Establishing Residency

Per state law, you have 60 days to convert your driver's license and vehicle registration(s) if you moved from out of state. If you moved within the State of NH, you have 30 days to update your address.

In both cases, you will need to establish Residency with the Collections Department. The Collections Department is located on the bottom floor, backside of the Town Hall (33 Geremonty Drive).  Please bring one of the following:  

Acceptable Proof of Residency Documents - please provide ONE of the following:

  1. A utility bill (electric, gas, cable, etc...) that is tied to the home and dated within 30 days
  2. A current, fully executed lease agreement.  A letter from a roommate does not qualify as proof of residency
  3. A signed, notarized letter from the property owner stating that they permanently live there, dated within 30 days
  4. Mail addressed to them, recently received at their Salem address dated within 30 days
  5. A recent paystub with their Salem address dated within 30 days
  6. If the homeowner comes in to vouch for the registrant, for example their child, they too need their ID and then you can verify they are the homeowner in Vision

Once Residency is established, you may register your vehicle(s) per our instructions in the Registering Motor Vehicles page: https://salemnh.gov/1217/Registering-Motor-Vehicles

For new residents to the State of NH, you can register your vehicle(s) prior to attaining a NH Driver's License. However, we highly recommend you make an appointment with the NH Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to attain your NH license in the meantime. You may also call the NH DMV directly to make an appointment at 603-227-4000, although your wait time may be lengthy.

For NH residents moving from another NH town/city into Salem, you do not need a new license or vehicle registration (if it is not due for renewal, yet). You may change your address directly with the NH DMV by completing a Record Change Request Form (PDF) and mailing it directly to the address on the form or dropping it off at the Salem DMV at 154 Main Street (behind Romano's Pizzeria). Please do not bring this form to the Town Clerk's Office. We cannot process an address change unless there is a motor vehicle transaction (i.e. renewal, plate transfer).