Free New Hampshire Used Car Bill of Sale

New Hampshire Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Sales Tax Details

Zero state sales tax on used vehicles in NH. There is also no excise tax in the property-tax sense — instead, you pay a municipal registration fee based on the manufacturer's list price and the vehicle's age, declining each year. On older used cars this can be modest; on a 2-year-old used truck still close to list price, it is meaningful.

Exemption: No exemption needed — there is nothing to exempt. Out-of-state buyers should note that "bought in NH" does not waive their home-state use tax when they register the vehicle elsewhere.

Inspection Requirements

Used vehicles must pass a NH safety inspection within 10 days of registration. OBD-II emissions testing applies to most 1996-and-newer gasoline vehicles. A failed inspection means 30 days to repair and re-inspect, or the vehicle comes off the road.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Town or City Clerk (municipal portion) + NH DMV (state portion) — not the same agency that handles cars in New Hampshire. Plan for separate filings.

New Hampshire Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

1. Pull the VIN report (NMVTIS, Carfax, or AutoCheck) before signing — NH has no buyer's remorse rule and used cars sell as-is by default.
2. Confirm the model year on the title or registration: 2000+ means a title transfer; 1999 and older means TDMV 22A plus the seller's prior NH registration.
3. Capture VIN, year, make, model, body style, color, and odometer reading on TDMV 22A in pen.
4. Record the full sale price — it has no sales-tax consequence in NH but is the audit trail if the buyer registers out-of-state later.
5. Both parties sign and date; the seller signs off the title (if applicable) and completes the odometer block.
6. Buyer goes to their town/city clerk first to pay the municipal portion, then to NH DMV with TDMV 22A, the assigned title, proof of insurance, and the clerk receipt.
7. Schedule the safety inspection within 10 days of registration to avoid driving on an expired or missing sticker.

Common Pitfalls

• Buying a "no title" used car without checking the model year. If it is 2000 or newer and the seller has no title, you are looking at a lost-title application or worse — possible salvage history. If it is 1999 or older, no title is normal and correct.
• Trusting a verbal odometer figure. NH requires the actual reading on TDMV 22A and on the title (for 2000+ vehicles); a wrong number locks the buyer into a future correction process.
• Showing up at the DMV first. The town clerk has to assess the municipal fee before the DMV will register the car. New residents and out-of-state buyers do this wrong constantly.
• Assuming the safety inspection is a formality. NH inspection stations actively reject vehicles for cracked windshields, worn tires, and emissions faults — budget for repairs on any used car you can't inspect before purchase.
• Treating "no sales tax" as a free pass on out-of-state registration. If you buy in NH and register in MA, ME, RI, VT, or NY, the destination state will charge use tax on the price shown on TDMV 22A.

Pro Tip

NH used-car deals are simple if you respect the order of operations: TDMV 22A signed by both parties, town clerk first, DMV second, inspection within 10 days. The lack of sales tax is real money saved — don't blow it on a missed inspection or an unverified VIN.

New Hampshire Used Car Bill of Sale — FAQs