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Titling & Registration FAQs

Vehicle Titling & Registration    Trailer Titling & Registration     

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What happens if the Town Clerk's Office does not have any contact information for a resident beyond the mailing address?

  • The town clerk's office can only contact you via mail. If there is any question about a new vehicle purchase, a dog registration, or other matter this delays our ability to handle these issues. The next time you are in, check with us if you are unsure we have proper contact information!

How do I set up an end of the month Saturday appointment to handle a matter at the town clerk's office (example: New Car Registration)?

  • Make sure to call the office the Thursday (by 1pm) before the last Saturday of the month. Call the office at: 603-363-8071 x11.
  • Typical Saturday appointment times are between 9-11am.
  • If you are registering a new vehicle - please check below on what to bring to the appointment. (See Vehicle Titling and Registration)
  • When calling to set up an appointment, if we don't answer the phone because we are helping other residents or the office is closed, please leave a message and alert us that you want to make a Saturday appointment. 
  • If you call after Thursday 1pm the week of the last Saturday of the month we can not guarantee to call back in sufficient time to schedule an appointment.

I want to send in a registration renewal and I have checked the renewal cost on the online estimator. Is there anything else I need to do?

  • Yes, you will need to include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the check and a copy of the vehicle registrations you want renewed. Or, you may write the check for an additional $1 to cover envelope and postage. This is the same fee charged for all online payments that are mailed to residents.
  • Please note that unless your vehicle is 6 years old that the registration total will change from year to year. Be sure to use the online estimator on the Online Payment Page to ensure you know the correct total for your vehicle registrations.

Are there extra fees associated with using the online registration system?

  • All online registrations will be charged an Elog fee of $1.00 to cover the stamp and envelope used to mail registrations.
  • All online registrations will incur a transaction fee.
    • If using a credit card this fee is currently 2.99% of the transaction amount OR $2.50.
    • If using a one time payment from your bank account (referred to as an ACH payment) the fee is $2.50.
We are new residents and want to get a dump sticker, how do we do this?
  • The Town Clerk's Office does not handle stickers for the Transfer Station. If you have registered your vehicle you may go to the Transfer Station and they will help you with acquiring a sticker. If you haven't registered a vehicle in town there may be other paperwork the Transfer Station will accept, please contact them directly for more information.

VEHICLE TITLING AND REGISTRATION

 When can I renew my vehicle registration?

  • Registrations are due yearly during your birth month (or assigned month for Trusts/Businesses). Please note the Town of Chesterfield does not send out paper reminders to register your vehicle. If you have supplied the office with an email, you will receive an email reminder to that address at the beginning of your birth month.
  • You may renew registrations up to 3 months in advance.
  • Renewals may be done online.
  • Renewals may be done via mail or by leaving your request in the drop box on the right side of the main entrance. These methods require the following:
    • License plate number, one signed blank check made out to the Town of Chesterfield, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. 
    • We will fill in the amount on your check and mail you a receipt and registration.
    • Registrations by mail will include a $1 for mailing the registration back to you. This includes the envelope + postage fee.
  • You may renew in person with a current ID at the Town Clerk’s office. Current Office Hours are posted on the main Town Clerk Page. 

How long does it take to get a registration done by mail or online?

  • This depends on when you send it in and the volume of requests that we get. To be absolutely safe, you should allow for a week to 10-day turnaround.

What if I am temporarily out of town, how do I ensure I receive my registrations renewed online? (All vehicle registrations are required to be mailed with a DO NOT FORWARD stamp.)

  • When you are registering cars online and have advanced to the Verify & Pay Screen, there is a place to Add Message to Your Agent. Click on the + button and type in any special information or temporary address to receive your registrations. 

Image of Eb2Gov - add special information

I’m looking at a new vehicle. How much will it cost to register?

  • You can use the online estimator to provide an estimate of the registration fee. Timing will affect the total amount due for registrations, so we do not recommend filling out checks in advance.
  • State fees of a new vehicle are based on the weight.
  • Town fees are based on the MSRP for the vehicle when it was new. This value depreciates for the first 6 years, after which the fee remains the same. 
  • Additionally, you may be charged for the title ($27.00) and license plates ($8.00) There are also small additional fees, usually amounting to about $5.00 - $10.00.
  • Remember, depending upon when you register, you may be paying for fewer months or up to 15 months.

What do I need to bring with me to register a new vehicle?

This can really depend. If you are a resident of Chesterfield that already has registered vehicles in the town: for all transactions you will need a valid ID such as a license or passport.

  • A CTA (from the dealership) in your name. Note, because signatures are provided on the CTA form for title paperwork only one purchaser needs to be present to register the vehicle as long as both signatures are present on the CTA. (Although a CTA is typically all we need, make sure to bring all other information given to you by the dealership because at times some information is unreadable on the CTA forms.)
  • Or a Title properly completed with purchase/buyer signatures and an odometer reading. When a title is presented, the person/s who purchased the vehicle MUST be present to sign title paperwork. If this is not possible, a Power of Attorney must be completed and notarized allowing someone else to sign in their stead.
  • If you are transferring plates from a previously owned vehicle you must bring the registration for your prior vehicle with the title or CTA form. Note, if you don't bring this with you we will need to print a duplicate that costs $17.50.
    • Be sure when you purchase your new vehicle that the dealership does not keep the prior registration.
    • Please note that there are DMV transfer fees.

