Seasonal Resident Registering Vehicle in NH?

Long Pine · 03-03-2012, 09:35 PM

Does anyone know the rules regarding whether a seasonal resident (who owns a home) in NH can register their vehicle in NH or whether this is only available to those who establish permanent residency in NH to the exclusion of any other state?

There are clearly reasons why this makes sense if it is permissible. Buying a new vehicle in NH means no sales tax, but if you then register it in my current home state (CT), they demand that you pay the difference in sales tax between what you paid in NH (0%) and the current state tax rate (6.35%), thus defeating the purpose of buying in NH. However, if the vehicle is registered in NH, sales tax is avoided. Presumably if you live in a state like CT that also has annual personal property tax on vehicles, you could avoid this as well by registering the vehicle in NH.

I intend to call the DMV in both states this week, but am skeptical about getting an accurate answer since this is probably a rare situation. I don't want to break any rules but certainly don't want to miss out on taking advantage of an opportunity that may be legally available to me either. Just wondering if any of you have crossed this bridge. Thanks!

Long Pine · 03-03-2012, 09:52 PM

I found this thread after I posted but if anyone has additional info, feel free to add. Thanks.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ad.php?t=12231

Belmont Resident · 03-04-2012, 04:56 AM

You must hold a valid drivers license in the state you register a vehicle in. Boats, trailers, snowmobiles, etc are different. We can as resident of NH buy a car elsewhere and not pay the sales tax by providing proof of residency with our drivers license. Sorry no way around it with cars.

TomC · 03-04-2012, 05:13 AM

but the vehicle basically can't leave the state (maybe only 10 days per year IIRC). so it won't work for your purposes. i suspect you will get this answer when you call the motor vehicle authorities.

Merrymeeting · 03-04-2012, 07:40 AM

If you are going to leave the vehicle in NH at your other residence, than you can do it. But you need to sign an affidavit stating that the vehicle will not leave the state for more than 15 days per year.

This is no different than a corporation registering a vehicle in a state to do business when the business ownership is in another state.

FWIW, NH does have an annual personal property/excise tax.

Long Pine · 03-04-2012, 08:43 AM

Got it. Thanks for the replies. I had not seen the law about keeping it in NH 350 days/yr - I must have signed that affidavit when I registered my boat & trailer in NH several years ago (since they never leave NH) but had just forgotten. The difference is that the car will spend more time in CT so I will be registering in CT. Looking forward to the day I can change my residency to NH though!

songkrai · 03-04-2012, 09:07 AM

My seasonal neighbor did this a few years ago.
He/they live in Virginia.
He went to town hall.
I have no idea what he signed but he did get NH registration with Virginia drivers license.
He was told by town clerk that he cannot leave the state.
He telephone his insurance company and that company stated that they did not care where he drove the vehicle.
The vehicle does stay in NH year round.
He has driven out of state.

Now as to the laws. I don't have a clue.
NH used to have seasonal or Summer registrations but that is long gone now.

Let us know what you encounter as this question comes up periodically.

AC2717 · 03-04-2012, 09:37 AM

can't pertain to the laws of NH, but as for insurance, it does not matter where the car is driven, the insurance covers you in all 50 states and Canada, but not Mexico, so does not matter on that end

BroadHopper · 03-04-2012, 09:58 AM

I wonder how my nonresident Mcmansion owners keeps Escalades or Navigators in their garages with NH plates. Especially when you only see them on weekends during the summer. When they do come up to the lake, they would have Caddies and Bimmers with out of state plates. Do they hold dual license?

I do know folks that moves up here that they had to surrender their old license in order to have NH license.

songkrai · 03-04-2012, 10:35 AM

The days of having more then one drivers license are long gone.

Homeland Security. And computers.

P-3 Guy · 03-04-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

You must hold a valid drivers license in the state you register a vehicle in.

This is not accurate. You can be a legal resident of a state other than NH, with a driver's license from that other state, and still register a vehicle in NH, as long as the vehicle is principally used in NH.

Belmont Resident · 03-05-2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Pine

Got it. Thanks for the replies. I had not seen the law about keeping it in NH 350 days/yr - I must have signed that affidavit when I registered my boat & trailer in NH several years ago (since they never leave NH) but had just forgotten. The difference is that the car will spend more time in CT so I will be registering in CT. Looking forward to the day I can change my residency to NH though!

