Free New Hampshire As-Is Bill of Sale
New Hampshire's Lemon Law (RSA 357-D) covers only new vehicles purchased from dealers — private as-is sales carry zero lemon law protection for buyers. Under the NH UCC (RSA 382-A:2-316), an 'AS IS' clause must be conspicuous to validly disclaim all implied warranties. New Hampshire is one of only a few states with both no sales tax and a mandatory annual safety inspection — the as-is sale saves the buyer money on taxes but still requires the vehicle to pass a safety inspection after transfer.
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New Hampshire As-Is Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
New Hampshire has no general sales tax and no vehicle purchase tax. Vehicle transfers are entirely tax-free.
Inspection Requirements
New Hampshire requires an annual safety inspection for all registered vehicles. The buyer must obtain a passing safety inspection sticker after transfer and before or upon registration. As-is status does not waive this requirement.
New Hampshire As-Is Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Write 'AS IS — NO WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED' in bold or all-caps on the bill of sale in a conspicuous location, satisfying RSA 382-A:2-316.
- Complete the odometer disclosure on the back of the title (federally required for vehicles under 20 model years old).
- Disclose any known salvage, rebuilt, or flood title history in writing — concealment is common law fraud in New Hampshire.
- Sign the title over to the buyer with all lien releases; buyer must register and transfer title within 20 days.
- Advise the buyer that New Hampshire requires an annual safety inspection — they must obtain a passing sticker after purchase.
- No sales tax is due — New Hampshire has no vehicle purchase tax.
- Keep a signed copy of the bill of sale for at least 3 years.
Common Pitfalls
- The safety inspection risk: New Hampshire's mandatory annual inspection covers safety-critical components. A buyer who discovers the vehicle fails inspection after an as-is purchase may claim the seller had constructive knowledge of the failure. Sellers of high-mileage or visibly worn vehicles should disclose known safety-related issues in writing.
- Non-conspicuous as-is language: RSA 382-A:2-316 requires the disclaimer to attract the buyer's attention — a clause buried in the body of the form in the same font as surrounding text may not meet this standard, leaving implied warranty claims viable.
- NH Consumer Protection Act inapplicability: RSA 358-A covers sellers in 'trade or commerce.' Private one-time sellers are generally not covered, but individuals who regularly buy and resell vehicles may be treated as engaged in commerce and held to higher disclosure standards.
- Assuming no tax means no documentation needed: while there is no tax to worry about, a complete, signed bill of sale is still essential for proving the transfer date — important for liability, registration, and any future dispute.
Pro Tip
New Hampshire's combination of zero sales tax and clean UCC as-is rules makes private vehicle sales administratively simple. The key compliance item is the mandatory annual safety inspection the buyer must obtain after transfer. Disclose known safety issues in writing, use conspicuous as-is language, and document the transaction fully — the tax-free environment means the only paperwork burden is the title and your bill of sale.