New Hampshire Duplicate Title

If your New Hampshire certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, you can apply for a duplicate at any NH DMV substation. The replacement is the standard path before any sale or refinance, and the application is straightforward — but the rules around old liens and out-of-state titles can add steps that take longer than the application itself.

Who can apply for a duplicate

A duplicate New Hampshire title can be requested by:

• The current registered owner of record.
• The lienholder of record, if a lien is recorded against the vehicle.
• An authorized agent acting under a notarized power of attorney.
• The executor or administrator of an estate, with letters testamentary or letters of administration.

If the owner of record is deceased, the surviving spouse or heir can apply with a death certificate plus an Affidavit of Heir or letters from the probate court. The buyer of a vehicle cannot directly request a duplicate — they must complete a title transfer first.

Required documents

Bring the following to any NH DMV substation:

• Completed TDMV 18 Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (the application includes a sworn statement explaining the loss).
• Proof of identity: driver license, passport, or other government-issued photo ID.
• The current vehicle registration if available.
• If a lien has been satisfied but is still recorded on the title of record, a lien-release letter from the lienholder.
• If applying as an authorized agent, a notarized power of attorney from the registered owner.
• If applying as an executor, the appropriate probate court documents.

Fee

The New Hampshire duplicate title fee is $25 — the same as the original title fee. The fee can be paid by cash, check, or credit card at the substation. There is no expedited fee or rush option; standard processing time applies.

Processing time

Most duplicate New Hampshire titles are mailed to the owner within 2-3 weeks of the application. The new title supersedes any prior title — if the original is found later, it should be destroyed because only the most recently issued title is legally valid.

Clearing an old lien

If your title shows a lien from a loan you've already paid off, the duplicate application is the typical opportunity to clear it. The lienholder of record must release the lien in writing — most lenders provide a release letter on company letterhead, signed by an authorized officer. The release is submitted with the TDMV 18, and the new title is issued without the lien. If the original lienholder has gone out of business or merged with another institution, the NH DMV requires:

• Documentation showing the loan was satisfied (a payoff letter, a final statement, or canceled checks).
• A signed affidavit from the owner explaining the lien-release request.
• A title-clearing investigation by the NH DMV's Title Bureau (additional time).

If the title was held by a lienholder

If your loan is still active and the title is held by your lender, the lender — not the owner — must apply for the duplicate. The owner provides authorization in writing and reimburses the lender for the $25 fee. Most lenders complete the duplicate application in-house and mail the new title to their records department.

Out-of-state replacements

If your prior title was issued by another state and has since been lost, you must replace it with the prior state — not New Hampshire. After receiving the replacement out-of-state title, you can transfer it to a New Hampshire title at any NH DMV substation following the standard title transfer process.

Stolen titles

If your title was stolen, file a police report before applying for a duplicate. The NH DMV will reference the report on the duplicate application and may flag the original title as void. If the stolen title is later used in a fraudulent transfer, the police report is the buyer's primary defense. Pull a current driver record only after the duplicate is issued — the title and driver record are separate.