I'm not sure how expensive it is in your state but NH has become one of the most expensive state around to register vehicles in and it keeps getting worse and worse. Belmont town portion of the fee is absolutely ridiculous. Many from Mass have commented on how much more expensive it is then that state was.

RLW · 03-05-2012, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

I'm not sure how expensive it is in your state but NH has become one of the most expensive state around to register vehicles in and it keeps getting worse and worse. Belmont town portion of the fee is absolutely ridiculous. Many from Mass have commented on how much more expensive it is then that state was.

How true. In MA I paid $86 for 2 years for a 2008 pickup and here in NH it cost a bit more that $150 for a single year. Insurance, if you care to take it is just about the same on the pickup but more on a 09 Malibu.

BlackCatIslander · 03-05-2012, 09:15 AM

Massachusetts has an annual exsize tax. Does NH have one?

RLW · 03-05-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackCatIslander

Massachusetts has an annual exsize tax. Does NH have one?

No we don't, but our costs for the registation and all the other fees make up for more than the excise tax.

KBoater · 03-05-2012, 10:39 AM

I was a resident of FL for years and had a car registered in NH but the car never went to FL. I had a FL license.
Last year, I have changed back to NH. I changed my license (had to turn in my FL one), voting place, and sold my FL car.
I am renting my FL house.
The cars never left the areas they were registered in. That is the reason you will see 2 state registrations on 1 property.
You have 1 that is garaged in NH and another in another state where it is primarily used. The insurance company asks garaging questions.
The same was true for my boats. FL is very sticky about boat registration.
They have month rule.

ITD · 03-05-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLW

No we don't, but our costs for the registation and all the other fees make up for more than the excise tax.

Massachusetts Registration - $50 2 years

New car fees
Title - $75
Sales tax - 6.25%

Annual Excise tax - $25 per $1000 valuation

Mandatory insurance variable, but not cheap

dpg · 03-05-2012, 09:08 PM

I have neighbors in Mass who drive two cars with NH plates, their always here I actually never see them gone like weekends or anything. How are they doing it? And no, I'm not about to ask them.

EllyPoinster · 03-06-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpg

I have neighbors in Mass who drive two cars with NH plates, their always here I actually never see them gone like weekends or anything. How are they doing it? And no, I'm not about to ask them.

WMUR story about this situation: http://www.wmur.com/news/13251081/detail.html

How it could be legal: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1072758AAEQtoI

How you can find out about your neighbors: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/ipaytax/index.htm

Merrymeeting · 03-06-2012, 09:58 AM

The story on the WMUR site is 4 years old. I suspect that the incentive to register in NH vs MA is not as strong as it used to be.

I have cars registered in both states (legally). While the timing and method of how the taxes and fees are collected are different, over the long haul, the costs are about the same.

MA collects mostly on the front end through a sales tax. NH collects each year through much higher, annual registration and licensing fees.

03-03-2012, 09:35 PM	#1
Long Pine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 12 Posts	Seasonal Resident Registering Vehicle in NH? Does anyone know the rules regarding whether a seasonal resident (who owns a home) in NH can register their vehicle in NH or whether this is only available to those who establish permanent residency in NH to the exclusion of any other state? There are clearly reasons why this makes sense if it is permissible. Buying a new vehicle in NH means no sales tax, but if you then register it in my current home state (CT), they demand that you pay the difference in sales tax between what you paid in NH (0%) and the current state tax rate (6.35%), thus defeating the purpose of buying in NH. However, if the vehicle is registered in NH, sales tax is avoided. Presumably if you live in a state like CT that also has annual personal property tax on vehicles, you could avoid this as well by registering the vehicle in NH. I intend to call the DMV in both states this week, but am skeptical about getting an accurate answer since this is probably a rare situation. I don't want to break any rules but certainly don't want to miss out on taking advantage of an opportunity that may be legally available to me either. Just wondering if any of you have crossed this bridge. Thanks!

