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Finance - Treasury / Collections - Automobile Registration

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1. Where is City Hall?

City Hall is located next door to the City Library and 2 buildings behind the State Capital Building at:
41 Green Street
Concord, NH 03301

The Treasury / Collection office is on the first floor, in the second door to your right.

2. Where do I process the State portion?

Residents may complete most registrations at either City Hall, the Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicle Hazen Drive, Concord; at any substation or Municipal Agent office. Hazen Drive is off Loudon Road. A $3.00 charge, per vehicle, is incurred for the transactions completed by a Municipal Agent. This fee does not have to be paid if you go to a State of NH DMV office or substation. You will not be able to process the State portion of the registration until you have paid the City portion of the registration at the Treasury/Collection Office.

3. How can I renew my vehicle?

Registrations can be processed by mail, online, in person at the Treasury/Collection Office at 41 Green Street, Concord, or by utilizing the front door drop box or the lobby drop box. Both are locked. To save time standing in long lines, we recommend processing your registration through the mail or online.

4. What do I need to bring to the City to register a vehicle I just purchased?

For vehicles with a model year of 2000 or newer you will need ONE of the following: A.An original Certificate of Origin signed over on the back to the new owner, B.An original Certificate of Title signed over on the back to the new owner. C.A white or light blue copy of the Certificate of Title Application (CTA), Town Clerk’s copy, provided by the dealer. For vehicles with a model year of 1999 or older you will need a bill of sale from the seller to the buyer, signed by the seller, AND one of the following documents: A.A prior owner’s previously issued NH registration (out-of-state registration is not acceptable). B.A valid title from any state. C.A State of NH verification of VIN form (Form 19A) completed by the appropriate agency - NH law enforcement officer, NH State Inspection station, or NH dealer. This form verifies the vehicle identification for the vehicle and is available at City Hall.

5. How do I renew my registration?

The preferred method is by mail or online. All Concord and Penacook residents should receive a pre-registration notice. When paying by mail just mail in the remittance notice with the amount due. A registration will be mailed to you within 5 days of our receipt. When renewing in person you will need to bring your driver's license. You will also need to bring either your prior registration, or pre-registration notice.

6. How do I renew my registration if moving from another city/town in New Hampshire?

If you are moving in from another NH city or town, please bring in the registration that is expiring.

You must have a Photo ID: A valid Driver's License, passport, or Military ID

You will also need one of the following:

Signed lease agreement, utility bill, bank account, payroll check, or signed letter from the person you are living with.

7. How do I register my vehicle if moving from another State?

If you are moving in from another state, please provide us with your original title (for vehicles who’s model years are 2000 or newer), your current out of state registration, and the current mileage on the vehicle. If your title is held by a lien holder you will need your current out of state registration, name and address of lien holder, and the current mileage on the vehicle. For vehicles with a model year of 1999 or older you will need the out of state registration, and ONE of the following documents: A.A valid title from any state. B.A State of NH verification of VIN form (Form 19A) completed by the appropriate agency - NH law enforcement officer, NH State Inspection station, or NH dealer. This form verifies the vehicle identification for the vehicle and is available at City Hall. You must have a Photo ID: A valid Driver's License, passport, or Military ID You will also need two of the following: Signed lease agreement, utility bill, bank account, payroll check, or signed letter from the person you are living with.

8. How do I register my vehicle if my business is new to the City of Concord?

If you are a new business moving into the City of Concord, the business must be registered with the Secretary of State's Office prior to registering a vehicle in the State of NH.

You must have a valid Driver's License

You will also need one of the following:

Signed lease agreement, letterhead with company name and address, or business card with company name and address.

9. When do I renew my registration?

Registrations are renewed usually during one’s birth month. The month prior to the expiration date of the registration the city mails a pre-registration notice with the amount due. You may renew vehicles up to four (4) months early. For companies, the registration date is based upon the company name. For example, companies who’s name begins with "A" or "B" expire in the month of January. 

10. What do I need to bring to the State?

If you choose to go to the State DMV you will need the following: For renewals: the owner and state registration copies, which are given to you by the Treasury/Collection Office when you pay for your renewal. For other situations: the Treasury/Collection Office will put together everything you will need.

11. Are the same fees collected throughout the State?

Yes, the permit fees are the same, but there may be other fees that differ. Treasury/Collection office employees cannot quote for other towns, because we are unaware if the transportation and/or reclamation fee is assessed. See "Is the permit fee the only fee?"

12. What is the difference between a new, renewal, or transfer registration?

A new registration is registering the vehicle for the first time under your name in the State of New Hampshire. If the vehicle was registered in NH, then registered in another state; and then you return to NH – then a new registration is processed.

A renewal registration is when a NH registration has been issued to you and is about to expire, as it is your birth month. You need to renew it for the upcoming year. New Hampshire registrations are renewed for 12 months.

A transfer registration is when you have taken a vehicle, in your name, (vehicle A) off the road, and you are registering a new vehicle, in your name, (vehicle B). A transfer allows you to apply the unused portion of the permit fees from Vehicle A to Vehicle B’s registration fee due. In doing a transfer, the first owner listed on the registration (vehicle A) must be the same as the owner of the new vehicle. See "Can I transfer my spouse’s car to my name?"

If you are transferring NH plates from a vehicle registered in your name but being taken off the road, you need to bring in the registration to the vehicle you are transferring the plates from. If you no longer have the registration to the vehicle you are transferring the plates from, there will be a $18.00 charge for a certified copy of the registration.

