Selling or junking a car in New Hampshire, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles using Application for Duplicate Title (TDMV 18).
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. When a non-exempt vehicle is sold in New Hampshire, the seller has to give the buyer the New Hampshire title at the time of sale. The page says a vehicle stays titled until it is destroyed, dismantled or becomes exempt.
- Deal with your plates. Ask the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles whether you keep, transfer or return your plates.
- Tell the state and your insurer. New Hampshire has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in New Hampshire
When a non-exempt vehicle is sold in New Hampshire, the seller has to give the buyer the New Hampshire title at the time of sale. The page says a vehicle stays titled until it is destroyed, dismantled or becomes exempt.
Official page: dmv.nh.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in New Hampshire
Duplicates are issued for lost, stolen or destroyed titles; both owners sign if two are listed, and a lien release is needed if there is a lien. The duplicate is mailed to the owner after the application is checked.
- Form: Application for Duplicate Title (TDMV 18)
- Available online: no
- Official page: dmv.nh.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
We couldn't confirm New Hampshire's plate rule on an official page. Ask the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles before pickup, and see plates and insurance when junking a car.
Junk and salvage titles in New Hampshire
Vehicles an insurer declares a total loss get a Salvage-branded title and must pass a salvage inspection before they can be registered again as rebuilt. The page does not cover scrapping.
Official page: dmv.nh.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in New Hampshire
Most vehicles from model year 1999 or older don't need a title in New Hampshire; heavy trucks and truck tractors over 18,000 lbs are the exception.
Official page: dmv.nh.gov
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New Hampshire title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in New Hampshire?
Duplicates are issued for lost, stolen or destroyed titles; both owners sign if two are listed, and a lien release is needed if there is a lien. The duplicate is mailed to the owner after the application is checked. The form is Application for Duplicate Title (TDMV 18).
Do I need to notify New Hampshire when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for New Hampshire. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in New Hampshire?
Check with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles; plate rules vary by state.
Can I junk a car without a title in New Hampshire?
Most vehicles from model year 1999 or older don't need a title in New Hampshire; heavy trucks and truck tractors over 18,000 lbs are the exception. Confirm the details with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles.
Official sources
- New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles — homedmv.nh.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledmv.nh.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdmv.nh.gov
- Selling without a titledmv.nh.gov
Summarized from official New Hampshire government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.