New Hampshire has passed a law that ends mandatory annual safety inspections (and the windshield sticker) for passenger vehicles beginning January 31, 2026. Until that date, nothing changes—if your sticker is due in 2025, you still have to get inspected. After January 31, most passenger cars won’t need the yearly trip to the garage. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
Below is a clean, practical guide—stripped of rumor and wishful thinking—on what the new law actually does, where the legal language lives, and what obligations remain for drivers, garages, and commercial fleets.
The bottom line
- Effective date: The repeal of the inspection mandate for passenger vehicles kicks in Jan. 31, 2026. Through that date, the current inspection system remains in force and you can be ticketed for an expired sticker (NHPR notes the current penalty is $60). (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Legal backbone: The inspection statutes in RSA 266—including RSA 266:1 and RSA 266:1-a—are marked “repealed…effective January 31, 2026” on the New Hampshire General Court website. That’s your primary source of truth. (New Hampshire Governor’s Council)
- Scope: The change applies to passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, most CMVs) still require annual inspections under federal rules (49 CFR 396) even after New Hampshire’s repeal. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Emissions/I-M program: The state is moving to end OBD emissions testing tied to the inspection and maintenance (I/M) program; DES has opened a State Implementation Plan process and EPA-related petitions to enable the repeal. (des.nh.gov)
- Safety still enforceable: Even without stickers, equipment laws still apply. Drive with bald tires, no headlights, or a shattered windshield and you can still be stopped and cited under existing safety/equipment statutes and reckless driving provisions. The DMV and NHPR both stress this point. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Registration stays the same: You’ll still register your vehicle annually with your town/city clerk during your birth month. The inspection change does not alter registration. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
What exactly changes on January 31, 2026?
What ends: The state’s requirement that passenger vehicles undergo a once-a-year safety inspection with a windshield sticker—alongside the OBD emissions check bundled into that visit. Newsrooms and trade outlets have independently confirmed the effective date and scope. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
What remains:
- Police can still enforce unsafe-equipment laws (lights, brakes, tires, glass, exhaust, etc.). If your car is obviously unsafe, you’re still getting pulled over. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Registration obligations don’t change. You still renew with your municipality on the same schedule. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Commercial vehicles must still meet federal annual inspection requirements. Companies will need qualified inspectors per 49 CFR 396.19 rather than relying on the state inspection sticker to satisfy the federal rule. (nhmta.org)
Emissions testing: where the repeal stands
Because emissions testing is tied to federal clean-air planning, New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) is running a formal process to remove the I/M program from the state’s SIP (State Implementation Plan) and petition the EPA for needed approvals. DES has posted public notices and draft materials—as of October 2025, the agency scheduled a public hearing and comment period on the I/M repeal package. Translation: the state is doing the paperwork so the emissions portion of “inspections” can legally go away. (des.nh.gov)
Local reporting has echoed that timeline and noted that emissions requirements may phase out once EPA sign-offs are in place. (WMUR)
What you should do between now and the change
- If your sticker is due before Jan. 31, 2026, you still need to pass. Police can ticket you for an expired sticker in 2025 (NHPR cites $60). (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Fix obvious defects now. After repeal, officers can still stop you for defective equipment—no sticker does not mean no standards. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Keep maintenance records. With no annual inspection forcing a once-over, create your own maintenance cadence (tires, brakes, lights, fluids, rust checks). It’s safety—and evidence if you’re ever involved in a crash or dispute. (General advice; equipment enforcement remains via RSA 266 even post-repeal.) (New Hampshire Governor’s Council)
- If you operate commercial vehicles: Line up federally qualified inspectors (49 CFR 396) and document your annuals; you will not be able to rely on a NH sticker to prove federal compliance. (nhmta.org)
Why the law changed
The repeal came through the 2025 state budget package, with an explicit policy goal to reduce costs and government mandates for motorists. Outlets including NHPR, WMUR, and others have chronicled the politics and the planned transition. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
