New Hampshire · NH · Vehicles
New Hampshire: Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
No safety inspection
New Hampshire ended its annual vehicle safety inspection on January 31, 2026.
A 2025 state law repealed New Hampshire's motor vehicle inspection sections, effective January 31, 2026. A 2026 law now makes it a violation to drive an unsafe car and lets police issue a defective equipment tag that gives the owner at least 7 days to make repairs. The 2025 law also repeals the emissions (OBD) testing section, but only once certain conditions are met, and this check could not confirm whether they have been. School buses are still inspected.
What the law says
Repealed by 2025, 141:253, IV, eff. Jan. 31, 2026.
Sources
- RSA 266:1 (repealed) Official · gc.nh.gov
- RSA 266:8-b Official · gc.nh.gov
- RSA 266:59-b Official · gc.nh.gov
- RSA chapter 266 (full text) Official · gc.nh.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
- Website
- dmv.nh.gov
How bordering states compare
- Maine Regular safety inspectionYes. Maine requires every motor vehicle that must be registered in the state to pass an inspection every year.
- Massachusetts Regular safety inspectionMassachusetts requires a yearly safety inspection for registered motor vehicles.
- Vermont Regular safety inspectionVermont requires every registered vehicle to pass a safety inspection once a year.
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