New Hampshire Boat Registration Summary
New Hampshire boat registration summary is a free resource designed to inform the boating public about registration requirements, recording methods, and title search guidelines for the State of New Hampshire. The data is maintained as an open wiki forum where readers are encouraged to participate by sharing knowledge and experiences with this particular state. Simply click on the "Wiki-Share" link to contribute further details or suggest a revision.
This information is subject to change and should be confirmed with the respective agency.
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State of New Hampshire
Division of Motor Vehicles
Boat Registration Website
Registration Overview
New Hampshire is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. All non-exempt boats operating within this jurisdiction are administered by the Division of Motor Vehicles in Concord. This state does not issue registrations or titles on outboard motors. Boat trailer registration is required in New Hampshire and titles are required for those weighing over 3,000 lbs. are required for those weighing over 3,000 lbs. Sales and use tax do not apply to boat transactions. There are approximately 101,312 boats registered in the State of New Hampshire. This accounts for 0.9% of all nationwide registrations.Registration Requirements
Unless otherwise exempted, all motorboats of any size, and sailboats or sailboards 12 feet in length or longer must be registered in New Hampshire. USCG documented vessels are also subject to registration in New Hampshire. Exceptions are sailboats and sailboards under 12 feet in length, other small, non-motorized vessels such as canoes and kayaks. New Hampshire does not have provisions for bonded or conditional boat registrations where sufficient proof of ownership is not otherwise available. Under these circumstances it will be necessary to petition a court of local jurisdiction for an award of ownership. Transfers of ownership, abandonments, destructions, and thefts of registered boats must be reported within 15 days.Marking Requirements
Boat registration numbers in New Hampshire begin with an "NH" designation which is followed by four numbers and then two letters. These must be displayed on all non-documented boats along with registration sticker tabs. Coast Guard documented vessels may not display the state registration numbers. However they must display the state registration tabs, an owner designated vessel name, and a hailing port. An official documentation number must also be affixed to a visible interior location in the hull itself or an integral part of the hull.Ownership and Liens
New Hampshire is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. Registration certificates may however serve as quasi-proof of ownership unless the vessel is USCG documented. Security interests non-titled and non-documented boats are therefore recorded through Uniform Commercial Code filings. Tax liens are sometimes flagged in the state's registration database, recorded as UCC filings, shown on state revenue records, or filed with a county clerk's office. There are no provisions for recording mechanic's liens or other non-secured claims against registered boats which are not USCG documented. If the vessel is USCG documented, a security interest is perfected by filing a preferred vessel mortgage. These are recorded with the National Vessel Documentation Center with the earliest submissions taking priority. Other lien claims can be filed in the same manner although these function as notifications only. All such filings are indexed on the vessel's underlying abstract of title.Boat Title Searches
Boat registration records in New Hampshire are maintained by the Division of Motor Vehicles. This agency does not facilitate online searches for the general public but registration information may be obtained by submitting a boat record request form. This is the same as used for vehicles. However you must be the owner or a qualified requester. It is also reported that the DMV will provide telephone verifications on registration certificates in hand. New Hampshire is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. Security interests in non-documented boats are accordingly filed with the Secretary of State as Uniform Commercial Code recordings. Online UCC searches are available from their web site or by using a public record vendor. State and Federal tax liens on boats are not always recorded in a consistent manner and are therefore difficult to identify. They may show up as a red flag on state registration records, as UCC filings, in state revenue records, in a county clerks records, or on a vessel's abstract of title for documented boats. Given these disparities, it may be worth obtaining the services of a public record vendor that has access to a broad range of personal property lien recordings. Ownership, mortgage, and lien search recordings for USCG documented vessels can be obtained by ordering an abstract of title and a copy of the certificate of documentation from the National Vessel Documentation Center. However, these are encoded and can be difficult to interpret, especially on older vessels with numerous recordings. It may be worthwhile to contact a professional vessel title company for assistance in this regard. Non-recorded maritime liens may also be a factor when conducting boat title research in New Hampshire. These include liabilities for items such as services, equipment, fuel, storage, parts, supplies, and damages which can become attached to the boat itself regardless of ownership. One of the most useful tools for doing this kind of research is our premier boat history search database. It is a gathering of eight nationwide databases into a single interface which can be searched by numerous criteria. These include records for stolen boats, marine lien claims, boating accidents, pollution incidents, auctioned boats, factory recalls, and documented vessels. Yacht brokers, documentation companies, and attorneys do not warrant or guarantee titles. It is therefore incumbent on the owner to stand behind any such representations. Of course it will be of no consolation if a guarantor is insolvent, non-cooperative, or can not be located. This calls for a thorough background check to ensure the owner's wherewithal for making good on any hidden liens or title deficiencies.Advertisement