On the fiscal side, the General Court’s materials and bill analyses discuss the loss of state sticker fee revenue and associated accounts—small per vehicle, but meaningful in aggregate. (Legislative documents accompanying HB 649-FN walked through this.) (New Hampshire Governor’s Council)
Common myths vs. the actual rules
- “No inspections = I can drive anything.” False. Unsafe-equipment laws still apply; you can be stopped and cited for defects that make a vehicle unsafe on public roads. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- “Emissions checks vanish overnight.” Not exactly. The state is advancing the formal SIP and EPA steps to unwind the I/M program. That’s happening, but it’s a process with hearings and federal review. (des.nh.gov)
- “Commercial trucks/buses get a pass too.” No. Federal inspection requirements still apply to most CMVs, regardless of New Hampshire’s repeal. (nhmta.org)
- “I don’t have to register anymore.” Incorrect. Registration is unchanged and still due in your birth month. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
For the record: where to read the law yourself
If you want the primary sources, go straight to the New Hampshire General Court website. You’ll see the inspection sections in RSA 266 flagged as repealed effective Jan. 31, 2026:
- RSA 266:1 – Inspection Authorized (shows repeal effective date) (New Hampshire Governor’s Council)
- RSA 266:1-a – State Police Duties Relative to Vehicle Inspection (also shows repeal) (New Hampshire Governor’s Council)
NHPR’s FAQ is a good, plain-English digest that dovetails with the statute notes and includes DMV clarifications on what remains enforceable and what doesn’t. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
Quick FAQ
Do I still need a 2025 inspection?
Yes. The law doesn’t take effect until Jan. 31, 2026. Until then, inspections and stickers remain required. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
Will police still pull me over for a broken light or bald tires after 2026?
Yes. The equipment and reckless operation statutes didn’t go away. Officers can cite obvious safety defects. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
What about emissions?
DES is actively pursuing the federal steps to remove the I/M program from the state’s clean-air plan. Expect this to roll forward through the SIP/EPA process. (des.nh.gov)
Do commercial vehicles still need annual inspections?
Yes—under federal regs. Carriers must ensure inspections are done by a qualified inspector per 49 CFR 396.19. (nhmta.org)
Does registration change?
No. You still renew annually through your local clerk, same timing as before. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
Editor’s note (GSR’s take)
Killing the sticker won’t magically fix bad brakes. Taking the government out of an annual ritual puts the burden where it logically belongs: on owners to keep their vehicles safe and on police to enforce obvious hazards. That’s freedom with responsibility—Granite-grade. The smart move now is to adopt a maintenance routine that’s stricter than the old once-a-year peek, not laxer. Have a shop give you a multi-point check at oil-change time. Keep receipts. Replace the $12 bulb before it becomes the $300 ticket-plus-tow.
If you run a fleet, the conversation is simpler: federal law still rules your world. Get your internal program buttoned up before January so you’re not scrambling for qualified inspectors in February. (nhmta.org)
Further reading & official resources
- NHPR explainer with DMV clarifications on what changes and what doesn’t (passenger vehicles only; registration unchanged; safety still enforceable). (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- RSA 266 sections with official repeal notes effective Jan. 31, 2026 (General Court site). (New Hampshire Governor’s Council)
- WMUR coverage on the 2026 shift and how emissions will be handled. (WMUR)
- DES public notice and SIP documents explaining the I/M (emissions) rollback and EPA process. (des.nh.gov)
- NH Motor Transport Association advisory on federal CMV inspection requirements post-repeal. (nhmta.org)
One last practical checklist (print this)
- If your sticker is due before Jan. 31, 2026 → Get inspected. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- After the change → No sticker for passenger vehicles, but fix defects and keep records. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Run CMVs? → Schedule federal annuals with qualified inspectors (49 CFR 396). (nhmta.org)
- Watch DES/EPA notices for the emissions piece as it’s finalized. (des.nh.gov)
The graphic you’ve seen bouncing around social feeds is directionally accurate, typos and all. The law does take effect Jan. 31, 2026; it does cover passenger vehicles; New Hampshire will stop issuing inspection stickers; and registration still happens like clockwork. What doesn’t fit on a social tile is the adult part: you’re still responsible for keeping your car safe—and the state can still prove it to you with a ticket. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
