Vehicle Registration Exemptions - New Hampshire

Devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks

It is a violation for any person to drive or any owner or custodian to knowingly permit or cause to be driven on the ways of this state any vehicle which is not specifically exempt by statute or rule from the requirement of registration.

No certificate of title need be obtained for the following

• A vehicle owned by the United States or owned or operated by the New Hampshire National Guard;
• A vehicle owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale, even though incidentally moved on the highway or used for purposes of testing or demonstration; or a vehicle used by a manufacturer solely for testing;
• A vehicle owned by a nonresident of this state and not required by law to be registered in this state;
• A vehicle regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective certificate of title has been issued in another state;
• A vehicle moved solely by animal power;
• An implement of husbandry;
• Special mobile equipment;
• A self-propelled wheelchair or invalid tricycle;
• A snowmobile as defined in RSA 259:102;
• Trailers with gross weight of less than 3,001 pounds;
• Any motor vehicle whose manufacturer’s model year is before the year 2000, except heavy trucks and truck-tractors whose gross vehicle weight exceeds 18,000 pounds; and
• A roadable aircraft as defined in RSA 259:91-a.

Vehicles owned by military personnel

The requirements for registration of vehicles and the display of number plates shall not apply to vehicles having registration and displaying plates issued by the armed forces of the United States for vehicles owned by military personnel.

Nonresident owned vehicle

A vehicle, other than an off-highway recreational vehicle or snowmobile, owned by a nonresident and duly registered for the current year in the state, district or country of which the owner is a resident may be driven upon the ways of this state without registration to the extent, as to period of driving and otherwise, that the state, district or country of registration grants similar privileges for the operation of such vehicles owned by residents of New Hampshire and registered under its laws. 

Construction equipment

A resident owner of construction equipment, or a nonresident owner of such equipment who has a bona fide actual residence in a state granting like privileges to residents of New Hampshire shall not be required to register such equipment in this state if used at worksites and trailered from location to location or to cross highways to access contiguous property. 

Implements of husbandry

Implements of husbandry may not be operated on toll roads or on the interstate and defense highway system.

When implements of husbandry not meeting the definition of a tractor in RSA 259:108 are moved over any other way, the power unit must display in a conspicuous location an identifying decal or plate issued by the division. The identifying decal or plate issued by the division is not a registration and will not require the municipal permit for registration described in RSA 261:148. The identifying decal or plate will not require annual renewal but shall expire upon a change of ownership of the implement.

Utility registration

Utility registration may be used only for moving non-motorized vehicles, modular buildings, or chassis with specialized equipment which are either owned or not owned by the utility dealer for business purposes, including but not limited to delivery, demonstration, sale, or repair.

A supplemental utility plate may be issued to a utility dealer to allow a customer to test drive motor vehicles taken in trade.

A utility plate may be used by a manufacturer or dealer of boats or boat trailers for the transportation of boats in the ordinary course of business, which will include the sale, demonstration, delivery, and repair of such boats.

A utility plate may be used by a manufacturer or dealer of boats or boat trailers on a boat trailer not owned or leased by the manufacturer or dealer if used for the purpose of transporting a boat or boat trailer to and from his or her place of business for repair or service.

A utility plate may be used by a manufacturer, dealer, or installer of manufactured housing on a manufactured housing chassis owned or not owned by the manufacturer, dealer, or installer if used solely for the purpose of transporting manufactured housing to and from his or her place of business for sale or installation.

Single axle tow dolly

"Single axle tow dolly" means a vehicle designed and used exclusively to transport another motor vehicle and upon which the front or rear wheels of the towed motor vehicle are mounted, while the other wheels of the towed motor vehicle remain in contact with the ground.

Citations

• RSA 261:40 Registration Required
• RSA 259:122 Vehicle
• RSA 261:3 Exempted Vehicles
• RSA 261:41 Exemption of vehicles owned by military personnel
• RSA 261:44 Operation Without Registration; Reciprocity
• RSA 261:64 Construction Equipment and Implements of Husbandry
• RSA 261:121 Use of Utility Plates
• N.H. Admin. Rules, Saf-C 504.13 Single Axle Tow Dolly