Car registration

[8gv]

Florida has no annual inspection requirement.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by 8gv

Florida has no annual inspection requirement.

This is true; Florida does not have vehicle inspections. It is up to the owner to keep the vehicle in good running and safe condition.

I must also add that some vehicles in Florida are really not in great condition and this is a direct result of the state eliminating their annual vehicle inspections some 20 years ago.

I for one would actually enjoy seeing the state re-implementing annual vehicle inspections for the safety of all but with the current political climate I don't think it will happen anytime soon.

[fatlazyless]

Hurray for Florida .... annual car inspections can be a little tough on us lower income drivers for big money items like tires, brakes, windshield wiper blades, cracked windshields, and outside light bulbs plus the $40 state inspection fee. Hey ..... is very expensive just for the gasoline!

In all 50-states, commercial trucks and trailers get inspected every 12-months by federal law, and maybe(?) in New Hampshire it is 6-months, NH law, for the truck, and 12-months for the trailer.

[TiltonBB]

The existing law is absurd. In a personal sense that means I cannot take my NH vehicle, that is my transportation while I am in NH, to visit out of state relatives and stay overnight. What is someone supposed to do? Rent a car?

That also became a problem when I purchased a vehicle in Florida to drive to NH and leave in NH. The town clerk (correctly according to current law) refused to register the car because it was out of state. One should not have to pay sales tax and higher insurance costs for NH based vehicles because of this law.

After years of complaining about the non resident registration law I decided to attempt to have changes made. I spoke to the Governor at a fundraiser and got his support. I asked Senator Harold French to submit legislation and he did. In February I flew from Florida to NH to testify before the Senate Transportation Committee in Concord. I also spoke to House Transportation Committee members and attended their meetings.

The result is the following change that will become law on January 1, 2020.

Partial language printed to save space here:

Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Reciprocity for Nonresidents. Amend RSA 261:46 to read as follows:

261:46 Nonresident Registration. the department shall register motor vehicles owned by individuals who are not residents of New Hampshire upon presentation of an affidavit by the applicant, on a form developed by the department, swearing that the vehicle is principally garaged or is regularly kept overnight in New Hampshire and that the applicant is the owner of at least one other vehicle which is registered and insured in the state of the applicant's residence.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.

[marcucci]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The existing law is absurd...I decided to attempt to have changes made.

@TiltonBB, great work!

https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/SB37/2019

or

http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_sta...illnumber=SB37

[fatlazyless]

Here's a question:


Where is says "Spectrum ..... Partisan bill .... Republican 4-0" ...... in the first legiscan blue link ..... what does

this mean? ...... some intelligent insight would be appreciated.

[robmac]

I keep a vehicle in FL with NH plates year round and used to have one here with FL plates never an issue. Too much information given at Town Hall ends up bad, I would simply go and register. Bring docs with proving residence utility bill, phone bill tax bill

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by robmac

I keep a vehicle in FL with NH plates year round and used to have one here with FL plates never an issue.Too much information given at Town Hall ends up bad,I would simply go and register.Bring docs with proving residence utility bill,phone bill tax bill

If you keep a New Hampshire plated vehicle in Florida year around then how do you keep a current inspection sticker on it?

[exlakesregioner]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

If you keep a New Hampshire plated vehicle in Florida year around then how do you keep a current inspection sticker on it?

He never drives it back to NH, so they have no idea. I've never have to prove inspection to get a plate renewal.

[tis]

He is probably lucky he has never been stopped in Fl. for an expired inspection.

[Little Bear]

Originally Posted by tis

He is probably lucky he has never been stopped in Fl. for an expired inspection.

Florida doesn’t care whether your inspection sticker is expired or not, since they don’t require cars to be inspected. With that said, I’ve seen some vehicles on the road in Florida that belong in the junkyard.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Little Bear

Florida doesn’t care whether your inspection sticker is expired or not, since they don’t require cars to be inspected. With that said, I’ve seen some vehicles on the road in Florida that belong in the junkyard.

Maybe but I have heard some cops will stop them if they notice the sticker has expired.

[TiltonBB]

Since Florida does not have a law regarding vehicle inspections there is no violation if your out of state inspection has expired. A police officer in one state cannot write you a ticket for a violation of a law in a different state.

[Top-Water]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Since Florida does not have a law regarding vehicle inspections there is no violation if your out of state inspection has expired. A police officer in one state cannot write you a ticket for a violation of a law in a different state.

I believe this is correct.

[fatlazyless]

Florida is the third most populous state with 21.3 million people, and it must have plenty traffic congestion.