If you are a new resident and your vehicle is registered in another state AND you have a loan or lease on the vehicle so you do not have ownership of the title, you will need the following information to register your vehicles. Remember to register a vehicle you always need two proofs of vehicle ownership in lieu of a title.

  • A new resident form - see left hand side of screen to print.
  • The current actual registration for the vehicle from your previous state AND a completed VIN verification (we have these forms in our office)
    • Note if you are registering your vehicle in town and moved from another NH town, a NH vehicle registration will be sufficient as long as it is the current registration. No copies or prior year registrations.
  • Lien holder information including: Name, Address
  • Lien holder form TDMV-121 signed. (We have these in the office.)
  • Odometer reading for the vehicle at time of purchase.
  • Valid ID
  • 2 documents demonstrating residency. These can include rental agreement, mortgage document, utility bill, work or bank statement which has current Chesterfield address. (This includes West Chesterfield, Chesterfield, or Spofford)
    • If these documents are not available and you live with a local resident who has a currently registered vehicle, they may write a letter attesting to your current address. This letter should include their full name, your full name, the length of time you have lived at the address, and they should date and sign the letter.
  • If the vehicle has a lease you will need to bring this agreement with you as well.

Can I get a refund for the registration amount left on a vehicle that I sold?

  • The only way to recoup money on a registration is if you transfer the registration and plates to a new-to-you car. 
  • To do this you must bring the old registration with you at the time you register your new vehicle. We cannot accept a copy and we cannot supply you with a copy from our records. 
  • If you have lost the old registration or left it with the person who bought your car, your only alternative is to buy a copy from the state for $17.50.

What vehicles need to be titled?

  • Currently, all motorcycles and other motor vehicles year 2000 or newer need to be titled.
  • Mopeds 50cc or under are registered at DMV offices

I just bought a 1998 car. What do I need to bring in to register it?

  • All vehicles 1999 and older require:
    • A bill of sale (Note a bill of sale MUST have the following information: 

      • The date of the sale.

      • A detailed description of the vehicle, including: Make, Model, Color, Vehicle identification number (VIN), Model year, Year of manufacture, Type of body, Number of cylinders, Name, signature and legal address (no PO Box) of purchaser, and Name, signature and legal address (no PO Box) of seller.

    • AND either a title, a NH registration from the prior owner, or a VIN verification. 
  • VIN verification forms are available from our office or you can find them online at dos.nh.gov under vehicle registration/forms. Note that the local police as well as locations that conduct car inspections can do a VIN verification.

Note: that all vehicles and trailers 1999 or older do not require titling. If you desire a NH title for your vehicle, you must turn in the existing vehicle title in your possession.

I think I might want to register my vehicle as an antique, what are the requirements?

  • An antique motor vehicle or motorcycle shall mean any motor vehicle, including a truck regardless of its weight, over 25 years old which is maintained for exhibition, club activities, parades, or other functions of public interest, but not for use in commerce. For the purpose... "maintained for use" shall mean a motor vehicle or motorcycle in its original condition or restored to original or better condition and not intended for daily use.

Do I pay a fine if I’m late registering my car?

  • There is no fine at the Town Clerk’s office, however, if the police pull you over, fines for an unregistered motor vehicle are more than $100.00.

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TRAILER TITLING & REGISTRATION

Does a trailer need a title?

Trailers over 3,001 GVW must be titled—which means you must bring in either:

  • a prior owner’s title signed over to you 
  • OR for a new trailer, the certificate of origin or purchased from a dealership a CTA form. 
  • Also please bring the following to ensure we can quickly and efficiently register your trailer:
    • Note - all current purchasers should be present. (If not all owners can be present during registration, please have a limited Power of Attorney (POA) to sign for the 2nd owner.) We can forward a template for a limited POA if you contact our office via email or phone.
    • Please bring all sales paperwork. It is often the case that we need information that is not supplied on the title alone such as the original MSRP.
    • Take an image of the metal information tag on the trailer itself (showing it to us via phone is fine). This tag often contains vital information, such as Gross Vehicle Weight (max. weight of loaded trailer), that can be difficult for our office to obtain easily online. This is especially important if the trailer was purchased as a personal sales transaction. 

Trailers with a GVW 3000 pounds or under require:

  •  a bill of sale 
  • AND VIN verification or a registration from a NH resident. 
  • Also please bring the following to ensure we can quickly and efficiently register your trailer:
    • Please bring all sales paperwork. It is often the case that we need information that is not supplied on the title alone such as the original MSRP.
    • Take an image of the metal information tag on the trailer itself (showing it to us via phone is fine). This tag often contains vital information, such as Gross Vehicle Weight (max. weight of loaded trailer), that can be difficult for our office to obtain easily online. This is especially important if the trailer was purchased as a personal sales transaction. 

(Note that all vehicles and trailers 1999 or older do not require titling.). 

VIN verification forms are available from our office or you can find them online at dos.nh.gov under vehicle registration/forms. Note that the local police as well as locations that conduct car inspections can do a VIN verification.

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