Apply for a New Title

The Certificate of Title is primarily issued to the vehicle owner by the DMV to certify the ownership of a motor vehicle and to record information concerning liens (outstanding charges against the vehicle known at the time of title issuance). The following minimum information is contained on a certificate of title: name and address of owner, vehicle make, vehicle body type, model year, VIN, title number, and lienholder information.

A title is a secure document issued by the DMV which proves ownership of a motor vehicle, and should be treated as an important document by the owner. For security reasons, it should be stored in a secure location, for example, a safe deposit box, and it should not be stored in the vehicle. Whenever a vehicle is sold in New Hampshire that is not exempt, a New Hampshire title for that vehicle shall be given to the buyer at the time of the sale.

During the life of a vehicle, only one certificate of title may be legally valid at any one time. In most states, registrations are renewed annually, that is, a new registration certificate is issued each year. However, a new title is only issued whenever the vehicle is sold to a new owner. The new owner must turn in the seller's title to ensure that only one title is in force. The vehicle remains titled until it is destroyed, dismantled or becomes exempt from the title law.

How to Apply for a New Title

An application for a new, New Hampshire title is completed either by a New Hampshire dealership at the time a vehicle is purchased or by a town/city clerk at the time a vehicle is registered. The dealership or clerk's office will forward the completed Title Application to the DMV for processing. Once the application is received at the DMV, a new title will be produced and sent directly to the vehicle owner or lienholder within forty (40) to fifty (50) calendar days.

New Hampshire requires a title to be mailed to the owner or lienholder (if applicable) unless the owner provides a notarized statement asking for the title to be mailed to a third party.

Where to Apply for a New Title

The application for a New Title is a controlled document that may only be prepared by one of the following authorized agents:

New Hampshire Town/City Clerks.
New Hampshire Licensed Automobile Dealers.
New Hampshire Lienholders.

Customers must go through one of the authorized agents listed above for a new Title Application.

When to Apply for a New Title

Any time a vehicle is purchased new, changes ownership or is registered for the first time in New Hampshire, the owner shall apply for a New Hampshire title for that vehicle in his or her name. The following is a list of examples of times when a New Hampshire resident would apply for a new title:

Moving to New Hampshire with a vehicle that is already registered and titled in another state.
Purchasing a new or used vehicle from a New Hampshire dealer.
Purchasing a new or used vehicle from an out-of-state dealer.
Purchasing a used vehicle from a private party.
Removing or adding an owner to a vehicle.
Transferring ownership of a vehicle to another person.
Refinancing.
When buying out a leased vehicle.