New Hampshire VIN Lookup

Buying a used car is one of the many ways to own a vehicle in New Hampshire, mostly because of the lower purchase cost, registration fees, and insurance cost compared to buying a new car. New Hampshire also has a thriving used-car industry, with nearly 200 used car dealerships across the state. A used car costs about $25,000 on average.

To protect consumers from used car scams, falling victim to purchasing faulty vehicles, and ensuring efficient service delivery in the industry, New Hampshire has a Motor Vehicle Arbitration Law, which operates as the state’s “Lemon Law”. The law establishes the Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board (MVAB), which determines whether a new motor vehicle or off-highway recreational vehicle, motorcycle, or snowmobile has substantial defects that render it useless or affect its market value or safety. However, the law has strict requirements to show that the vehicle is faulty, not fit for purpose, or has an exaggerated market value.

As a result, it is important to conduct due diligence before purchasing a used vehicle to discover if there are any defects to be wary of. One way to do this is to look up the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A VIN lookup can be used to see a car’s registration history, track recalls, warranty claims, insurance coverage, history of theft, and other helpful information to consider before purchasing the vehicle.

Why Is a VIN Check Important in New Hampshire?

Although New Hampshire has a relatively low auto theft rate, with slightly over 850 instances of theft annually, the state ranks in the top 10 for auto fraud cases. Auto fraud involves instances of misrepresentation or deceit as to the title, market value, utility, repair history, or a vehicle’s registration status.

A VIN check is important because it helps to avoid falling victim to common auto fraud and related tricks in New Hampshire. A VIN is a set of unique numbers assigned to a vehicle. It is unique because two vehicles cannot have the same VIN. Typically, a VIN lookup reveals crucial information about the car, which a potential purchaser should factor in before finalizing a purchase. Essential information includes:

• Registration and Title Verification: A VIN lookup highlights a vehicle’s registration history, including the current and previous owners. This way, a potential buyer can confirm if the potential seller is the vehicle’s owner or if there is a title discrepancy to be resolved. Also, it helps to confirm if the previous owner complied with state registration laws. For example, New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 261 requires the registration of a motor vehicle operating within the state and that vehicle owners obtain a certificate of registration. Failure to have in possession the certificate of registration when driving the vehicle is an offense that attracts fines up to over $100 and other administrative penalties.
• Mileage Verification: An example of auto fraud is the manipulation of a vehicle’s mileage to make it appear less than the original figure. Fraudulent used-car dealers often do this to inflate the vehicle’s market value. A VIN lookup reveals the accurate mileage of a vehicle, helping you confirm its mileage reading and any discrepancy in the seller’s representation.
• Accident History: When a vehicle has been involved in several accidents, it is likely to have defects that may not be easily determined, especially during the first few test drives. Therefore, it is crucial to find out a car’s accident history and if it has gone through significant repairs in the past. A VIN check is a helpful option in this regard, detailing the vehicle’s accident history.
• Theft Checks: Compared to most states in the United States, New Hampshire has a low auto theft rate. Regardless, you should protect yourself against buying a stolen vehicle, as is the case for some used cars. A VIN check will reveal if a vehicle has been reported stolen, highlighting another reason why it is important to conduct a VIN check before finalizing a used car purchase.
• Title Brands: In addition to revealing a vehicle’s title history, a VIN check also helps uncover the vehicle’s past condition and its designated brand. You should generally be cautious of purchasing vehicles that have been branded as “flood damaged”, “salvage”, “rebuilt”, “junk”, or other brands indicative of significant damage or repairs.

How To Perform a New Hampshire VIN Check

Several state and federal agencies provide resources for VIN lookups in New Hampshire, including:

The New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV):

The New Hampshire DMV operates a VIN verification process. However, only a New Hampshire-authorized inspection station, vehicle dealer, or law enforcement officer is authorized to complete the VIN Verification Form to verify the authenticity of a vehicle’s VIN. You may approach any of these authorized individuals for assistance with this process, though fees may apply. Alternatively, you may contact the DMV at 1-800-735-2964 for more information.