For population size, it's California #1, Texas #2, Florida #3, and New York #4.

Seems incredibly unsafe to not have required annual car inspections. There's no shortage of people who need and want a car but have a tough time paying for all the car items, so they just keep driving with bad tires, bad brakes, bad windshield wiper blades, cracked windshields, burnt out light bulbs, and maybe no insurance coverage.

Up till about 1980, it was pretty standard for many states to have an inspection required every six months. In Massachusetts the six month inspection used to cost $2 and then it doubled to $4, which was very unpopular, and then it got switched from every six months to every 12 months.

Commercial trucks, trailers, and buses have to get inspected every year in all fifty states. Is maybe true that here in New Hampshire commercial trucks and buses get inspected every six months, and trailers, every year?

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by robmac

I keep a vehicle in FL with NH plates year round and used to have one here with FL plates never an issue.Too much information given at Town Hall ends up bad,I would simply go and register.Bring docs with proving residence utility bill,phone bill tax bill

Bought a car in Florida and as a NH resident I didn't need to pay sales tax as long as it's registered in NH. Drove it home, registered, inspected and drove it back to Florida where it remains. No inspections required and I just renew each year,
Years later I bought another car in Florida for use in NH. Again, no sales tax, shipped it home and registered here. All legal and no tax. Love NH

[fatlazyless]

What's a big revenue producer for NH towns and the State of NH is the automobile excise tax. This tax gets split between your town and the state.

The NH local town excise tax on cars, especially newer and more expensive cars is not cheap, it is expensive, and it varies from town to town just like the property tax, except it decreases every year as the car gets one year older.

Your local town clerk is what keeps NH running.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Bought a car in Florida and as a NH resident I didn't need to pay sales tax as long as it's registered in NH. Drove it home, registered, inspected and drove it back to Florida where it remains. No inspections required and I just renew each year,
Years later I bought another car in Florida for use in NH. Again, no sales tax, shipped it home and registered here. All legal and no tax. Love NH

That gets complicated when you change your residence. I changed my residence to Florida for tax purposes a few years ago.

When I was negotiating the purchase of a car in Florida, that I would take to and register in New Hampshire,the dealership told me if I took possession of it in Florida the sales tax would be due. That included if I had it shipped to New Hampshire on a truck that I arranged for.

Their policy was that the only way Florida sales tax would not be due was if the dealer shipped it to NH because that would not constitute me taking possession of the car in Florida. I think that is legally correct. I am sure they were making money on the shipping too.

[tis]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

That gets complicated when you change your residence. I changed my residence to Florida for tax purposes a few years ago.

When I was negotiating the purchase of a car in Florida, that I would take to and register in New Hampshire,the dealership told me if I took possession of it in Florida the sales tax would be due. That included if I had it shipped to New Hampshire on a truck that I arranged for.

Their policy was that the only way Florida sales tax would not be due was if the dealer shipped it to NH because that would not constitute me taking possession of the car in Florida. I think that is legally correct. I am sure they were making money on the shipping too.

That must have changed because we bought two cars in Fl and had them shipped to NH and didn't have to pay sales tax.

[MBNeckguy]

Originally Posted by tis

That must have changed because we bought two cars in Fl and had them shipped to NH and didn't have to pay sales tax.

I purchased a new car via eBay from Florida about 7 years ago and had it shipped to N.H. via my own arrangements and did not pay any sales tax either.


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[IslandRadio]

Originally Posted by MBNeckguy

I purchased a new car via eBay from Florida about 7 years ago and had it shipped to N.H. via my own arrangements and did not pay any sales tax either.


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Wow, you bought a car on Ebay... I'm sure it's done all the time - just never encountered anyone who actually did it.

[tis]

I would love to know the true answer to whether or not out of state police can stop you for non inspection in NH because i have a friend who now lives in Georgia and she is preparing to have her car shipped home so she can have it inspected here. If it truly isn't an issue for her, I am sure she would like to know so she doesn't have to go through the grief. She has a home in NH too.

[robmac]

No state can enforce NH inspection rules and regs other than NH. I don't even have a sticker on my car

[tis]

Originally Posted by robmac

No state can enforce NH inspection rules and regs other than NH. I don't even have a sticker on my car

I was curious though because I had heard of people being stopped in Fl for non inspection in another state. So I just quickly looked and it did say Pa. will notify other states that somebody has an expired inspection.

[TheTimeTraveler]

I guess the real question is: "Is a New Hampshire vehicle legally registered if it doesn't have a current New Hampshire inspection sticker" ?

I think this question would only come up if the vehicle were involved in an accident in ANY of the 50 states.

