Last year the DMV entered legislation to allow primary lessees to remain as the primary registrant on the registration. This would allow the registration system to calculate all registration fees based on the primary lessee’s registration month. This would also allow future transfers to be calculated in the same manner as straight transfers and allow the customer full transfer credits. This change impacts all lease vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2020 all other preexisting leases are grandfathered in.

This new process was implemented by the DMV on January 5, 2020. Although the effective date of the law change was January 1, 2020, they needed time to allow all systems involved the ability to make the changes and test these changes.

What you need to know: The Law

AN ACT relative to transfer of vehicle ownership. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 190:1 Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; General Registration; Transfer of Ownership. Amend RSA 261:66, IV to read as follows:

IV. Any person who owns a vehicle shall be entitled to transfer the vehicle registration on that vehicle to a leased vehicle and any person who leases a vehicle shall be entitled to transfer the vehicle registration on that vehicle to an owned or leased vehicle and shall be given the same credit for this transfer as for any transfer of ownership provided under paragraphs I-III of this section. The registration shall be processed to expire according to the formula set forth in RSA 261:62. [If the transfer extends the expiration of the existing registration, pro-rated fees shall be charged for the additional months in the new registration period. If the transfer shortens the registration period from the existing registration period, no refund shall be issued.] In the case of a lease transfer, the primary lessee shall be the first person named on the registration and his or her date of birth shall determine the expiration date of the registration. Any person who obtains a vehicle transfer pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to the vehicle transfer fee. 190:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.

Going forward, after January 1, 2020 all inspection stickers should match the primary customers birth month for registrations of leased vehicles. Any leased vehicles that have been registered before this date are grandfathered in and will have the leasing company listed first until their lease expires.