13. What is the State fee?

State motor vehicle registration fees are calculated per Revised Statute Annotated RSA 261:141. For more information on these fees, please contact the State of NH Department of Motor Vehicles at 603-227-4030.

14. What is the City fee?

The city permit fee is based on RSA 261:153. The fee is based upon: 1. The vehicle’s model year, the original factory list price of the vehicle, and the expiration date. For a new registration, the model year determines what millage (tax) rate (18, 15, 12, 9, 6, or 3 dollars per $1,000 of value of the original list price) is used to compute the City permit fee. For example, a 2022 model year is charged $18 per thousand; a 2021 model year is charged $15 per thousand, etc. 2. The number of months for which a new vehicle will be registered is determined by either the vehicle owner’s month of birth or an assigned month if the owner is a business or lease company. 3. Generally, a new vehicle cannot be registered for less than five months or more than sixteen months.

15. Is the permit fee the only fee?

No. In addition to the Permit Fee, there are several fees authorized by State Statute with the approval of the City Council. Those fees are:

Town Clerk (TC): Each registrant is charged two dollars for every vehicle registration RSA 261:152. This fee covers administrative costs of preparing an auto registration permit.

Title Application (TA): This fee covers the general administrative cost of "preparation, examination, record-keeping and filing" of a title application. The fee is $2.00 and is charged upon the initial registration of a vehicle requiring a title. This fee is authorized by State law RSA 261:261-4. Application for Certificate.

Municipal Agent (MA): This fee covers the administrative costs of completing a registration for the State Motor Vehicles. A "Municipal Agent" is a municipality that has been authorized by the Department of Safety to perform certain functions on its behalf. The fee is $3.00 and is charged on all registrations which are completed at City Hall and stamped with the Department of Safety seal, thus eliminating an additional stop at the State DMV office. The authority to charge this fee is stated in RSA 261:74-d. Additional Fees Charged by Agents.

Waste Reclamation (WR): This fee enables a resident to bring his/her motor vehicle wastes (namely, used tires, used batteries and used motor oil) to the recycling center at no charge. The money collected from this fee is placed in a reclamation trust fund specifically for the purpose of paying collection and disposal fees for the City's motor vehicle waste. The fee is charged for every registration and is based upon the type of vehicle: $3.00 for most vehicles, $2.00 for trailers, and $5.00 for heavy vehicles over 18,000 pounds. Established in Concord on February 11, 1991, per State law RSA 261:153V. Fees for Registration Permits.

Municipal transportation Improvement (MTI): A $5.00 fee per vehicle is charged and the money is set-aside in a municipal transportation improvement fund, which is used exclusively for improvement to the local and regional transportation system. This system includes "roads, bridges, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking and intermodal facilities and public transportation, and for operating and capital cost of public transportation." This fee was adopted on July 13, 1998 in accordance with RSA 261:153VI. Fees for Registration Permits.

16. My company changed its name. Do I need to re-register?

A new company name is treated as a new owner. You may not apply registration fees from the previous registration to the registration under the new name.

17. When will my registration expire?

Expiration dates are the last day of the owner’s birth month (unlike one’s license which expires on one’s birthday). A new registration cannot be less than 5 months nor greater than 16 months. RSA 261:141IV. For companies, the registration date is based upon the company name. For example, companies who’s name begins with "A" or "B" expire in the month of January. 

18. Can I transfer my spouse's car to my name?

The plate belongs to the owner. The first name on a registration "owns" the plate. If your spouse’s car did not have your name on the old registration and the new car purchased has both names, provided you list your spouse’s name first on the registration, then you can transfer. If the new vehicle is in your name only, you can not transfer.

19. If I lease a vehicle, what is different with the registration process?

Please call 225-8540 or email Collection Office with specific questions.

20. I am buying a car out of state. How do I register a car I do not have possession of yet?

The State of New Hampshire may issue 20 Day temporary plates with a signed bill of sale. RSA 261:57 The cost is $10. This fee cannot be applied to your permanent registration. Temporary registrations can only be obtained through the State of New Hampshire DMV office. For questions you can call the State DMV at 603-227-4030.

21. I am moving out of Concord to another NH city or town. Is my registration valid?

Yes, please contact the State of New Hampshire within 10 days of moving with your new address.

22. How do I change my mailing address?

Please contact the State of New Hampshire at 603-227-4030, or by filling out the online form located at State of NH - DMV. Mail the completed form to State of NH DMV, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305. All address changes with the State of NH must be in writing.

23. Can I receive a refund?

RSA 261:151 states No portion of any permit fee once paid shall be repaid to any person… unless the state refuses to register the vehicle. However, if the registration with the decals still attached is returned to the State of NH DMV and the State of NH makes an exception and issues a refund for the State portion of the registration, the City can then issue a refund for the City portion of the registration. You will need to bring a copy of the check issued by the State of NH to our office as proof that a refund was issued.

24. I never went to the State to complete my registration AND/OR a vehicle was never put on the road. Can I receive a refund?

Yes, provided the original registration is given to the City within 90 days of the transaction date.

25. What forms of payment do you accept?

Cash and checks are accepted in the office. Discover, Mastercard, Visa, and American Express are also accepted in the office. There is a 2.95% convenience fee with a minimum charge of $2.50 on each Credit Card transaction.

26. Can I use a bill pay check to pay for my registration?

Do not use bill pay to pay for your motor vehicle renewals. Motor Vehicle renewals can only be processed using the notices provided. These must be mailed in along with a check.

27. Do I need to sign my registration?

The owner of a registered vehicle must sign the bottom of the registration. State of New Hampshire RSA 641:3