Taking it a step further; Will the insurance company actually pay any claim (for accident or injuries) if the vehicle were involved in an accident and not displaying a current inspection sticker?

I am guessing the lack of a current inspection sticker under these circumstances '"could" be an issue....... but who really knows for sure? Is it worth it to take a chance or not?

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

That gets complicated when you change your residence. I changed my residence to Florida for tax purposes a few years ago.

When I was negotiating the purchase of a car in Florida, that I would take to and register in New Hampshire,the dealership told me if I took possession of it in Florida the sales tax would be due. That included if I had it shipped to New Hampshire on a truck that I arranged for.

Their policy was that the only way Florida sales tax would not be due was if the dealer shipped it to NH because that would not constitute me taking possession of the car in Florida. I think that is legally correct. I am sure they were making money on the shipping too.

That is a complete tax grab by Florida. In NY and NJ you do not pay sales tax until the vehicle is registered.

I purchased cars in both states and registered them in NH. One time the dealership used a service and regather car for me in NH and took delivery in NJ and in NY they gave me 30 day temporary transportation plates and I brought the car to NH to register.


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[robmac]

To answer your question FL has no inspection at all so not an issue.

[tis]

Originally Posted by joey2665

That is a complete tax grab by Florida. In NY and NJ you do not pay sales tax until the vehicle is registered.

I purchased cars in both states and registered them in NH. One time the dealership used a service and regather car for me in NH and took delivery in NJ and in NY they gave me 30 day temporary transportation plates and I brought the car to NH to register.


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Tilton is wrong, Joey. Fl does not collect the sales tax either until you register it in that state. We bought a car, had temporary plates and then sent it to NH. We did NOT pay a sales tax on that car. The other car we just had shipped to NH without using it in Fl. at all.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by tis

Tilton is wrong, Joey. Fl does not collect the sales tax either until you register it in that state. We bought a car, had temporary plates and then sent it to NH. We did NOT pay a sales tax on that car. The other car we just had shipped to NH without using it in Fl. at all.

I am not sure how I am wrong. All I did was repeat the dealers policy. You may feel the dealers policy is wrong.

I also bought a car in Illinois in March. That dealer (a large dealership that sells 1,200 cars per month) had the same policy. They had to ship the car to avoid the sales tax. I got into a lengthy discussion process with them and even got a legal opinion from the Illinois Department of Revenue that supported the dealer's position. That opinion stated that if I, or my trucking company, took possession of the car in Illinois the sales tax would be due.

I had the car in my possession for 3 weeks before I got them to release the title. Eventually, the dealership paid my sales tax so they would not have trouble with the Illinois DOR. That is despite my providing them with a legal opinion from an attorney at their DOR stating that no sales tax was due.

[tis]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I am not sure how I am wrong. All I did was repeat the dealers policy. You may feel the dealers policy is wrong.

I also bought a car in Illinois in March. That dealer (a large dealership that sells 1,200 cars per month) had the same policy. They had to ship the car to avoid the sales tax. I got into a lengthy discussion process with them and even got a legal opinion from the Illinois Department of Revenue that supported the dealer's position. That opinion stated that if I, or my trucking company, took possession of the car in Illinois the sales tax would be due.

I had the car in my possession for 3 weeks before I got them to release the title. Eventually, the dealership paid my sales tax so they would not have trouble with the Illinois DOR. That is despite my providing them with a legal opinion from an attorney at their DOR stating that no sales tax was due.

Well, if it actually happening to us isn't proof enough that you are wrong than I guess I am not going to convince you. You can believe whoever "told" you whatever and go on your merry way believing what you want. I am not going to argue with you.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by tis

Well, if it actually happening to us isn't proof enough that you are wrong than I guess I am not going to convince you. You can believe whoever "told" you whatever and go on your merry way believing what you want. I am not going to argue with you.

Ok. I see my mistake. If it happened to me I exactly the way I stated it did I, and two car dealers and the Department of Revenue, must be wrong. If it happened to you it must be true.

Now I get it!

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Jenfa, you have to get a license within 60 days of making NH your residency. Nothing to do with registering a car.

[Newbiesaukee]

Originally Posted by robmac

I keep a vehicle in FL with NH plates year round and used to have one here with FL plates never an issue.Too much information given at Town Hall ends up bad,I would simply go and register.Bring docs with proving residence utility bill,phone bill tax bill

Not to open a can of worms...but when I was investigating some similar issues, my insurance company required that a car be domiciled for more than 6 months in the state in which it was insured. Also, if you have NH insurance you want to be sure that you have coverage for uninsured motorists as Florida has a whole lot of them.