The NHTSA VIN Decoder:

The NHTSA VIN Decoder is available for conducting VIN checks. This tool focuses on safety-related information, providing details about the car’s manufacturer, model year, manufacturing plant, engine and transmission specifications, safety features, safety ratings, and recalls. VIN checks can be done using either a full or partial VIN.

The NICB VINCheck:

The NICB VINCheck allows users to confirm whether a vehicle has been reported for an insurance theft claim, as a salvage vehicle, or if it was recovered after being reported stolen. A full VIN is required, and you may only perform five searches per IP address within a 24-hour period.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in New Hampshire

In addition to online tools that you may utilize to conduct VIN checks, there are third-party websites that also offer these services. These websites provide extensive information on your preferred vehicle, helping you decide if the vehicle is worth its market value or is a reasonable investment. Examples of reputable third-party websites and platforms through which you can conduct VIN checks in New Hampshire include GoodCar, AutoCheck, CarFax, and Carmart. Readily accessible information on these platforms also includes:

• Title details
• Ownership records
• Title brands
• Vehicle specifications
• Odometer/mileage verification
• Accident history
• Rebuild records
• Inspection records
• Service and maintenance records
• Safety defects and recalls
• Sales history
• Retail, trade-in, and private-party pricing
• NHTSA crash test ratings, and even more

Note that while VIN check tools available through government agencies and nonprofits are mostly free, these third-party websites and platforms charge a fee for their service. The fees

What VIN Scams Are Common in New Hampshire?

Auto fraud is a common occurrence in New Hampshire. This encompasses actions as simple as exaggerating a vehicle’s market value, thereby overcharging for the vehicle, and selling vehicles that are pretty much not fit for purpose, also termed “lemons”. For example, in mid-2024, a New Hampshire car dealer was arrested for selling a vehicle but refusing to provide a certificate of title to the purchaser of the vehicle within the time required by law. Authorities believed that the car dealer may have had other victims.

Considering the possibility of falling victim to such a scam, it is crucial that you, as a potential purchaser, take steps to protect yourself and make certain verifications before finalizing the purchase. Common car-related scams in New Hampshire you should be aware of include:

Title Washing:

Altering a vehicle’s title to conceal that the vehicle is or has been significantly damaged - such as its salvage or flood-damaged status.

Fake Vehicle Histories:

Providing fake reports or records to misrepresent that the car has been well-maintained when this is not the case.

Curbstoning:

Selling used cars for profit without obtaining a dealership license - this is a scam by mostly unlicensed dealers claiming to be private sellers.

VIN Cloning:

As the term implies, this involves cloning the VIN of a car and putting it on another car - in most cases, one of the cars is either stolen, salvaged, or substantially defective.

Odometer Rollbacks:

This involves altering a vehicle’s odometer to make it appear relatively newer and exaggerate its market value.

Scams of this nature, and generally, have financial implications. This is because you either end up paying much more for a car worth less or you eventually spend a fortune on fixes that have been concealed. This emphasizes the need to ensure you check the vehicle that you intend to purchase and that everything checks out. In this regard, you may consider the following precautions to avoid falling victim to such scams:

• Research your preferred vehicle and understand if there are any nuances related to the vehicle.
• Be wary of deals that are too good to be true - they probably are.
• Request and obtain the necessary car documentation, especially the car title and insurance documents.
• Inspect the vehicle - if possible, require the seller to provide a report from a licensed inspection station.
• Get a written warranty.
• Insist on a return policy if the vehicle does not meet agreed specifications.
• Use reputable sites like AutoCheck or GoodCar to conduct a thorough VIN check on the vehicle before finalizing the purchase.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, you can confirm the status of your vehicle by conducting a title search at the state’s DMV. A title search reveals crucial information, including:

• The vehicle’s brand;
• Current and past owners of the vehicle;
• The proof of title and when it was issued;
• The lienholder of the vehicle;
• The vehicle's accumulated mileage.

