How to Sell a Car in New Hampshire: Title, Plates, and Paperwork

Whether you're selling to a neighbor, a stranger from an online listing, or a dealer, the paperwork in New Hampshire comes down to a short list. Get it right and the sale takes minutes. Get it wrong and you're making a second trip, or still tied to a car you thought you sold.

Here's what NH sellers need to know, from the title to the plates to getting paid safely. If you'd rather skip all of it, there's a shortcut at the end.

Step 1: Find your title (or confirm you don't need one)

New Hampshire titles most cars from model year 2000 and newer. When you sell one of those, the title is signed over to the buyer at the time of the sale, and the buyer takes it to their town or city clerk to put the car in their name.

Cars from model year 1999 and older are title-exempt in New Hampshire (heavy trucks are the exception). For those, the NH DMV says the seller provides a properly completed bill of sale, plus either a current or expired New Hampshire registration or a valid NH or out-of-state title.

• Can't find your title? Apply for a duplicate through the NH DMV before you list the car. It arrives by mail, so start early. If there was ever a loan on the car, you may also need a lien release from the lender.
• Still paying off a loan? Your lender is listed on the title as the lienholder, and the lien has to be released before the title can transfer to a buyer. More on that below.

Step 2: Fill out the title carefully

The back of the title is where ownership changes hands. Take your time with it:

• Sign as the seller and fill in the buyer's name and address and the date of sale. If two people are listed as owners, plan on both signing.
• Write down the exact mileage. Federal law requires the seller to disclose the odometer reading on most transfers. For model year 2011 and newer vehicles, that requirement lasts until the car is 20 years old. Model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt.
• Use blue or black ink and don't use correction fluid. A title with cross-outs or corrections can be rejected, and then you're waiting on a duplicate.
• Snap a photo of the completed title before you hand it over, for your records.

Step 3: Write a bill of sale

For title-exempt vehicles, a bill of sale is required. For newer cars it's still smart, and town clerks often ask the buyer for one when they register the car. A simple, signed document protects both of you. Include:

• The date of sale and the sale price
• The year, make, model, and VIN
• The mileage at the time of sale
• The names, addresses, and signatures of both buyer and seller
• "Sold as-is" if that's the deal, which is typical for private sales

Make two copies, one for each of you.

Step 4: Take your plates and keep your registration

In New Hampshire, the license plates stay with you, not the car. Take them off before the buyer drives away. The buyer will register the car in their own name and put their own plates on it.

Hang on to your registration, too. If you're moving your plates to your next car, your town or city clerk will want the original registration from the car you sold. Some towns won't accept a copy, and a duplicate costs a fee. In Manchester, registrations and plate transfers are handled by the Tax Collector's office at City Hall. If you won't be moving the plates to another vehicle, ask your town or city clerk what to do with them.

Step 5: Cancel your insurance, after the sale

Once the title is signed over, the plates are off, and the buyer has the car, call your insurance company to remove it from your policy. Don't cancel early, and never let a buyer drive off on your plates or your coverage.

Selling a car that still has a loan

This is where private sales get complicated. The lender's name is on the title, so the buyer can't get a clean title until the loan is paid off and the lien is released. That can mean the buyer handing money to you, you paying the lender, and everyone waiting days or weeks for the paperwork. Understandably, a lot of private buyers walk away from that.

A few ways to handle it:

• Pay off the loan first, wait for the lien release, then sell with a clean title.
• Close the sale at your lender, if it's a local bank or credit union, so the payoff and the paperwork happen in one place.
• Sell to a dealer, who pays the lender directly and handles the lien release and title work. That's what we do at FC Motors, and we explain how it works in Can You Sell Your Car to a Dealership Without Buying One?

If you owe more than the car is worth, the gap has to be covered before the lien can be released. Our guide to being upside down on a car loan lays out your options.

Getting paid safely in a private sale

• Take cash or a cashier's check, and verify a cashier's check by calling the issuing bank at a number you look up yourself, not one printed on the check.
• Don't sign over the title until the money is confirmed. Once the title is signed, the car is effectively theirs.
• Walk away from overpayment offers. A buyer who sends too much and asks you to refund the difference is running a scam.
• Meet in a public place in daylight, and if your town's police department has a designated safe-exchange spot, use it.
• Ride along on test drives, and look at the driver's license first.

Or skip the paperwork

If all of that sounds like more than you want to deal with, sell the car to a dealer. At FC Motors we make a no-obligation offer on your car whether or not you buy one from us. We handle the title work, pay off your lender if there's a loan, and most sellers are paid the same day once we agree on a price and confirm the title or payoff. Learn how our We Buy Cars process works, or call Matt at 603-965-2870. If you're buying another car at the same time, a trade-in keeps it all to one stop.

Registration rules can change, and your town or city clerk is the final word on what they need from a buyer. This guide reflects New Hampshire DMV guidance as of October 2026.

Frequently asked questions