For me, the need to have adequate insurance was the most important issue. Different insurers may have different policies...but a car registered in NH staying in FL permanently might not be covered. And insurers are very good at avoiding paying after investigating if there is a significant claim.

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by robmac

I keep a vehicle in FL with NH plates year round and used to have one here with FL plates never an issue. Too much information given at Town Hall ends up bad, I would simply go and register. Bring docs with proving residence utility bill, phone bill tax bill

Phone bill. What’s a phone bill?


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[Descant]

Originally Posted by gillygirl

Phone bill. What’s a phone bill?

There's a description on the inside back cover of your phone book.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The existing law is absurd. In a personal sense that means I cannot take my NH vehicle, that is my transportation while I am in NH, to visit out of state relatives and stay overnight. What is someone supposed to do? Rent a car?

That also became a problem when I purchased a vehicle in Florida to drive to NH and leave in NH. The town clerk (correctly according to current law) refused to register the car because it was out of state. One should not have to pay sales tax and higher insurance costs for NH based vehicles because of this law.

After years of complaining about the non resident registration law I decided to attempt to have changes made. I spoke to the Governor at a fundraiser and got his support. I asked Senator Harold French to submit legislation and he did. In February I flew from Florida to NH to testify before the Senate Transportation Committee in Concord. I also spoke to House Transportation Committee members and attended their meetings.

The result is the following change that will become law on January 1, 2020.

Partial language printed to save space here:

Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Reciprocity for Nonresidents. Amend RSA 261:46 to read as follows:

261:46 Nonresident Registration. the department shall register motor vehicles owned by individuals who are not residents of New Hampshire upon presentation of an affidavit by the applicant, on a form developed by the department, swearing that the vehicle is principally garaged or is regularly kept overnight in New Hampshire and that the applicant is the owner of at least one other vehicle which is registered and insured in the state of the applicant's residence.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.

The key word is "regularly" which I take as, you can visit someone out of state over night as long as it's not a long stay?

[TiltonBB]

I think that is very open to interpretation. I am not sure how you could be charged with a violation if you kept the car in New Hampshire "often". Unless there is a legal definition of regularly it would be pretty hard to prove that you violated a vague law.

The dictionary says regularly means "occurring or doing something frequently enough over a period of time to establish a pattern, though not necessarily a strict one." I think that covers a lot of situations.

The other curious part of the new law is that they will require someone to have a vehicle "registered and insured in the state of the applicants residence". That is coming from New Hampshire, a state that does not require automobile insurance.

The final language is not what was initially submitted but it is what was approved by the House and signed by the Governor.

At least they improved on the old law.

[Newbiesaukee]

I think the intent of the wording requires that you have a home state car also and the car registered in NH is not the car you are using regularly in your home state.

[BroadHopper]

I register the RV in NH as this is my residency and address. I was a full timer and spent months in several states and no one has approach me about registration including FL. So my guess is proof of residency?

[TiltonBB]

New Hampshire determines residency by where your driver's license is from. If you have an out of state license then you are a non-resident. If you do not have a driver's license then the Town Clerk can decide if you are a resident. Absent that, or in a disagreement, I assume that the courts could get involved.

Most states have laws that say if you establish a residence there and are gainfully employed for over 30 days you must switch your vehicle registration(s) and license to that state. There is a tremendous grey area.

I asked a DMV official in Florida if they thought every snowbird that went to Florida for the winter and got a job bagging groceries to supplement their income had changed their license and registration. They acknowledged that most would not but would be subject to arrest for unlicensed and unregistered if they were stopped. So, if this fits you, make sure you have the "right" answers ready if you get stopped. (No sir, no job, just passing through............)

[TiltonBB]

For anyone who is interested the new motor vehicle registration Nonresident Affidavit is attached.

It is simple and improves on the old law. It takes effect January 1, 2020.

[TiltonBB]

Senator Harold French who was instrumental in the filing and passing of the legislation regarding non-resident registrations has served three terms as a New Hampshire State Senator. His current term ends on December 7, 2022 and he is not going to seek reelection.

I know that the legislation has helped many people who keep and register vehicles at their New Hampshire property but maintain their legal residency elsewhere. The savings are significant.

Harold French is a real regular guy and very down to earth. He has decided to run for US Congress in the 2022 election. I understand he will make a formal announcement in early December.

If anyone (especially non -residents who benefited from his work on the registration law) would like to thank him for all he has done his mailing address is:
Senator Harold French, P.O. Box 11 Warner, NH 03278. I am sure he would appreciate it