Auto Registration
NH Division of Motor Vehicles Fee Increases effective January 1st 2026
Posted on: November 19, 2025 – 12:37pm
NH DMV is implementing an increase to the state fees for vehicle registrations/titles effective January 1st, 2026.
If you have a vehicle registration that has not yet been renewed this year, you will want to renew it BEFORE December 30th, 2025 to avoid any price increases.
This means ALL vehicle registration renewals not processed in our office BY December 30th, 2025, will be subject to this fee increase.
Residents with January vehicle registrations should expect to receive their renewal notice in early January once the DMV price increases have taken effect.
Some Key Fee Changes Effective January 1, 2026
- The increases are part of the state’s budget (HB2) passed by the legislature.
- New Titles will increase from $25.00 to $35.00.
- State Vehicle Registration Fees (based on weight) will increase annually by $10.80 or $4.80, depending on the weight class.
- Initial/Vanity Plates annual fees will increase from $40.00 to $60.00.
- Motorcycle State Fees will increase from $15.00 to $30.00.
NH State Inspections
NH will no longer require most passenger vehicles to have a mandatory annual safety and emissions inspection, with the law taking effect on January 21, 2026.
Until that date, safety and emissions inspections remain mandatory as usual. While the state inspection is ending, drivers must still follow existing safety laws.
Use the Motor Vehicle link for Registration estimates or Online Auto Registration
Vehicles New to the Owner(s) – Registrants holding clear title to a vehicle must submit the original title or certificate of origin to the Town clerk who prepares the New Hampshire title application and registration. Taxes and applicable fees are due and payable to the Town Clerk at the time of application.
New Residents – New residents to the state are required to register their vehicles and obtain a New Hampshire driver’s license within sixty (60) days.
To register a vehicle owned by you, you must bring the title, along with proof of residency. If the vehicle is leased, if there is a lienholder, or if the vehicle is title-exempt, submit the following :
- The out-of-state registration.
- Lease agreement, if applicable.
- Lienholder’s name and address.
- Proof of residency.
Change of Address – residents must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of their new address within ten (10) days of a change. Forms are available at the State Website.
The local portion of a vehicle registration done by the Town Clerk where an applicant resides, is called a permit. The permit portion must be done with the local clerk before the state portion can be done. The completed form is then called the registration. Taxes on the vehicle are calculated based on the vehicle weight, and the list price of the vehicle when it was new (without options).
License Plate Options –
– Standard Passenger plates – $8.00 one-time fee for a set of 2
– Moose (Conservation) plates – additional $30.00 annual fee
– Vanity (Initial) plates – additional $40.00 annual fee
– State Park plates – additional $85.00 annual fee
– Decal plates – additional $15.00
– Motorcycle, Trailer and Tractor plates are also available
To view if an initial plate is available, search using the State Initial Plate Search tool
There are three types of registrations which are completed by the Town Clerk.
- Renewals are due in the birth month of the primary owner – You will need the current registration, or mail reminder you received from this office. Can be done:
- By mail (send in the mail reminder or a copy of your old registration, one check made out to the ‘ Town of Jackson’, and a self-addressed & stamped envelope.)
- Online (information provided in the mail reminder.)
- In person (bring in the old registration or the mail reminder, and payment)
- Transfer of plates from one vehicle to another – generally done at time of purchase or renewal. You will need the registration for the vehicle you are transferring the plates from, or a signed Plate Release Form if plates are currently held by another person. Be sure to get/keep the plates & decals from the old vehicle. Must be done in person at the town office.
- New registration – generally done when you acquire a new vehicle and are not transferring plates.
- To get a title for a vehicle you have just received (New Vehicle – New owner = new title)
- Bring in title application from dealer if purchased in NH, or
- Certificate of Origin if purchased out of state, or
- Back of Title with transfer signatures and odometer filled in (normally you don’t check any of the boxes if you know the true reading)
- Must be done in person at the town office and there is a $25 state fee if not initiated at a dealership and a $2 local fee.
- To get a title for a vehicle you have just received (New Vehicle – New owner = new title)
Motor Vehicle Inspection – On a newly registered vehicle, State inspections are required within ten (10) days after the registration is processed. Vehicles being renewed must have an inspection during their renewal month. (There is a 10 day grace period into the following month.)
Driver’s Licenses – Drivers in New Hampshire must be at least 18 years old unless they have completed a driver’s education class. Any driver under 18 may be licensed after reaching age 16 by presenting a certificate for successful completion of a driver’s education class and fulfilling other application requirements outlined at the link above. General driver license information and how to renew online is also available by clicking here.
Motorcycle and Recreational Vehicle Inspection Deadline – July 1st of each year
Without regard for the owner’s birth date or registration month, all motorcycles, to include antique motorcycles, and recreational vehicles must be inspected by July 1st of each year.
A recreational vehicle is a self propelled or towed vehicle that is equipped to serve as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel purposes and is used solely as a family or personal conveyance.
