Motor Vehicle FAQ

The following information is intended to answer the most frequently asked questions regarding motor vehicle registration. The information is not intended to be complete or specific to all individual circumstances. For further information, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 603-675-5207.

Registration Process Summary

  1. Residents must pay Town fees to the Town of Cornish (one’s place of residence or where the vehicle is housed). Always begin the process at the Town Clerk’s Office at 488 Town House Road, Cornish, NH.
  2. State fees are paid to the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (NH DMV). The Town Clerk is an online Municipal Agent for the State DMV; therefore, registrations may be completed entirely at our office

What is the Town Fee?

The town permit fee is calculated per RSA 261:153. The personal property tax (fee) is based upon he original list price of the vehicle. The tax rate for the current model year is $18/$1000 of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price when new. The rate then drops in $3 increments to $15, $12, $9, $6, and $3; however, the fee shall never be less than $5.00. The first owner’s date of birth determines when the registration will expire. The registration is prorated from the month of the registration to the expiration month. This period will be calculated for no less than 5 months or greater than 16 months. In addition, each registrant is assessed one dollar for a town clerk fee (RSA 261:152). If you get your decals from the Clerk’s Office, the Town receives $2.50 per vehicle for this service.

What is the State Fee?

State motor vehicle registration are calculated per RSA 261:141.The state fee is based upon weight.

  • 0-3,000 lbs. pay $31.20/year ($2.60/month)
  • 3,001-5,000 lbs. pay $43.20/year ($3.60/month)
  • 5,001-8,000 lbs. pay $55.20/year ($4.60/month)
  • 8,001-73,280 lbs. pay $0.96 per hundred pounds gross weight
  • Motorcycles pay $15/year ($1.25/month)

What forms of payment do you accept at the Town Clerk’s Office?

Cash or checks are accepted at the Clerk’s office. We do no accept credit or debit cards. We will not accept third-party checks.

How do I renew my registration?

Registration renewals can be processed by mail or in person at the Town Clerk’s Office. Cornish residents should receive a renewal notice by mail. Residents may renew in person at our office or mail the bottom portion of the renewal notice to the Town Clerk’s Office with one check payable to the Town of Cornish and on check payable to the NH DMV.

What if I want to complete the process at the State DMV or substation?

You must always begin the process at the Town Clerk’s Office. You will take the Town-issued permit to the DMV for the completion of the registration process. The DMV will issue your completed registration and new decals.

When do I renew my registration?

Registrations are renewed annually during the first owner’s birth month. during the month prior to the expiration date of the registration, the Clerk’s Office will mail a renewal notice in the amount(s) due. It is helpful if you bring the renewal notice OR the expiring registration to renew. You may renew a registration up to four (4) months early.

What do I need to bring to the Town to register a vehicle I just purchased?

You will need ONE* of the following:

If purchased from a NH dealer – the Certificate of Title Application (Town Clerk Copy) provided by the dealer.

If purchased private sale – The original Certificate of Title signed over on the back to the new owner(s). It must include the signature(s) of the seller(s) and the buyer(s), buyer’s address, and current odometer reading.

If purchased out of state, original Title or Certificate of Origin signed over on the back to the new owner.

* If you are transferring NH plates from a vehicle you have traded or are taking off the road to a vehicle new to you, your current registration will also be necessary. Only same owner to same owner transfers are permitted unless you lease a vehicle. Contact the Town Clerk’s Office for more information.

For vehicles whose model year is 1999 or older, you will need a bill of sale from the seller to the buyer, signed by both parties, AND one of the following documents:

  • A copy of the owner’s previously issued or expired NH registration, or
  • A copy of a valid NH or out-of-state title, or
  • A verification of VIN Form TDMV-19A

What if I am a new resident?

If you have moved to Cornish from another NH city or town, you must first establish residency by providing ONE of the following documents, unless otherwise specified:

  • Homeowner’s/Renter’s Liability Insurance listing Cornish as your PRIMARY residence, or
  • Lease/Rental Agreement or Statement from Property Owner listing physical address of home in Cornish, or
  • Envelope with current postal forwarding physical address label – within the last 30 days, or
  • Current – within 30 days – Electric/Cable/Fuel bill listing street address, or
  • Payroll check or payroll document or employment contract showing Cornish physical address.

What is the difference between a new, renewal, or transfer registration?

A new registration is registering a vehicle for the first time under your name in the State of New Hampshire. If the vehicle was registered in NH, then registered in another state; and then you return to NH – a new registration must be processed.

A renewal registration is required when a NH registration is being renewed for another 12 months. There is no proration of renewal registrations. Registrations are always for the full 12 months.

A transfer registration is required when you have taken a vehicle (vehicle A) off the road, and you are registering a new vehicle (vehicle B). A transfer allows you to apply the unused portion of the permit fees from Vehicle A to Vehicle B’s registration fee due. In doing a transfer, the FIRST owner of the new car and the FIRST owner of the old car must be the same.

Can I get license plates in Cornish?

The following plate types are available at the Clerk’s Office:

  • Passenger
  • Conservation
  • Motorcycle
  • Farm
  • Tractor
  • Vanity/Initial
  • State Park
  • Trailer
  • Agriculture

Please contact the Town Clerk’s Office for additional information on the cost of the different plates available at our office. Other plate types available include Veteran, Apportion, Commercial, and Construction Equipment. These plates are available through the Division of Motor Vehicles in concord or at any substation after paying your Town fee at the Clerk’s Office.

When will my registration expire?

Expiration dates are the last day of the owner’s birth month (unlike one’s license that expires on one’s birthday). For companies, the registration date is based on the company name. For example, companies with names beginning with “A” or “B” expire in the month of January. For vehicles leased, the month is based upon the first letter of the lease company’s name.

Can someone else renew my registration for me?

If you cannot come personally, someone else can renew your registration. The person you designate should provide the Clerk’s Office with the expiring registration. However, Clerks cannot make any changes to a registration if you do not appear in person. The person you designate to renew for you will be required to present a valid photo ID.

Can I transfer my spouse’s registration and plates to my name?

The plates and registration belong to the registered owner. The first name on a registration “owns” the plate. If your spouse’s car did not have your name on the old registration and the new car purchased has both names, you can transfer only if your spouse’s name is first on the new vehicle’s registration. You will be listed as the second owner. If the new vehicle is in your name only, you cannot transfer.

I lost my plates, decals, or registration. What do I do?

After the first owner completes an Application for Replacement, plates, decals, or registration can be issued from the Clerk’s Office at an additional charge.

I am buying a car out of state. How do I register a car I don’t have possession of yet?

The State of New Hampshire may issue a 20-day temporary plate with the following documents:

  • Proof of Identity, such as a photo ID, and
  • Bill of Sale which includes legal names and addresses of buyer(s) and seller(s) and signatures of buyer(s) and seller(s).

Twenty day plates can be issued at the DMV in Concord or at any registration substation. The cost is $10. This fee cannot be applied to your permanent registration. The Town Clerk’s Office does not issue temporary plates.

I am moving to another NH city/town. Is my registration valid?

Yes, please send a completed Record Change Request Form to :

NH Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles
23 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305