are required to sign the application for a duplicate title.
- Provide the driver’s license number of all vehicle owners
- Pay the NH vehicle title fee of $25 by check or money order
If you choose to mail your duplicate vehicle title documents, mail them to:
NH Department of Safety
DMV – Title Bureau
23 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305
Your duplicate vehicle title will be mailed to you within 10 business days.
Transferring a Vehicle Title With a Lien
If your vehicle title has a lien, you need to make sure you provide the above-stated documentation and payment in addition to a Release of Lien or Other Encumbrances (Form TDMV 20A).
How Much Does a Title Transfer Cost in New Hampshire?
In the state of New Hampshire, you can expect to pay a $10 vehicle title transfer fee plus local fees and a $31.20 vehicle registration fee. The total cost of the vehicle registration depends on the vehicle’s type and weight. New vehicle registrations are $15. There is a license plate fee of $8. The NH vehicle title fee is $25.
Where Can I Go to Transfer a Vehicle Title in New Hampshire?
There are different DMV locations in New Hampshire where you can transfer a vehicle’s title.
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (Manchester Office)
377 S Willow St
Manchester, NH 03103
Monday-Friday (8 AM to 4:30 PM)
Saturday and Sunday (Closed)
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (Epping Branch)
315 Calef Hwy
Epping, NH 03042
(603) 227-4000
Contact this location for hours of operation
How to Fill Out the New Hampshire Title and Title Transfer Forms
In order to ensure you complete the New Hampshire vehicle title and title transfer forms, you need to make sure you have the required signatures of the vehicle’s seller and buyer in the designated areas on the vehicle title. You also need to create a bill of sale that provides information about the vehicle, such as its make, year, model, and color. Don’t forget to include the vehicle’s VIN.
If you sold a vehicle instead of gifting it, sales tax needs to be added to the vehicle’s total price. In the “transfer of title by seller” section of the vehicle title, provide an accurate odometer reading, and make sure the recipient of the vehicle signs the vehicle’s title in the provided spaces.
Be advised that you may be required to provide additional documentation, including a valid New Hampshire vehicle insurance policy that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum coverage limits. You may also be required to provide a valid government-issued photo ID or a foreign passport for proof of identification.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred. What Do I Do?
When a vehicle’s title is signed but not transferred, the vehicle has an open title. Also, with an open vehicle title, the vehicle’s seller didn’t transfer ownership of or register the vehicle in their name.
Since the vehicle seller’s name is not on the vehicle title, they do not assume any legal responsibility for anything associated with the vehicle, such as taxes and other fees.
If the vehicle’s seller has lost the title, they can apply for a duplicate NH vehicle title (Form TDMV 18) and sign it over to you for you to put in your name. Keep in mind, the person who is listed on the vehicle’s title is responsible for requesting a duplicate vehicle title.