New Hampshire License PlatesA New Hampshire license plate is a flat aluminum plate, or tag affixed to the front or rear of vehicles registered with the state. A New Hampshire license plate is unique for each vehicle, thereby serving as an identifying serial for the vehicle. The Division of Motor Vehicles in the state's Department of Safety issued the New Hampshire license plate. The New Hampshire DMV requires all motor vehicles in the state to affix license plates at the front and rear of the vehicles, except for trailers and motorcycles, which only require one license plate.
The New Hampshire DMV issues the following types of licenses:
New Hampshire License Plate Design and FormatsNew Hampshire's standard-issue license plate has embossed dark green serial printed in the middle on a reflective graphic plate with Old Man of the Mountain and Cannon Mountain against a pale blue sky. Centered at the bottom of the plate is the word "New HAMPSHIRE", with "New" screened above and "HAMPSHIRE" below. Also, at the top center is the word "LIVE FREE OR DIE", screened in dark green. This design has been issued to customers since January 1999.
Pursuant to RSA 261:B, the New Hampshire DMV began offering the state's newest plate type - Decal Plates, on July 3rd, 2017. Decal plates resemble regular passenger license plates. However, they have a 3"x3" blank square on the left side of the plate.
New Hampshire vanity plates are composed of alpha characters, alphanumeric characters, or a combination of alphanumeric characters and symbols. Conservation or moose plates have a moose logo on the left side, state parks plates are designed with the park's logo on the left side, while conservation parks plates are designed with Moose on the left side and the park logo on the right. Conservation park plates are limited to four digits, and the motorcycle plate is limited to 5 characters.
New Hampshire license plates vanity license plates are centered by the graphic on the plate and not by the center of the plate. They have the following character limits:
Standard issue, Commercial, and specialty license plates:
* Source: New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles
New Hampshire Vanity License PlateA vanity license plate, also known as a personalized license plate, is a special type of license plate that allows you to choose a custom combination of letters and numbers instead of the standard alphanumeric identification code used by the New Hampshire DMV. A vanity plate offers a way to express your interest in your vehicle.
To apply for a vanity plate, bring a completed Application for Vanity Plates to your town or city clerk's office to process your registration and license plate application. Alternatively, you can apply for a vanity license plate at any DMV location processing registrations after processing the town or city portion of your registration. You may also mail the vanity plate application, town portion of the registration, and a check for the applicable fees to the Concord DMV at:
NH Dept. of SafetyIf you are changing your current plate to a vanity plate at any time other than your renewal, bring your Application for Vanity Plates with your current vehicle registration to your city clerk's office or the nearest DMV location.
If your request for a vanity plate is accepted, the plates will be sent to your mailing address. However, if your request is denied, you will receive a letter by mail that includes a set of number plates and a new registration. Any fees paid for the vanity plate will be credited to your account. You will then have the option to select a new plate or request a refund for the vanity plate fees.
The cost for a vanity plate in New Hampshire includes your town or city and state registration fees, and $40.00 (for 12 months, prorated per month) for the vanity Plate fee, and an $8.00 plate fee (a one-time fee). However, some plates have an additional yearly non-prorated fee:
If you decide to change your plate before your next vehicle registration renewal, the cost will be $23.00, including the $8.00 one-time plate fee, a $15.00 certified registration fee, and any prorated vanity plate fees, if applicable.
Per New Hampshire Administrative Rule Saf-C 514.62(c), all vanity plate requests must not:
You can check the availability of a vanity plate by using the DMV's Vanity Plate Search feature. However, while the search feature may show that your plate choice is available, it does not reserve the plate for you, and it may be taken by the time you visit a DMV office. Additionally, the graphic displayed in the search results does not accurately represent the final plate design.
Most Popular License Plate in New HampshireCommon special-themed license plates in New Hampshire include:
New Hampshire License Plate LookupA New Hampshire license plate lookup allows you to gather information about a vehicle registered in the state using its license plate number. This information includes the vehicle's make and model, registration status, and accident history. Buyers of used cars often use it to verify the vehicle's history before making a purchase or by law enforcement agencies for investigative purposes.
