The New Hampshire salvage title is a unique type of title certificate issued by the state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for motor vehicles that were declared total losses by an insurer after they have sustained damages due to various occurrences. Note that either the vehicle owner or the insurance company will have to apply for a car salvage certificate, depending on who retains ownership of the motor vehicle. After issuing the title, the state DMV will brand it correspondingly and send it to the applicant’s address.

Car owners who restore their salvage vehicles can later apply for a rebuilt title in NH, provided their motor vehicle was not junked and is repairable. In such cases, the vehicle will have to pass an inspection for purposes of verifying that the damages have been repaired by using authentic parts that were not stolen. Learn more about the state salvage title laws in the following sections.

What is a New Hampshire salvage title?

If you need more information about the New Hampshire salvage car title, note that it is a special type of vehicle title that serves to monitor wrecked vehicles that cannot be legally or safely operated. The purpose of the DMV salvage title is to prevent fraud related to vehicle titles and insurance policies and protect consumers selling and purchasing vehicles within the state.

After this type of title is issued, the motor vehicle in question will be disqualified from receiving a new vehicle registration until the necessary repairs are made. The vehicle title will also be marked “salvage” to indicate that the vehicle has recently sustained heavy damages.

New Hampshire Salvage Title Eligibility Requirements

A vehicle owner can apply for a salvage certificate in New Hampshire only if his or her vehicle is declared a total loss by an insurance company. To be declared a total loss vehicle and qualify for a car salvage title, the motor vehicle must be an unrecovered stolen vehicle or a vehicle damaged by fire, water, collision or other occurrences to the point that:

• It cannot be physically repaired, or it is uneconomical to conduct the necessary repairs after an insurance claim was filed.
• The costs to repair it are greater than 74 percent of the vehicle’s actual value before sustaining the damages in its first five model years.

Note: Certain types of vehicles are exempted from the state title laws. Your motor vehicle will qualify for a salvage title only if is a non-exempt vehicle.

How to Get a Salvage Title in New Hampshire

The application process for a New Hampshire salvage vehicle title can be completed by submitting the necessary items either in person or by mail to the main office of the DMV Title Bureau in Concord. The steps in the procedure may vary slightly depending on whether the applicant is the original owner or a representative of his or her insurance company. For instance, when buying a salvage title car owners will be required to follow these steps:

1. Obtain and fill out the Application for Salvage Certificate (Form TDMV 24).
   1. The application form must be typewritten.
2. Arrange payment for the applicable title fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the state DMV.
3. Collect the original title certificate.
4. Obtain any lien release forms, if applicable.
5. Deliver the above items either in person or send them by mail to the following address:
   1. Division of Motor Vehicles
      Bureau of Title and Anti-Theft
      Concord, NH 03305

Once the division receives and processes your request for an NH vehicle salvage title, it will manufacture your title certificate and mail it to your address on file. Note that the application for a salvage certificate must be submitted within 20 days of the total loss settlement, regardless of whether the vehicle is retained by the owner or acquired by the insurer.

Salvage Car Inspections in New Hampshire

Motor vehicles do not have to pass a salvage vehicle inspection in New Hampshire for purposes of receiving a salvage certificate. However, if the vehicle owner chooses to apply for a rebuilt salvage title after restoring a wrecked vehicle, his or her motor vehicle will have to undergo a salvage inspection. The purpose of this examination is to check whether or not the vehicle is roadworthy after the necessary repairs have been conducted. The inspection must also verify that none of the component parts used to rebuild the vehicle were stolen.

To complete the salvage car inspection in NH, the vehicle owner will first have to schedule an appointment by contacting the DMV Title Bureau at 603-227-4150. The applicable fee must also be paid over the phone when making the appointment. Then, applicants will be required to collect the following items:

• The insurance report detailing the vehicle damages
• The Salvaged Motor Vehicle Affidavit Application (Form DSMV 545A)
• Proof of repair of the vehicle
• The vehicle salvage title
• The bills of sale, receipts and/or titles for the major parts used to restore the motor vehicle to operable status

After arriving at the inspection location, the vehicle owner will be required to submit the above items before the DMV-authorized personnel conducts the inspection. Once the inspector verifies and approves the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the component parts, he or she will attach a salvage decal to the vehicle. The owner will also receive the DMV Salvage Vehicle Identification Number Verification Report (Form DSMV 547). At this point, the vehicle owner can apply for an NH rebuilt title and license plates by submitting the inspection report along with the above items and applicable fee payments through a local clerk’s office.

Note: You can legally operate the motor vehicle to the inspection station with a 20-day temporary permit or have it towed.

New Hampshire Salvage Title Fees

One of the last steps when getting a New Hampshire salvage certificate and/or a restored salvage title is arranging payment for the applicable fees. To get a salvage car title, for instance, you will have to pay a single $10 titling fee. However, if you repair the motor vehicle and later choose to obtain a rebuilt title in NH, you will have to pay additional costs.

In such cases, you will first have to arrange payment for the $50 inspection fee. Then, you will have to pay the rebuilt title fee and the applicable registration costs, which will vary based on factors such as the type of vehicle and the license plates you choose.

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