Where Your Reinstatement Fee Goes
New Hampshire operates a multi-tier suspension system. The office that suspended your license is the office that collects your reinstatement fee. If the DMV suspended your license for unpaid tickets or failure to appear, you pay the DMV. If the Bureau of Hearings suspended your license after a DWI administrative hearing or a habitual-offender determination, you pay the Bureau of Hearings. Paying the wrong office does not transfer your payment, and your suspension remains active until the correct office receives the fee.
Additional fees apply when your suspension involved a DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, or other violations that trigger SR-22 filing requirements. The notice you received from the suspending authority names the total amount due and the office where payment must be sent. If your notice does not specify the office, call the DMV Driver Services line at 603-227-4000 to confirm which authority holds your suspension.
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Get Your Free QuoteNH Base Reinstatement Fee
New Hampshire's base reinstatement fee applies to most administrative suspensions. Additional fees apply when the suspension involved a DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, or subsequent reckless-operation offenses that require SR-22 filing.
New Hampshire Department of Safety — Bureau of Hearings and DMV
Payment Methods the DMV and Bureau Accept
The New Hampshire DMV accepts reinstatement fee payment in person at any DMV office, by mail with a check or money order payable to the State of New Hampshire, or online through the NH DMV online services portal for eligible suspensions. Not all suspension types are eligible for online payment. If your suspension involved a DWI or a habitual-offender determination, the Bureau of Hearings typically requires payment by mail or in person at the Bureau office in Concord.
When paying by mail, include your full name, date of birth, driver license number, and the suspension notice number if provided. Mail checks to NH DMV, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305 for DMV-issued suspensions, or to the Bureau of Hearings at the address listed on your suspension notice for Bureau-issued suspensions. Processing time for mailed payments is 7 to 10 business days from the date the office receives your payment, not the postmark date.
In-person payment at a DMV office is processed the same day if you arrive before 3:30 PM. Bring your suspension notice, a government-issued photo ID, and payment in the form of cash, check, money order, or credit card. The DMV does not accept debit cards for reinstatement fees. If your suspension also requires proof of financial responsibility, bring your SR-22 certificate or confirmation that your carrier has filed it electronically with the state.
Paying the reinstatement fee does not restore your license if you still owe court fines, child support arrears, or have not completed a required alcohol treatment program. The fee clears only the administrative suspension itself.
What Happens After You Pay
When you pay in person at a DMV office, the clerk confirms payment immediately and updates your driving record within one business day. If your suspension also required SR-22 filing, the DMV verifies that your carrier has filed the certificate electronically before marking your record eligible for reinstatement. You receive a receipt at the counter, and your license is restored the next business day unless additional holds remain on your record.
When you pay by mail or online, the DMV or Bureau of Hearings processes your payment within 7 to 10 business days. Once payment clears, the office updates your record and mails a confirmation letter to the address on file. If you need to drive before the confirmation letter arrives, call the DMV Driver Services line at 603-227-4000 after 10 business days to confirm your record shows eligible status. Do not drive until you receive verbal or written confirmation that your suspension has been lifted.
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SR-22 Filing and the Reinstatement Fee
New Hampshire requires SR-22 filing for 3 years after any DWI conviction, leaving the scene of an accident, or a second reckless-operation offense. The SR-22 is proof of financial responsibility, not insurance itself. Your carrier files the SR-22 certificate electronically with the DMV, and the state monitors your coverage continuously for the 3-year period. If your policy lapses or cancels, the carrier notifies the DMV, and your license is suspended again immediately.
The reinstatement fee and the SR-22 filing are separate requirements. Paying the reinstatement fee does not satisfy the SR-22 filing requirement, and filing the SR-22 does not waive the reinstatement fee. Both must be completed before the DMV restores your license. If you pay the reinstatement fee but your carrier has not yet filed the SR-22, your record remains suspended until the DMV receives the electronic filing.
Carriers that write SR-22 policies in New Hampshire include Geico, Progressive, State Farm, Farmers, National General, The General, USAA, and Bristol West. Not all carriers file SR-22 certificates, and some non-standard carriers charge a one-time filing fee separate from your premium. When you request SR-22 coverage, ask the carrier how long electronic filing takes. Most carriers file within 1 to 3 business days, but processing delays can extend your suspension if you wait until the last day to add coverage.
NH SR-22 Filing Period
3 years
New Hampshire requires continuous SR-22 filing for 3 years after a DWI conviction, leaving the scene of an accident, or a second reckless-operation offense. The period begins on the conviction date, not the filing date, and any lapse in coverage restarts the clock.
RSA 265-A:28
When Additional Fees Apply
Additional fees apply when your suspension involved a DWI, a habitual-offender determination, or leaving the scene of an accident. The Bureau of Hearings sets these fees separately from the DMV, and the total amount due appears on the suspension notice you received.
If your suspension was triggered by unpaid child support, the reinstatement fee is paid to the DMV, but the suspension itself is not lifted until the New Hampshire Division of Child Support Services confirms that your arrears are current or that you have entered a payment plan. The DMV cannot override a child-support hold, and paying the reinstatement fee does not clear the hold. Contact the Division of Child Support Services at 603-271-4427 to resolve the arrears before paying the reinstatement fee.
Compare Carriers That Write SR-22 Coverage
If your reinstatement requires SR-22 filing, compare carriers before you buy. Premiums for SR-22 policies vary widely across carriers, and the carrier that offered the lowest rate before your suspension may not be the lowest-cost option now. Geico, Progressive, National General, and The General write SR-22 policies in New Hampshire and file electronically with the DMV. State Farm and Farmers also write SR-22 coverage but may not offer quotes to all drivers with recent DWI convictions.
When you request quotes, tell each carrier that you need SR-22 filing and ask how long electronic filing takes. Most carriers file within 1 to 3 business days, but some require manual underwriting review before they file, which can delay your reinstatement by a week or more. If you are comparing quotes from multiple carriers, start the process at least 10 business days before your intended reinstatement date to allow time for filing and DMV processing.