There’s a lot to think about when moving to New Hampshire from Washington. From differences in the cost of living to insurance premiums along with getting over to the New Hampshire DMV to transfer your Washington driver’s license and vehicle registration, you’ll want to do some budgeting and planning before you make the move.
Relocalate.com has done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert researchers have compiled the key things you need to know when moving to New Hampshire from Washington. Find out what you can expect to pay in federal and New Hampshire state taxes, whether you’ll be spending more or less in key cost of living categories, and how long you’ll have to get a new driver’s license and car registration. Plus, you can even get a head start on saving the most money when you move by comparing free quotes for health coverage, car insurance, home/renters insurance, and more.
License & Registration
Transfer your Washington driver’s license to New Hampshire within 60 days.
Transfer your vehicles & get New Hampshire license plates within 60 days.
On this page, you’ll be able to:
- See how the cost of living compares for New Hampshire and Washington.
- Estimate how much more or less you can expect to pay in state and federal income taxes after you move to New Hampshire.
- Find out what to expect when it comes to New Hampshire property taxes, buying a home, and home insurance premiums.
- Learn whether you’ll be able to save some money or have to spend a little more in key cost of living categories including groceries, transportation, housing, and healthcare.
- Find out what you’ll need to do with the New Hampshire DMV to transfer your Washington driver’s license and vehicle registration. (And how long you’ll have to do it.)
- Estimate how much it will cost to move from Washington to New Hampshire.
- BONUS: Start saving money today by comparing free quotes for all your new insurance policies in New Hampshire.
Moving to New Hampshire from Washington Checklist
- 1. Estimate the cost of the move.
- 2. Update your insurance policies.
- 3. Be prepared to transfer your Washington license & registration to New Hampshire.
- 4. Budget and prepare for cost of living changes.
- 5. Change your address and forward your mail through USPS.
- 6. Register to vote.
- 7. Update your new address with your banks, loans, and other accounts.
- 8. Set up your utilities and services at your new home.
Find some more tips and to-dos for Moving to New Hampshire here.
Cost of Moving from Washington to New Hampshire
Unfortunately moving can be expensive. Moving to a brand new state usually comes with some extra costs.
Use this moving cost calculator to get a rough idea of how much your move from Washington to New Hampshire will cost.
The rough distance between New Hampshire and Washington is 2,340 miles. We’ll use that for our calculations. Select the size of your home that you’ll be moving to get an idea of the costs.
Moving Cost Calculator: Washington to New Hampshire
Remember, this is just a rough estimate. The cost of your move will vary depending on the company you choose, your belongings, and other circumstances.
Update Your Insurance Policies for Coverage in New Hampshire
Don’t wait! Update your car insurance coverage for New Hampshire
When you move to New Hampshire, you’ll want to make sure that you’ll be covered for all of life’s unexpected situations. That means updating your insurance policies with your new address and the minimum requirements for New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Car Insurance
One of the first policies you’ll want to update when you move is going to be your car insurance coverage.
In New Hampshire, the minimum liability coverage is $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, $25,000 property damage liability per accident, $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person, $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident, $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage, $1,000 medical payments coverage.
Average Cost of Minimum Coverage
$319
On average, the annual premium for a minimum liability coverage policy is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less for car insurance in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Average Cost of Full Coverage
$1,262
On average, the annual premium for a full coverage auto insurance policy is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less for full coverage in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Do you own a motorcycle?
New Hampshire Home & Renter’s Insurance
Whether you’ll rent or own your new home, you’ll want to make sure you have the right coverage when you arrive.
Let’s face it, accidents happen during a move. Make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your belongings and your house.
Average Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance
$736
You can usually expect that the annual premium for home insurance will be lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less for your home insurance policy in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Will you own or rent your home?
New Hampshire Health Insurance
You’ll also need to make sure that you and your family have health coverage once you arrive in New Hampshire.
If you’ll be keeping your job when you move, be sure to ask your employer about any implications for your current health insurance policy.
You’ll need to find out which hospitals and plans are available near your new home. Spend some time researching providers in your area.
Healthcare Costs in New Hampshire
Higher
Generally, healthcare costs are higher in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay more for healthcare in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Will you be keeping health insurance with your current employer?
Find Health Coverage ➜
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Tasks when Moving to New Hampshire from Washington
Transfer your Washington Driver’s License
within 60 days.
After you’ve moved to New Hampshire, you’ll need to get a valid driver’s license.
Transfer your Washington Car Registration
within 60 days.
You’ll also need to transfer your vehicle registration and get New Hampshire license plates.
When you become a resident of New Hampshire, you’ll need to transfer your Washington driver’s license and vehicle registration.
You’ll also need to update your car insurance policies so that they meet the minimum requirements for New Hampshire. Sometimes this can come with a rate hike, so it’s always a smart idea to shop around.
The minimum liability coverage you’ll need in New Hampshire is $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, $25,000 property damage liability per accident, $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person, $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident, $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage, $1,000 medical payments coverage.
You can start comparing car insurance quotes for New Hampshire for free right here on Relocalate.com.