Note that only attorneys, private investigators, towing companies, and repair garages (or their employees) can conduct a title search without the record holder’s permission. Others may need to obtain the record holder’s consent.

To conduct a title search, submit a filled-out Request for Motor Vehicle Records form, along with payment of a $20 search fee and a completed Certificate of Authority. The Certificate of Authority must be on the requestor company’s (or their employer’s) letterhead. If you have obtained the record holder’s permission to search, the record holder’s signature must be notarized in step 4 of the Request for Motor Vehicle Records form as evidence.

The completed forms may be submitted in person or by mail to:

NH Dept. of Safety
DMV - Title
23 Hazen Drive
Concord NH 03305

For further steps or clarification, you can contact the DMV at 1-800-735-2964. Alternatively, you may visit third-party, reputable websites offering VIN check services.

How To Register a Brand New Car in New Hampshire

A brand-new car registration in New Hampshire is a layered process. The first step is to commence the registration at your town or city clerk’s office. To do this, you must first determine your residency, which you may confirm with the town or city clerk where you reside, as this may determine which town or city you will commence the registration process.

You may obtain information about the various town or city clerks in New Hampshire through the state’s Cities and Towns online directory. After completing the city or town registration, you are then required to commence the state-level registration. In most cases, the city or town clerk may assist with completing the state-level application and registration, although this may come at an additional fee.

If you bought the vehicle from a New Hampshire car dealership, you typically have to present to your town or city office the certificate of title or the blue copies of your title application. The town or city office may request that you provide proof of residency if you have not already done so, or if you are yet to confirm your residency.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in New Hampshire?

There are nearly 1.5 million registered vehicles in New Hampshire. Despite this extensive figure, the state has a low number of vehicle registrations compared to other states like California and Texas with over 31 million and 23 million, respectively.

While New Hampshire state laws require that vehicles operated within the state are registered, this registration process typically begins at the city or town level. Therefore, the registration requirements vary by city or town. Contact your city or town clerk, having first confirmed your residency, and confirm the applicable requirements for registering a vehicle in the city or town. In this regard, you may utilize the state’s Cities and Towns online directory. After the process is completed at the city or town level, you may proceed to finalize your registration at the state level.

Does New Hampshire Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

New Hampshire state laws require all vehicles to undergo inspection within 10 days after the vehicle registration date and undergo re-inspection annually within 10 days after the vehicle owner’s birth month. Only state-licensed inspection stations and authorized New Hampshire automobile dealers can conduct vehicle inspections within the state.

Note that the DMV does not mandate or determine inspection fees. These fees vary by inspection station and can range between $20 and $50 per vehicle.

Typically, vehicle inspections assess the car’s overall condition and safety, focusing on the following areas:

• Steering and suspension
• Brakes
• Odometer and speedometer
• Electrical systems
• Lights and reflectors
• Mirrors
• Exhaust system
• On-board diagnostics system
• Fuel system
• Tires and wheels

In addition to these components, inspection stations also review the vehicle’s registration, plates, registration certificate, and VIN. This part of the process is crucial to confirm the registration and title details, and to flag discrepancies, fraud, or illegality.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not have a general procedure or process for a VIN replacement. As a result, you may need to contact your nearest DMV office or your town or city clerk to make the necessary inquiries about the authorized procedure. This is crucial because attempting to modify or replace your VIN without following the authorized procedure may be indicative of fraud or an attempt to alter the vehicle’s title illegally.

Does New Hampshire Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

VIN verification in New Hampshire is generally not required for out-of-state vehicles. It is only required if the vehicle is coming from a foreign country (like Canada) or from a state that only requires a title for vehicles that are 10 years old and newer.