A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Unpacking HB 649 Some Guardrails Restored Following the Inspection Repeal BY DAN BENNETT, REM, IOM, CAE President, NHADA Over the past several years, few issues have generated more discussion within New Hampshire’s motor vehicle industry than the future of the state’s vehicle inspection program. With the passage of HB 649, New Hampshire has entered a new era in vehicle safety regulation. While the traditional inspection sticker requirement has changed, the law establishes clear standards for unsafe vehicles, defines responsibilities for owners and dealers, clarifies consumer protections and reinforces one enduring principle: Vehicles operated on our roads must be safe. VEHICLE SAFETY REMAINS THE PRIORITY HB 649 establishes a clear legal definition of an unsafe motor vehicle, helping address a gap created when inspection enforcement was weakened, and certain safety and equipment requirements were no longer enforceable through administrative rules. The law allows law enforcement to act on obvious safety hazards and places key equipment standards into statute. Unsafe vehicles include those with exhaust leaks entering passenger or cargo areas; missing major exterior body components such as doors, hoods, fenders, trunks or bumpers (with limited manufacturer-designed exceptions); cracked, broken, or severely rusted frames or unibodies; severe windshield damage in the driver’s critical viewing area; unsafe tire conditions; or significant fuel system leaks. For dealers, understanding these standards is essential. Vehicle safety remains a cornerstone of our industry, and that commitment continues under the new law. Recognizing that the statutory language can be extensive and highly technical, NHADA has carefully reviewed the new RSA 266 equipment standards and developed a practical summary and compliance checklist for technicians, service personnel and dealership staff. The checklist is designed to serve as a convenient guide for evaluating whether a vehicle meets the law’s requirements and can be used as part of a dealership’s examination process. Members can access the RSA 266 Equipment Standards Summary and Checklist on the NHADA website. STRENGTHENING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS HB 649 also strengthens consumer protections by establishing standardized dealer disclosure requirements under RSA 358-F:2. At the time of sale, dealers must provide buyers with one of three written statements regarding a vehicle’s safety status: • that it meets RSA 266 equipment requirements; • that it has been inspected and does not meet those requirements, with defects identified; or • that no inspection has been conducted and no determination of compliance has been made. These uniform disclosure standards create clear expectations for both dealers and consumers, promote transparency during the purchasing process, and reduce uncertainty regarding vehicle condition and dealer responsibilities. By providing a consistent framework for vehicle transactions, HB 649 helps reinforce consumer confidence and trust in the marketplace. To help members comply with these requirements, NHADA has developed a Motor Vehicle Examination Disclosure Form (2-Part) that can be used for any used-vehicle sale. The form is designed to assist dealers in meeting the disclosure obligations of RSA 358-F:2 by documenting the vehicle’s examination status and providing the required written notice to the purchaser. 4
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