Recreation vehicles, motor homes, and travel trailers are very popular and found year round on the roads in New Hampshire. In the warmer months we see more activity as travelers visit the White Mountains, Lakes Region, and New Hampshire Coastline.

Registering an RV is a two-step process. Most trailers and all large vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) greater than 26,000 pounds must be registered at a Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) substation only after you have paid the local town resident tax.

Town Clerk Registration

First-time registrations and all renewals start with your local town clerk. In some towns the clerk will mail you a renewal so you know just what to expect in registration fees. If you don't get a reminder you still need to register before the end of your birth month. You can usually register as many as four months before your birthday―if you are, say, off cruising the country in your RV.

The clock starts ticking after you get the registration from your town clerk. You have 10 days for an official inspection. There are over 2,500 licensed official state inspection stations in New Hampshire; make sure the station is licensed as evidenced by the Official Inspection Station sign and identification number. It is always a good idea to keep your RV in good working order.

State DMV Registration

The DMV substation will need the registration issued to you by your town clerk. You will get your decals and license plates and also pay a registration fee to the state. There are many DMV substations across the state but arrive early if you can; they get very busy.

Once you have the registration from your town clerk you can also choose to mail in for the state portion. Include the state fee, found on your registration permit, and mail the permit with the fee to:

• Department of Safety

• Division of Motor Vehicles

• 23 Hazen Drive

• Concord, NH 03305

With more folks traveling in their retirement we see an increase in the number of RVs on the highways. Driving a large RV or towing a travel trailer requires practice, defensive driving skills, and alertness. Because we all share the road with RVs, tractor trailers, motorcycles, cars, and pedestrians please make safety your top priority.

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