Overview
There's also a real exemption worth knowing: New Hampshire doesn't title any vehicle with a model year of 1999 or older (except heavy trucks with 3+ axles or truck tractors over 18,000 lbs GVW), so an older car changing hands skips titling paperwork entirely and just gets re-registered. And since there's no sales tax anywhere in New Hampshire, the title transfer is the entire transaction cost beyond registration - there's no tax bill riding along with it.
01 - Official fees
New Hampshire title transfer fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title application fee (state) | $35.00 | |
| Municipal agent fee | $2.00 | |
| Total title fee | $37.00 | |
| Late-filing penalty (RSA 261:20) | +$37.00 | equal to the fee, if filed after 20 days |
| Vehicles model year 1999 or older | Title exempt | heavy trucks/tractors still require one |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your town or city clerk (NH DMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to transfer a title in New Hampshire
- 1
Seller signs over the back of the title to the buyer, including the odometer reading and sale date.
- 2
Buyer visits their town or city clerk (not the seller's) and requests the Certificate of Title Application, form TDMV 23.
- 3
File the application with the signed title, proof of insurance, and payment within 20 days of the purchase date.
- 4
Pay the $37 title fee plus the vehicle's registration (town mill-rate fee + state weight fee) in the same visit.
- 5
For a 1999-or-older vehicle, skip the title step and register directly with a bill of sale as proof of ownership.
03 - Same state, other costs
More New Hampshire vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
New Hampshire title transfer FAQ
How much does a title transfer cost in New Hampshire?
$37 total - $35 to the state plus a $2 municipal agent fee collected by the town clerk who processes it. That's the entire transaction cost; New Hampshire charges no sales or transfer tax on top of it.
What actually happens if I file the title late?
RSA 261:20 charges a penalty equal to the fee itself for any required document filed more than 20 days late - so a $37 title effectively costs $74 if you're late, not a percentage or a small flat fine like most states use. There's no sliding scale; it's a flat doubling regardless of how late you are.
Do I need a title for a 15-year-old car?
No - New Hampshire doesn't title any vehicle with a model year of 1999 or older, with the exception of trucks with three or more axles or truck tractors over 18,000 lbs GVW, which must always be titled. A qualifying older car transfers with a signed bill of sale and registers directly.
Where do I file - my town or the seller's town?
Yours. Titling and registration in New Hampshire always happen at the buyer's town or city clerk, since that's who calculates and collects the municipal mill-rate fee for the vehicle going forward.
Is TDMV 23 available online?
No - the NH DMV specifically issues this form only through town and city clerk offices, unlike most of its other forms. You can't pre-fill it at home; budget a few extra minutes at the counter.
Do license plates transfer with the title?
No - in New Hampshire, plates belong to the person on the registration, not the vehicle. A seller keeps their plates (for another vehicle or to surrender), and the buyer must get their own plates ($8 one-time fee) as part of the new registration, separate from the title transfer itself.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.