New Hampshire Drivers Practice Test

When purchasing a vehicle through a private sale, who completes the title application?

1. Dealer

2. State police

3. Town clerk

4. Private seller

The correct answer is: Town clerk

The correct answer is that the town clerk completes the title application during a private sale. In New Hampshire, when you purchase a vehicle privately, the ownership must be transferred officially, necessitating the submission of a title application to the town or city where the new owner resides. The role of the town clerk is crucial in this process as they handle the recording of vehicle ownership and ensure that all legal requirements are met. This includes verifying that the title is properly signed over by the seller, checking that there are no liens on the vehicle, and processing the application to issue a new title in the buyer's name. While dealers often manage this process for vehicle sales, it is not applicable in a private sale situation. State police are not involved in title transactions but may be called upon for other vehicle-related issues such as inspections or investigations. The private seller's responsibility typically includes signing over the title, but they do not submit the application to the town clerk; rather, that task falls to the buyer or a representative of the buyer.