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The bottom line: Selling a car privately in New Hampshire is straightforward, but there’s one detail that trips people up: vehicles from 1999 and older don’t need a title. For those cars, you use a bill of sale and your old registration instead.
You sign the title (or bill of sale), remove your plates, and hand over the keys. The buyer handles registration, taxes, and inspection on their end. New Hampshire has no formal release of liability form for titled vehicles, but title-exempt (1999 and older) cars do require a quick filing with your town clerk right away.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: New Hampshire does not require it. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $35 and requires submitting Form TDMV 18 to your local DMV. Allow 5 to 10 business days for delivery.
- Title-exempt vehicles: Cars with a model year of 1999 or older don’t use a title in New Hampshire. You’ll need a completed bill of sale plus your current or expired NH registration instead.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove both plates before the buyer drives away and transfer them to another vehicle or return them to your town clerk.
- Release of liability: No form exists for titled vehicles. For title-exempt (1999 and older) cars, you must file Form TDMV 22A with your town or city clerk immediately after the sale.
- Bill of sale: Required for all title-exempt vehicles (1999 and older) and boats. For titled vehicles (2000 and newer), it’s strongly recommended but not legally required.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 60 days to register the car at their town or city clerk’s office, and must get it inspected within 10 days of registration.
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Step-by-Step Process for New Hampshire
Step 1: Prepare Your New Hampshire Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens (vehicles 2000 and newer only)
- Valid New Hampshire driver’s license – Name must match the title exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
- Bill of sale – Required if selling a 1999 or older vehicle; strongly recommended for all sales
- Current or expired NH registration – Required as a substitute document for 1999 and older vehicles instead of a title
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form TDMV 18 and submit it to your local DMV office, or mail it to NH Dept. of Safety DMV – Title, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord NH 03305.
Bring your ID and $35. Your new title arrives within 5 to 10 business days.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender holds the lien and needs to release it before you can transfer the title. Contact them to get Form TDMV 20A (Release of Lien) signed, or arrange for the lien payoff to happen at closing. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
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Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in New Hampshire, especially in Manchester, Nashua, and Concord where buyer activity is highest.
Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring Massachusetts and Vermont.
New Hampshire has no state sales tax, which means buyers from Massachusetts sometimes cross the border to buy used cars here.
Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
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Step 7: Complete the New Hampshire Title Transfer
New Hampshire titles have an assignment section on the back. That’s where you fill in everything. Use blue or black ink and write clearly.
Here’s what to fill in on the back of your title:
- Buyer’s full legal name and address
- Date of sale
- Sale price
- Current odometer reading (required for vehicles under 10 years old and under 16,000 lbs)
Both you and the buyer must sign the title. Don’t use white-out or cross anything out. If you make a mistake, you’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form TDMV 18 and pay $35.
For joint ownership where both names are connected by “AND,” both owners must sign. If names are connected by “OR,” only one signature is needed.
For title-exempt vehicles (1999 and older): There’s no title to sign. Instead, provide the buyer with a completed bill of sale plus either your current or expired New Hampshire registration or a valid out-of-state title.
The buyer has 60 days to register the vehicle with their town or city clerk. They must have the car inspected within 10 days of registration.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required for 1999 and Older / Recommended for All)
New Hampshire requires a bill of sale for all title-exempt vehicles with a model year of 1999 or older, and for all boats. For titled vehicles (2000 and newer), a bill of sale isn’t legally required but is strongly recommended for your own protection.
The bill of sale doesn’t need to be notarized. Use the official state form: Download the NH Bill of Sale form (TDMV 22W).
You can also use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Make sure the bill of sale includes the date of sale, buyer and seller names and addresses (no P.O. boxes), and vehicle details.
Include the sale price and keep a copy for your records.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle New Hampshire License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In New Hampshire, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer the plates to another vehicle you own through your town or city clerk, or return them to avoid future fees.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
New Hampshire has no formal release of liability form for titled vehicles (2000 and newer). Your signed title is your proof of sale. Keep a copy for your records.
If you’re selling a title-exempt vehicle (1999 or older), you must file Form TDMV 22A with your town or city clerk right away after the sale.
This creates the official record that you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
For all sales, hold on to your copy of the signed title or bill of sale. This protects you if the buyer delays registration or if any issues come up later.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
New Hampshire DMV Resources
State Resources:
Phone Support:
- (603) 227-4000
New Hampshire Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $35 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 60 days from the purchase date to register the vehicle at their town or city clerk’s office. After registration, they have 10 days to get the car inspected.
If they miss the 60-day deadline, they may face late fees. New Hampshire’s registration system starts at the town or city clerk level, not the DMV directly.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in New Hampshire?
No, New Hampshire doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign clearly in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
When is a bill of sale required in New Hampshire?
A bill of sale is legally required for any vehicle with a model year of 1999 or older (title-exempt) and for all boats. For regular titled vehicles (2000 and newer), it’s not required by law but is strongly recommended for your own protection.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. You can use the state’s generic form or our free bill of sale generator.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in New Hampshire?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first. In New Hampshire, the lienholder must complete Form TDMV 20A (Release of Lien or Other Encumbrances) before you can transfer a clean title to the buyer. Many sellers arrange for the payoff to happen at the time of sale.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional New Hampshire forms do I need?
If the estate went through probate, the executor can sign the title over to you or directly to the buyer. You’ll typically need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court, plus the original title.
For vehicles with small estate value that bypass probate, New Hampshire has an affidavit process. Contact your local DMV office or town clerk for the specific forms required in your situation.
Both my spouse and I are on the New Hampshire title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title is worded. If both names are joined by “AND,” both of you must sign. If joined by “OR,” only one signature is needed.
Check your title carefully before meeting the buyer. Having both parties available saves a trip back to the DMV if both signatures turn out to be needed.
What if I make a mistake on the New Hampshire title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. A corrected or altered title won’t be accepted.
Instead, apply for a duplicate title using Form TDMV 18 and pay the $35 fee. Your clean replacement title will arrive within 5 to 10 business days.
The buyer is from out of state. Does New Hampshire require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. Sign the title over, remove your plates, and hand over the keys. The out-of-state buyer still needs to register the vehicle in their home state, but that’s their responsibility, not yours.
Some states require a VIN inspection when a vehicle is brought in from out of state. That’s the buyer’s concern after the sale is done.
Do New Hampshire license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, New Hampshire license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer them to another vehicle you own through your town or city clerk, or return them to avoid being billed for a car you no longer own.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in New Hampshire?
For titled vehicles (2000 and newer), New Hampshire has no formal release of liability form. Your signed title is your protection. Keep a copy.
For title-exempt vehicles (1999 and older), you must file Form TDMV 22A with your town or city clerk right away after the sale. This is the official way to document that ownership has changed hands for older vehicles that don’t use a title system.
Article Update History
All fees, forms, and requirements in this article were verified against the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.