Recordsfinder allows you to look at a vehicle's history using the vehicle's license plate number by searching its database of public records to find information about the vehicle associated with that license plate number.
A reverse license plate search is similar to a license plate search, as the term can be used to refer to a license plate search. A license plate search or a reverse license plate search is typically conducted when a person has a license plate number and wants to know more about the vehicle. Information retrieved from this search includes details such as the make and model of the vehicle, registration, and status. Law enforcement agencies and vehicle buyers often use license plate searches.
RecordsFinder allows you to perform a license plate search or a reverse license plate number search with the license plate number of a vehicle. Note that only non-sensitive information can be obtained via either search on Recordsfinder in accordance with federal and state driver privacy laws.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in New Hampshire?To obtain New Hampshire license plates for your vehicle, you must complete a titling and registration application for the vehicle.
An application for a new title in New Hampshire can be completed either by a New Hampshire dealership at the time of purchase or by a town/city clerk at the time of registration. The completed Title Application is then forwarded to the DMV for processing. Once received by the DMV, a new title is produced and mailed directly to the vehicle owner or lienholder within forty to fifty calendar days.
New Hampshire law mandates that the title must be mailed to the owner or lienholder unless the owner provides a notarized statement requesting the title to be sent to a third party.
You can apply for a new title for your vehicle at:
Registering a vehicle in New Hampshire involves a two-part process. With the exception of mopeds, motor vehicles must initiate their registration process at the town or city clerk's office in the town or city of residence. The second part of the process involves a state transaction, which may be facilitated by the town or city clerk acting as a municipal agent of the state for an additional fee.
To register a vehicle in New Hampshire, the first step is to visit the town or city clerk's office to establish residency and commence the registration process. Once the clerk confirms residency, if you possess the title of the vehicle or it is exempt from title requirements, you can complete the entire transaction at the clerk's office. If there is an out-of-state loan or the vehicle is leased, refer to the 60-day temporary plate page on the New Hampshire website for further instructions.
Although the process for vehicle registration is similar, there are minor differences, such as when:
Note that since the vehicle registration process is a 2-part process, there are fees due to both the town or city and the state. In addition to the registration fees, an $8 plate fee applies for the first time you order plates. For more information on fees, review RSA 261:141 for the state fees and RSA 261:153 for town or city fees.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in New HampshireNew Hampshire defines commercial vehicles differently from passenger vehicles. While passenger vehicles are vehicles not used for public or livery conveyance for passengers and not rented to others, the state, per RSA 259:12-e, defines commercial vehicles as:
According to N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 514.13, commercial license plates must:
Per N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 514.14, special commercial plates must be issued to one-third-rate vehicles, as stipulated in Saf-C 508.02, when the vehicle would otherwise have to register as an apportioned vehicle to travel interstate. Special commercial plates must:
Critical differences between passenger and commercial license plates in New Hampshire are shown in the table below:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use | Personal | For hire, profit, or compensation |
| Plate number arrangement | 7-character serial |
Have 3-6 characters, one of which must be the letter "A", one of which must be a letter, and the remainder of which must be numerals If a numerical commercial plate:
|
| Requirements for obtaining | Complete vehicle titling and registration with the DMV. The DMW issues the license plate | Complete vehicle titling and registration with the DMV. The DMW issues the license plate |
How to Renew License Plate in New HampshireLicensed plates are renewed when you renew your vehicle registrations. To restore your registration, bring your renewal notice or current vehicle registration to the town or city of residence to pay the required permit fees. Note that the DMV will not process the registration without the town or city fees being paid first. Many towns or cities double as municipal state agents and can complete the state sections of your renewal registrations for a small fee. The New Hampshire DMV recommends that you contact your town or city clerk or tax collector directly to find out if online registrations or mail registrations are permitted.
If you are temporarily out of state, you must send your renewal notice or registration certificate to your New Hampshire town or city of residence within 4 months before your current vehicle registration expires. You should also notify the clerk if you want them to complete the state portion of the application. Note that the state will not complete your registration if the town fees have not been paid. The DMV recommends including the out-of-state address where you would like your registration mailed.
