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The bottom line: To sell a car in New Hampshire, you sign the title over to the buyer, remove your plates, and hand over the keys. The buyer handles registration and taxes on their end.
But not every car here needs a title. New Hampshire doesn’t title cars from model year 1999 or older, so those count as title exempt. If yours is exempt, you hand over a bill of sale and your old registration in place of one.
New Hampshire has no state-filed release of liability form, so keep a copy of the signed title or bill of sale as your record. Plates stay with you, not the car.
If you’ve lost the title, a replacement costs $35.00 and takes 5 to 10 calendar days once the DMV receives and verifies your application.
Ready to see what your car is worth? You can compare offers from multiple buyers before you start the paperwork.
At a glance
- Do you need a title: A title is Yes (for most cars; model year 1999 and older exempt). The model year is the deciding factor, not the car’s condition or value.
- Selling an exempt car: You provide Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle (Form TDMV 22A), provided with a Verification of Vehicle Identification (Form TDMV 19A) or a copy of the previous registration or title. The form is available from the NH DMV website and must contain the information required by RSA 261:148.
- Title notarization: Notarization is not required. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Lost title: A replacement uses Form TDMV 18, costs $35.00, and takes 5 to 10 calendar days once the DMV receives and verifies your application. There is no expedited option available.
- Still owe money: Before the title can transfer, the lienholder signs a Release of Lien or Other Encumbrances (Form TDMV 20A) or provides a release on bank letterhead.
- License plates: Plates stay with the seller. After the sale you can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own through your town or city clerk, or return them to your town or city clerk to avoid future fees.
- Release of liability: For protection, Not required.
- Odometer: There is no separate form, the reading goes in the assignment section on the back of the title, and under federal law a disclosure is required for vehicles model year 2011 or newer under 16,000 pounds.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 60 days from establishing or maintaining New Hampshire residency to register the vehicle, under RSA 261:45, registering at the buyer's town or city clerk's office, which prepares the title application and forwards it to the DMV.
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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 – A bill of sale is required for title-exempt vehicles model year 1999 or older and for all boats, recommended for titled vehicles model year 2000 and newer
- 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. To do it, complete an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (Form TDMV 18), include the $35.00 fee and a lien release on Form TDMV 20A if a lien was recorded, then drop it off at a DMV office or mail it to the Bureau of Title.
Bring your ID and the fee. Your new title arrives in 5 to 10 calendar days once the DMV receives and verifies your application.
If you can’t get a duplicate title: For an exempt car (model year 1999 or older) the DMV will not issue a duplicate, because that car was never titled, so you sell it with a bill of sale instead.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender holds the lien and needs to release it before you can transfer the title. In New Hampshire, the lienholder signs a Release of Lien or Other Encumbrances (Form TDMV 20A) or provides a release on bank letterhead. 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.
Learn more:
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.
Best for Newer Cars
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
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Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
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Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
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.
Learn more:
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
- Odometer disclosure, where no separate form, the reading goes in the assignment section on the back of the title, and under federal law a disclosure is required for vehicles model year 2011 or newer under 16,000 pounds
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 $35.00.
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: There’s no title to sign. Instead, provide the buyer with Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle (Form TDMV 22A), provided with a Verification of Vehicle Identification (Form TDMV 19A) or a copy of the previous registration or title.
After the sale, the buyer has 60 days from establishing or maintaining New Hampshire residency to register the vehicle, under RSA 261:45. They register at the buyer's town or city clerk's office, which prepares the title application and forwards it to the DMV.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale
A bill of sale is required for title-exempt vehicles model year 1999 or older and for all boats, recommended for titled vehicles model year 2000 and newer.
Notarization of the bill of sale is not required. Use the official state form: Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle (Form TDMV 22A).
You can also use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
The form is available from the NH DMV website and must contain the information required by RSA 261:148.
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
In New Hampshire, plates stay with the seller. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own through your town or city clerk, or return them to your town or city clerk to avoid future fees.
If you move your plates to another car, the plate transfer fee varies, set by your town or city clerk where the plate transfer is processed.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Keep Your Proof of Sale
None required. For an exempt vehicle, your protection comes from keeping a copy of the Report of Sale (Form TDMV 22A) you give the buyer for their registration.
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 Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
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) | $35.00 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sell a car without a title in New Hampshire?
Yes, if your car is title exempt. A title is Yes (for most cars; model year 1999 and older exempt).
For an exempt car, you skip the title and give the buyer Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle (Form TDMV 22A), provided with a Verification of Vehicle Identification (Form TDMV 19A) or a copy of the previous registration or title.
If your car is model year 2000 or newer, you do need the title, and you can replace a lost one with Form TDMV 18 for $35.00.
How long does the buyer have to register the car after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 60 days from establishing or maintaining New Hampshire residency to register the vehicle, under RSA 261:45.
If they miss the deadline, late fees may apply, and the buyer registers at their town or city clerk's office. 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?
Title notarization is not required. 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 required for title-exempt vehicles model year 1999 or older and for all boats, recommended for titled vehicles model year 2000 and newer.
Notarization is not required. You can use the state 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 signs a Release of Lien or Other Encumbrances (Form TDMV 20A) or provides a release on bank letterhead.
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?
In New Hampshire, there is no dedicated DMV inheritance form. The executor or administrator signs the title using Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
For the estate value threshold, New Hampshire uses a probate process through the Circuit Court rather than a fixed DMV dollar threshold.
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 $35.00.
Your clean replacement title takes 5 to 10 calendar days once the DMV receives and verifies your application.
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?
New Hampshire license plates stay with the seller. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in New Hampshire?
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.
Sources
"Yes (for most cars; model year 1999 and older exempt)" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
"Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle (Form TDMV 22A), provided with a Verification of Vehicle Identification (Form TDMV 19A) or a copy of the previous registration or title" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
"$35.00" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
Bill of Sale Form Availability
"available from the NH DMV website and must contain the information required by RSA 261:148" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form TDMV 18" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own through your town or city clerk, or return them to your town or city clerk to avoid future fees" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"60 days from establishing or maintaining New Hampshire residency to register the vehicle, under RSA 261:45" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
Bill of Sale Notarization Required?
"not required" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
"Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle (Form TDMV 22A)" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"New Hampshire uses a probate process through the Circuit Court rather than a fixed DMV dollar threshold" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026
"required for title-exempt vehicles model year 1999 or older and for all boats, recommended for titled vehicles model year 2000 and newer" Accessed Jun. 2, 2026