Transfer Your Washington Driver’s License to New Hampshire
Minimum Age for a New Hampshire Driver’s License
18 years old
A standard New Hampshire driver’s license is available to residents who are at least 18 years old.
New Hampshire Driver’s License Expires
every 5 years
You’ll need to renew your driver’s license every 5 years.
New Hampshire Driver’s License Cost
$50.00
A driver’s license will cost around $50.00.
One of the first things you’ll want to do after becoming a resident of New Hampshire is to get a driver’s license.
In fact, new residents should apply for their New Hampshire driver’s license within 60 days.
In New Hampshire, driver’s licenses are issued by the DMV.
To apply, you’ll need to:
- Complete the New Hampshire Driver’s License Application.
- Surrender your Washington driver’s license.
- Present the necessary proof of identity and residency with your new New Hampshire address.
- Pass any required testing.
- Take a photo.
- Pay the driver’s license fee.
After applying and passing any necessary tests, you’ll receive a temporary paper license. The New Hampshire DMV will mail you your new license, and it should arrive within a few weeks.
For official information and for details about scheduling appointments, visit https://www.dmv.nh.gov/.
New Hampshire Driver’s License Knowledge Exam
Total Questions on the New Hampshire Driver’s License Test
40 total questions
The New Hampshire knowledge exam will typically consist of 40 total questions that are based on the driver’s handbook.
Passing Score
80%
You’ll need to score 80% to pass the test.
When you transfer your Washington license to New Hampshire, you should be prepared to pass the driver’s license written exam.
While not every applicant will be required to take the test, it is still a good idea to brush up on traffic laws in New Hampshire.
Before you visit the DMV, take some time to study the official driver’s handbook for New Hampshire. While many traffic laws and safety rules are universal from state to state, there are some specifics that may be a little different.
Assuming your Washington driver’s license is valid and unexpired, you should not need to take the New Hampshire driving test.
Is your Washington driver’s license valid?
One potential hang up to be aware of is around the validity of your Washington driver’s license.
To make things as easy as possible, your Washington license should be valid when you apply for a license in New Hampshire.
Ideally what this means is that you should clear any issues with the Washington DMV BEFORE you move.
For example:
- If your Washington driver’s license is lost or damaged, you should replace it before moving.
- If your Washington driver’s license is suspended or revoked, you should try to reinstate it before you move.
If your Washington driver’s license is expired when you go to apply for your New Hampshire license, it’s possible that the DMV will treat it like a brand new application, which may require a written exam and a road test, plus any other requirements for new drivers.
The bottom line: Try to take care of any issues with your Washington driver’s license BEFORE you move and visit the New Hampshire DMV.
Transfer Your Car Registration from Washington to New Hampshire
If you’re going to bring your car with you when you move, you’ll also need to transfer your Washington registration to New Hampshire.
Vehicle registration and titles are handled by the New Hampshire DMV.
You can find more specific details for your vehicle registration and official information at https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/index-original.htm
New Hampshire Registration Fee Basis
weight-base
New Hampshire vehicle registration fees are generally calculated by weight-base.
Registration Base Fee Estimate
$31.2+
Additional fees may vary based on vehicle type as well as any local fees and taxes.
New Hampshire Registration Expiration
every year
In New Hampshire, you’ll need to renew your registration every year.
Front License Plates
New Hampshire requires that vehicles display a front license plate.
Vehicle Safety Inspections
Period vehicle safety inspections are required annually in New Hampshire.
Smog & Emissions Testing
Emissions testing is required annually for models less than 20 years old) in New Hampshire.
New residents in New Hampshire are required to transfer their out-of-state vehicle registration within 60 days.
When moving to New Hampshire with vehicles from Washington, you should be prepared to:
- Complete an application for New Hampshire registration and title.
- Present your current registration documents from Washington.
- Provide any other necessary proof of ownership documents (title, lease agreement, lienholder information, etc.)
- Pass any necessary vehicle inspections required for New Hampshire registration.
- Have a valid New Hampshire insurance policy for your vehicles.
- Pay the registration fees.
Notify the Washington DMV
While it’s not always a requirement, it can be worthwhile to update your address with the Washington DMV and notify them that you have moved out of the state.
This can often be done on the DMV website, and will prevent you from receiving any renewal notices for your old driver’s license and registrations.
Taxes in New Hampshire vs Washington
Differences in taxes are a big consideration in any state to state move.
Unfortunately, it’s not all black and white. In order to get the full picture, it’s important to consider all of your potential tax burdens when moving from Washington to New Hampshire including state income tax, property taxes, and sales tax.
Plus, you’ll need to think about how the overall cost of living on key spending categories is going to compare. More on that below.
For example, if you’re a homeowner, it’ll be smart to look at both income tax differences, property tax burdens, as well as average home prices to get a more accurate idea of your tax savings or hike once you move to New Hampshire.
We’ll cover some key differences in your tax savings and tax hikes when moving to New Hampshire from Washington.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll be comparing effective tax rates, which simplify the marginal tax rates and tax brackets in each state to look at the estimated average total tax you may be paying.
