New Hampshire Vehicle Identification Number
How do I get a Motor Vehicle Record History in New Hampshire?
The state of New Hampshire offers free title searches through the New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles. These can be requested by attorneys, private investigators, towing companies, and repair garages and they provide information such as:
- How many owners a vehicle has had;
- The lienholders on a vehicle, if any;
- The mileage on a vehicle;
- The proof of and when the title was issued on a vehicle; and
- The brand on a vehicle.
To request a title search, you must complete a form and either mail or bring it and $20.00 to:
New Hampshire Department of Safety
DMV – Title
23 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305
There are times when it may be necessary to verify a VIN number, including:
- Abandoned vehicles;
- US government vehicles;
- Antique vehicles;
- Vehicles from a Foreign Country;
- Vehicles from a state which only require titles for vehicles which are ten (10) years or newer;
- Vehicles which are registered in the state of New Hampshire, but the new owner doesn’t have the previous registration;
- If there is a discrepancy between the VIN in the DMV records and the VIN that the customer provided; and
- Homemade trailers that weigh less than 3,000 pounds.
If a VIN must be verified, it can only be done so by a New Hampshire authorized inspection station, a New Hampshire authorized vehicle dealer, or a New Hampshire law enforcement officer. There is no charge for turning the VIN Verification Form into the DMV; however, there may be a charge for having the VIN Verification Form completed by the authorized party.
New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles Title:
New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles Title
New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles Title Search
Should you run additional VIN Checks in New Hampshire?
Yes. Although the state has a vehicle history list which comes from a number of sources. There are other excellent databases which you should search as well, such as the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
NMVTIS is a database which provides data on cars that have been in recycling yards, junkyards, and salvage yards. They provide information on five key areas which are associated with auto fraud and theft:
- Current State Title and Last Title Date;
- Brand History – these are descriptive labels applied by motor vehicle titling agencies and include the terms “junk,” “salvage,” and “flood.” This helps protect consumers from purchasing a damaged vehicle without knowing the condition of the car. In Kentucky, which allows consumers to purchase “rebuilt” cars, knowing the history and the “brand” of a car may save you from paying far more than a vehicle is worth or from buying a vehicle which is unsafe or has the potential to be unsafe due to its history;
- Odometer Reading – people have been known to “roll the odometer back” to decrease the appearance of miles on a vehicle. This makes the vehicle appear to be worth more than it is worth, and it may also cause a consumer to purchase a vehicle which is unsafe. Odometer readings are recorded at the transfer of the title, so it can be a useful tool to check for any discrepancies of the vehicle’s history;
- Total Loss History – when a vehicle has been declared a total loss it has had severe damage. Knowing this information could save a consumer from paying more than what the vehicle is worth or from purchasing a vehicle which is unsafe; and
- Salvage History – vehicles with a salvage history have had severe damage. Knowing this information could save you money or save you from purchasing a car that is unsafe.
There is also a free database, VINcheck, which is run by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB.) They provide free VIN checks to the public which will tell you if the car has been reported stolen and not found, and if the vehicle has been in a salvage yard. There are other private and public websites which can be easily found by a quick search on the Internet, but NMVTIS and VINcheck are two that you should absolutely check out before buying a car.
VINCheck – recommended by the NICB
Lemon Laws in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Lemon Law, or Motor Vehicle Arbitration Law RSA 357-D, is handled by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General. The law applies only to vehicles purchased from dealerships in the state of New Hampshire, including:
- Motor vehicles of the private passenger or station wagon type with a gross weight that doesn’t exceed 11,000 pounds, that is purchased or leased by a consumer;
- Any other four-wheel motor vehicle with a gross weight not exceeding 11,000 pounds; and
- Motorcycles, off-highway recreational vehicles, and snowmobiles.
The law doesn’t cover tractors or mopeds and the definition of “new” is a passenger motor that is still under the manufacturer’s express warranty. This is important to note because then it is possible in the state of New Hampshire that the lemon law protection would cover a “used” car which is sold while still under the terms of the original warranty.
For a vehicle to be considered a lemon, the following must be true:
- The new vehicle is substantially impaired in use, value, or safety due to a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty that the manufacturer or its authorized representative has not fixed.
This defect, which is sometimes called a nonconformity, must not have been caused by abuse, accident, neglect, modification, or any alteration of the vehicle which was made by someone other than either the manufacturer or its authorized service agent.
For a vehicle to qualify for arbitration, the consumer must be able to show that the warranty was not honored. This can be done if you can prove that either of these qualifying events occurred:
While the vehicle was under warranty, there were three (3) or more attempts by the manufacturer or their authorized representative to repair the vehicle and they failed to fix the defect; OR
- While the warranty was still in effect, the vehicle was out of service for thirty (30) days or more which was directly related to the defect in the vehicle.
It is imperative that you document these events and every communication that you have with either the manufacturer or one of their representatives. There is a Summary of Repair History which is available below for free. With this document you can keep track of all the repairs and communication that has occurred between you, the manufacturer, and its agents.
There are some cases, usually those which involve extensive or dangerous defects, which the New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board may decide to hear which does not meet the typical number of attempts or days out of service. These cases are often when the vehicle has either extensive or dangerous defects and the Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board has the authority to choose to hear cases which have not met the defined criteria.
