Free New Hampshire Vehicle Bill of Sale

New Hampshire Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Sales Tax Details

New Hampshire has NO general state sales tax. You pay $0 in sales tax on a private vehicle purchase, full stop. This is the single biggest financial reason out-of-state buyers cross into NH for cars.

Exemption: Not applicable — there is no sales tax to be exempt from. (Note: if you register the vehicle in another state later, that state will likely charge its own tax, so keep the bill of sale as proof of what you actually paid.)

Inspection Requirements

New Hampshire's law ending most passenger-vehicle inspections took effect January 31, 2026, but a federal court case followed and the rules have changed more than once. Check the NH DMV for current inspection rules before you buy or sell.

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 Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

1. For a title-exempt vehicle (model year 1999 or older), use NH DMV form TDMV 22A, the Report of Sale or Transfer of a Non-Titled Motor Vehicle; for a titled vehicle, any complete bill of sale is a good record.
2. Record full VIN, year, make, model, body style, color, and exact odometer reading at delivery.
3. List the sale price in dollars and cents (NH has no sales tax; the price is your record of the deal).
4. For 2000-or-newer vehicles, have the seller sign off the NH title and complete the odometer block; pre-2000 vehicles only need the bill of sale plus the prior registration.
5. Both buyer and seller sign and date; print names exactly as they appear on the title and on a government ID.
6. Buyer takes paperwork to their TOWN or CITY CLERK first to pay the municipal registration fee, then to NH DMV for plates and title.
7. Check the NH DMV for current inspection rules — the annual inspection was repealed for most passenger vehicles effective January 31, 2026, and court action followed.

Common Pitfalls

• Going to the DMV before the town clerk. NH registration is a two-stop process — the DMV cannot register you until your town or city clerk has collected the municipal portion. First-time NH buyers waste an entire afternoon on this.
• Assuming "no sales tax" means "no fees." It doesn't. The municipal fee on a $30,000 newer vehicle can run several hundred dollars in year one because it is based on the manufacturer's list price, not your purchase price.
• Assuming old inspection rules still apply. NH repealed most passenger-vehicle inspections effective January 31, 2026, but court action followed — check the NH DMV for the current rules.
• Forgetting the 2000 model year title rule. Sellers of pre-2000 cars sometimes hand over no title because there never was one — that is correct, but the bill of sale and prior registration must both be present or the buyer can't register.
• Buying out of state and assuming NH's no-tax rule follows the car. If you register in MA, ME, or VT later, that state will charge its own tax when you register there.

Pro Tip

NH's no-sales-tax rule is real, but the savings are easy to give back if you bungle the town-clerk-then-DMV order, ignore the current inspection rules, or buy a pre-2000 vehicle without a clean prior registration. Use TDMV 22A, keep copies, and route the paperwork in the right order.

New Hampshire Vehicle Bill of Sale — FAQs