Note that your tax situation may be much different than the estimates provided here. Use these as a high-level comparison tool.
Federal & State Income Taxes when Moving to New Hampshire from Washington
Overall, you’ll likely be looking at an income tax savings when moving to New Hampshire from Washington.
New Hampshire Income Tax (effective rates)
0.00% (single) & 0.00% (joint)
New Hampshire doesn’t have a state income tax.
Effective Rates: Federal + State Income Taxes
17.51%
On average, the effective income tax rate (state + federal) is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less in income tax in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Tax Comparison Calculator
Effective income tax rates (Federal + State):
- New Hampshire: 17.51% (single), 17.41% (joint)
- Washington: 18.47% (single), 17.06% (joint)
In New Hampshire, your tax would be . In Washington, your tax would be .
You would pay more in than in .
When comparing your overall tax burdens between states, it can help to look at both the state and federal income tax rates.
Remember, this comparison is looking at the effective rates in order to simplify things.
Here’s a high level look at how your effective tax rates may be different after you move to New Hampshire from Washington
- State Income Tax (single filers): 0.00% in New Hampshire vs 0.00% in Washington
- State Income Tax (joint filers): 0.00% in New Hampshire vs 0.00% in Washington
- Federal + State Income Tax (single filers): 17.51% in New Hampshire vs 18.47% in Washington
- Federal + State Income Tax (joint filers): 17.41% in New Hampshire vs 17.06% in Washington
Sales Tax in New Hampshire vs Washington
Next, it’s helpful to consider the differences in sales tax.
Sales tax is a consumption tax you pay when you buy goods and services. It is typically calculated as a percentage of the final price you pay.
Note that many states have a state-wide sales tax and local governments and municipalities can charge an additional sales tax on top of that. This comparison looks at the state-wide sales tax.
New Hampshire Sales Tax
0%
New Hampshire doesn’t have a state sales tax.
The sales tax rate is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less on sales tax in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Property Taxes in New Hampshire vs Washington
If you’re a homeowner, or plan to buy a home in New Hampshire, it’s also a good idea to take a look at the difference in property taxes and home values.
New Hampshire Property Tax Estimate
2.18%
The property tax rate is higher in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay more for property taxes in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Home Prices in New Hampshire
$261,700
On average, the average home price is higher in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay more for a house in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
This is also a good time to back sure you are getting the best deal on your New Hampshire homeowner’s insurance policy.
How Does the Cost of Living Compare in New Hampshire vs Washington?
Cost of living is another major difference when moving to a brand new state.
Depending on the local industries, geography, region, and population, the price of different goods and services can vary greatly.
Now, the cost of living will also depend on your own lifestyle, spending habits, and which city you move to in New Hampshire.
Cost of living (COL) indexes are used to compare each state to the national average of 100. The difference between COL values higher or lower than 100 represent the percentage difference from the national average.
We can compare the cost of living indexes for New Hampshire and Washington to get a high level idea of whether we’ll be saving money or have to spend a bit more on the following categories:
- Overall Cost of Living.
- Groceries.
- Housing.
- Utilities.
- Transportation.
- Healthcare.
- Miscellaneous goods and service.
Overall, the cost of living in New Hampshire is
15.00% more expensive
than the national average, compared to 15.10% more expensive for Washington.
New Hampshire Cost of Living Index
115
National Avg: 100
On average, the cost of living is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less for many things in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Cost of Groceries
2.30% more expensive
than the national avg.
Typically, the cost of groceries is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less for groceries in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Housing Costs
9.80% more expensive
than the national avg.
Generally, the cost of housing (rent/mortgage/etc) is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less for housing costs in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
New Hampshire Utilities
30.20% more expensive
than the national avg.
The cost of utilities is typically higher in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay more for your monthly utility bills in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Transportation Costs
13.60% more expensive
than the national avg.
On average, the cost of transportation is lower in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay less on transportation in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Healthcare in New Hampshire
20.60% more expensive
than the national avg.
Generally, healthcare costs are higher in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay more for healthcare in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Miscellaneous Costs
20.80% more expensive
than the national avg.
The cost of miscellaneous goods and services are generally higher in New Hampshire. You’ll likely pay more for these things in New Hampshire than you did in Washington.
Relocalate.com Methodology
While big changes like moving to a new state can be exciting, we also know that any move can be stressful. That’s why we created Relocalate.com.
The data and comparisons on this page are designed to give you a high level look at what you can expect when moving from Washington to New Hampshire.
Our free moving tools and calculators are here to help you play around with the numbers so you can start working on a budget for your big move to New Hampshire.
We’ve crunched the numbers from census data, federal government resources, state and local data, as well as interviews and chats with people who’ve made the move from Washington to New Hampshire.
While there are many things we can’t control when moving to a new state, like the overall cost of living and housing prices, we’ve found that one of the single most effective ways to save money is by getting a better deal on your insurance policies.
That’s why we’ve partnered with trusted insurance providers and some of the best in New Hampshire to bring your free quote tools that you can access while you plan out your move.
Good luck! We wish you the best as you get settled into your home and start feeling like a New Hampshire local.