How to Transfer a License Plate in New HampshireNew Hampshire allows motorists to transfer license plates from a currently registered vehicle to another one registered in their name. For instance, if you purchase a new vehicle, you can put the license plates from another you own on the new vehicle.
To transfer a license plate, you must bring your current registration of the plate to be transferred and proof of ownership for the new vehicle to your town or city clerk in the municipality where you reside. The DMV allows credit transfer if the owner's name on the old and new registrations do not change. Once license plates have been transferred, the old vehicle is no longer registered and may not be driven on a New Hampshire roadway.
If you are a surviving spouse, bring your vehicle's title and lienholder information to your town or city clerk, along with a copy of your spouse's death certificate. If the vehicle is new, no credit will be given.
New Hampshire License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)The federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) prohibits the disclosure of sensitive information related to motor vehicle records. Also, New Hampshire's Driver Privacy Act (RSA 260:14) establishes that DMV records are confidential, with access only granted to certain entities and individuals for specific purposes permitted by law. Therefore, unless a record owner authorizes the release of their identity or state or federal law authorizes the release of such information, the owner of a license plate must remain confidential even in a license plate search result.
Consequently, you are unlikely to be able to find the owner of a New Hampshire license plate in a license plate lookup. If you want to look up non-sensitive information related to a license plate, you can use Recordsfinder to access the records of over 269 million registered vehicles in the United States.
Yes. Pursuant to N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 1709.02, you can get replacement license plates if your license plate is lost. Firstly, you must report to a law enforcement officer before making a replacement plate request, as you will be required to show the date the loss was reported to the police.
You may replace your lost plates with your current plate number (unless it was stolen) or obtain a new plate number. To purchase replacement license plates, you must be listed as an owner on the vehicle registration or, in the case of a business, an authorized signer for the business. After, you must present the vehicle's current registration as it will be exchanged for a new registration, your photo ID, the appropriate fee, and a completed Application for Replacement Plates and Decals. If the registration is not available, you must purchase a duplicate registration. The application may be completed at your town or city clerk's office.
Law enforcement in New Hampshire can run license plates for several reasons. When they do, they typically access information such as:
You may need to perform a free license plate lookup in New Hampshire for several reasons. These include:
Although you may be able to find motor vehicle records by submitting a Release of Motor Vehicle Records (DSMV 505) at a DMV location, New Hampshire law only makes such records available to persons in the following categories:
Alternatively, you can use a third-party service like Recordsfinder to perform a license plate lookup for free. Note that Recordsfinder complies with federal and state driver privacy laws by providing access to only non-sensitive information, such as:
In New Hampshire, driving with an expired or unregistered vehicle carries several penalties:
New Hampshire motorists are not required to surrender their license plates. However, they cannot use license plates removed from an old car to a new car registered in their name without undergoing a proper license plate transfer application to the DMV.
If you are moving out of New Hampshire to another state, you may choose to keep your license plates. If you decide to turn them in, you can return them to your town or city clerk's office. Alternatively, you may destroy the plates with tin-snips and recycle them.
New Hampshire license plates are 12 inches in width and 6 inches in height.
According to RSA 261:57, New Hampshire residents purchasing a vehicle from an authorized dealership within the state will receive a 20-day temporary plate if the vehicle is deemed roadworthy. Within this 20-day period, the vehicle must be registered with both the town and state for permanent registration plates.
New Hampshire's 20-day registration plates are obtainable through drop-box services or appointments at select DMV locations. If you opt for an appointment, ensure to bring this information along. If you are using drop-box services, enclose the following in an envelope and drop it in one of DMV designated Drop Box locations:
For new New Hampshire residents with vehicles that have out-of-state lienholders or are leased, there is an option for a 60-day temporary plate upon registration in accordance with RSA 261:57-A.
In order to renew your license plate in New Hampshire, renew your vehicle registration by following these steps:
If your license plate is lost or stolen, you may request replacement plates and decals if they were at your town or city clerk's office with the following information:
You may also use the DMV's Drop-Box Services by enclosing photocopies of your New Hampshire driver's license and vehicle registration along with the application and appropriate fee.