03-04-2012, 04:56 AM	#3
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 409 Times in 251 Posts	No You must hold a valid drivers license in the state you register a vehicle in. Boats, trailers, snowmobiles, etc are different. We can as resident of NH buy a car elsewhere and not pay the sales tax by providing proof of residency with our drivers license. Sorry no way around it with cars. __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

03-04-2012, 05:13 AM	#4
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 547 Thanks: 9 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	actually - i believe you can do it but the vehicle basically can't leave the state (maybe only 10 days per year IIRC). so it won't work for your purposes. i suspect you will get this answer when you call the motor vehicle authorities.

03-04-2012, 09:37 AM	#8
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,521 Thanks: 747 Thanked 344 Times in 257 Posts	can't pertain to the laws of NH, but as for insurance, it does not matter where the car is driven, the insurance covers you in all 50 states and Canada, but not Mexico, so does not matter on that end __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

03-04-2012, 09:58 AM	#9
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,509 Thanks: 3,116 Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts	NonResidents neighbors I wonder how my nonresident Mcmansion owners keeps Escalades or Navigators in their garages with NH plates. Especially when you only see them on weekends during the summer. When they do come up to the lake, they would have Caddies and Bimmers with out of state plates. Do they hold dual license? I do know folks that moves up here that they had to surrender their old license in order to have NH license. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

03-03-2012, 09:52 PM	#2
Long Pine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 12 Posts	I found this thread after I posted but if anyone has additional info, feel free to add. Thanks. http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ad.php?t=12231

03-04-2012, 07:40 AM	#5
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	If you are going to leave the vehicle in NH at your other residence, than you can do it. But you need to sign an affidavit stating that the vehicle will not leave the state for more than 15 days per year. This is no different than a corporation registering a vehicle in a state to do business when the business ownership is in another state. FWIW, NH does have an annual personal property/excise tax.

03-04-2012, 08:43 AM	#6
Long Pine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 12 Posts	Got it. Thanks for the replies. I had not seen the law about keeping it in NH 350 days/yr - I must have signed that affidavit when I registered my boat & trailer in NH several years ago (since they never leave NH) but had just forgotten. The difference is that the car will spend more time in CT so I will be registering in CT. Looking forward to the day I can change my residency to NH though!

03-04-2012, 09:07 AM	#7
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 725 Thanks: 35 Thanked 145 Times in 98 Posts	My seasonal neighbor did this a few years ago. He/they live in Virginia. He went to town hall. I have no idea what he signed but he did get NH registration with Virginia drivers license. He was told by town clerk that he cannot leave the state. He telephone his insurance company and that company stated that they did not care where he drove the vehicle. The vehicle does stay in NH year round. He has driven out of state. Now as to the laws. I don't have a clue. NH used to have seasonal or Summer registrations but that is long gone now. Let us know what you encounter as this question comes up periodically.

03-04-2012, 10:35 AM	#10
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 725 Thanks: 35 Thanked 145 Times in 98 Posts	The days of having more then one drivers license are long gone. Homeland Security. And computers.

03-05-2012, 09:15 AM	#14
BlackCatIslander Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201 Thanks: 52 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	What about the Excise Tax? Massachusetts has an annual exsize tax. Does NH have one?

03-05-2012, 10:39 AM	#16
KBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 521 Thanks: 10 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	In NH I was a resident of FL for years and had a car registered in NH but the car never went to FL. I had a FL license. Last year, I have changed back to NH. I changed my license (had to turn in my FL one), voting place, and sold my FL car. I am renting my FL house. The cars never left the areas they were registered in. That is the reason you will see 2 state registrations on 1 property. You have 1 that is garaged in NH and another in another state where it is primarily used. The insurance company asks garaging questions. The same was true for my boats. FL is very sticky about boat registration. They have month rule. __________________ Home Permanently in NH

03-05-2012, 09:08 PM	#18
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	I have neighbors in Mass who drive two cars with NH plates, their always here I actually never see them gone like weekends or anything. How are they doing it? And no, I'm not about to ask them.

03-06-2012, 09:58 AM	#20
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	The story on the WMUR site is 4 years old. I suspect that the incentive to register in NH vs MA is not as strong as it used to be. I have cars registered in both states (legally). While the timing and method of how the taxes and fees are collected are different, over the long haul, the costs are about the same. MA collects mostly on the front end through a sales tax. NH collects each year through much higher, annual registration and licensing fees.