Where do you go if you have a problem?
- If your vehicle’s problems fall under the New Hampshire “Lemon Law” then you should contact the New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board for arbitration:
- Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-6383
Fax: 603-271-1061
- If your car still has a problem but does not fall under the conditions of the New Hampshire’s “Lemon Law,” you should contact the Better Business Bureau for mediation and arbitration assistance:
- Better Business Bureau
48 Pleasant St.
Concord, NH 03301
603-224-1991
- New Hampshire Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau
33 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301-6397
603-271-2641 or (888) 468-4454
Better Business Bureau New Hampshire Lemon Law Summary
Summary of Repair History Form
Required Manufacture Notice (CPMVA-1) – required to be given to a consumer by the dealer with the purchase of every new car:
Required Manufacture Notice (CPMVA-1)
Email for the Better Business Bureau in New Hampshire: info@bbbnh.org
New Hampshire Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau
New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board of New Hampshire
The New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board has five (5) members on it and three (3) alternate members. Out of this group of eight (8), four (4) are consumers or consumer representatives, two (2) are vehicle dealers, and two (2) are mechanics. The job of this board is to conduct hearings after the owner or lease of the problem vehicle has documented one of the following:
- At least three (3) unsuccessful warranted repair attempts to correct a defect or nonconformity;
- Thirty (30) or more business days in which the vehicle is out-of-service during the warranty period for warranted problems; and
- The alleged defect(s) or condition(s) must not be the result of abuse, neglect, unauthorized modifications, or alterations by the consumer.
To file a claim with the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board you must have documentation of the problem and the dealer or manufacturer’s inability to correct the defect. You should also include other documents which relate to the issue including the warranty paperwork from when you purchased the car and any correspondence between you and the manufacturer or dealer regarding the problems or defects with the vehicle.
Filing a claim with the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board costs $50 and you must fill out the “Demand for Arbitration” form to seek arbitration. If the Board finds in your factor the manufacturer must correct the problem with the vehicle within thirty (30) days and they can order the manufacturer to reimburse you for the $50 fee for filing the complaint, reimbursement for your legal fees, and other costs that you have incurred as a direct result of the defective vehicle.
If the New Motor Vehicles Board does not find in your favor or if you are not satisfied with their decision, you have the right to take the manufacturer to court and seek legal recourse. You do not have the right to take the dealer to court as they are protected by the lemon law.
If you have further questions you should contact The Department of Safety and the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles at 603-227-4385.
Better Business Bureau New Hampshire Lemon Law Summary
Summary of Repair History Form
Consumer Checklist Form for Arbitration in New Hampshire
Demand for Arbitration (CPMVA-2)
Manufacture Zone Office List, ATV, Motorcycle, OHRV, Snowmobile
E-mail for the Department of Safety and the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles: lemonlaw@nh.gov.
Should you hire an attorney for a Lemon Law Case in New Hampshire?
You may decide to retain an attorney in a lemon law case. While this is not necessary, it may be beneficial to you and your case. The manufacturer and the dealer will have experts on their side who are working to defend them and their side and you have that right as well, also:
- A good attorney will know the lemon laws and be able to help if there have been any changes in the law;
- Having an attorney at your table makes you appear more professional and prepared;
- Attorneys know the time table that is followed in lemon laws and can help you stick to it and make sure that your documents get to the right place at the right time; and
- Attorneys can help speed the process along rather than allowing the manufacturer to drag it out.
If you decide to do so you should hire one who in New Hampshire and has handled lemon law cases similar to your case. Ask friends and family for recommendations or ask an attorney that you know if they have a trusted colleague who is familiar with lemon law cases. Other questions that you should ask any attorneys who you meet with and are considering hiring:
- Do you have a history handling Lemon Law cases in New Hampshire?
- How many lemon law cases have you won in New Hampshire?
- How many lemon law cases have you lost in New Hampshire?
- What is your fee for a lemon law case?
- Do you require the money up front or do you get paid at the end of the case?
- If you get paid at the end, do you take a percentage of the amount won? What percentage is your fee?
If you are unable to find an attorney, you can contact the New Hampshire State Bar at (603) 229-0002.
New Hampshire State Bar Find a Lawyer
Department of Motor Vehicles
154 Main St
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
23 Hazen Drive
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
Manchester DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
377 S Willow St
1 603-271-2371
Closed now
Dover DMV Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
50 Boston Harbor Rd
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
Keene DMV Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
15 Ash Brook Ct
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
DMV Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
110 Broad St
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
Epping DMV Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
315 Calef Hwy
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
Milford DMV Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
4 Meadowbrook Dr
1 603-227-4000
Closed today
Motor Vehicle Division
Department of Motor Vehicles
154 Main St
1 603-271-2251
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
17 Water St
1 603-271-2371
Closed now
Financial Responsibility
State Government Office
23 Hazen Drive
1 603-271-3109
Tamworth Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
1864 White Mountain Hwy
1 603-227-4000
DMV
Corporate Office
23 Hazen Drive
1 603-227-4000
Closed now
Boat Registration
Department of Motor Vehicles
23 Hazen Drive
1 603-271-2333
New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
549 Route 302 West, US-302
Closed now