With the repeal of New Hampshire’s decades-old vehicle inspection requirement now law, the grassroots advocates behind the movement are putting the pedal to the metal, proposing more reforms to benefit Granite State drivers.

The newly formed New Hampshire Motorist Freedom PAC (NHMF-PAC) is launching an aggressive agenda aimed at expanding motorists’ rights.

Jeremy Olson, president of the New Hampshire Motorist Freedom organization, celebrated the inspection-sticker win at a recent  Americans for Prosperity–New Hampshire event.

Jeremy Olson

Signed into law by Gov. Kelly Ayotte as part of the state budget, the repeal takes effect in January. According to a recent NHJournal poll, 53 percent of Granite Staters support ending the inspection mandate, while just 33 percent oppose it.

“New Hampshire is the freest and most pro-business state in the nation,” Olson said. “Yet many of our motorists and even businesses register their vehicles out of state to save on costs—in particular, to avoid the burdens of mandatory car inspections.”

Olson noted that states like Montana offer permanent registration for older vehicles and allow multi-year renewals—options NHMF-PAC will push to bring to New Hampshire in the wake of their “sticker-scam” win.

Greg Moore, regional director of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), praised the citizen-driven campaign that led to the repeal.

“Come January, New Hampshire will no longer require annual vehicle inspections—and it’s because of the people in this room,” Moore told the crowd. “This was a bottom-up effort. You kept after us and made it clear this was a priority.”

Rep. Michael Granger (R–Milton Mills), head of the House Liberty Caucus and lead sponsor of HB649, the bill that ended the mandate, described the inspection requirement as a “constant source of frustration” for drivers.

“Every time I’ve ever taken my car in for an inspection, it fails for something—something! This was happening to almost everybody I knew who drives older cars. Even newer cars with advanced computers seemed to have a ridiculous amount of trouble actually passing state vehicle inspection,” Granger said.

Now that the inspection mandate has been repealed, “I am never going to stop driving my 1998 Volkswagen Beetle. I’m not getting rid of it.”

Granger acknowledged that the broader state budget was difficult for some liberty-minded lawmakers to support.

“I would not hold it against anybody for voting against that budget. But any budget you have is going to be a mishmash, because you have to get 201 people to vote for it in the House, get 13 state senators on board, and then get a governor to sign it.”

“But I’m focusing on this specific language,” he added. “And this specific language is awesome. I’m glad it passed.”

Rep. Michael Granger and retired N.H. State Police sergeant Brian Chase celebrate the victory of legislation ending the vehicle inspection mandate.

With the repeal of inspections behind them, Olson and his allies in the liberty community—and the legislature—plan to take on what they consider “unpopular, anti-liberty” vehicle laws. Top priorities include:

  • Expanding registration options, including multi-year and permanent vehicle registration

  • Increasing voluntary vanity plate offerings as a source of state revenue

  • Blocking efforts to impose mandatory auto insurance in the state

  • Raising speed limits to reflect international standards

  • Repealing what they call “superfluous” vehicle equipment laws

  • Restoring privacy protections for drivers in the age of digital surveillance

NHMF Treasurer Steve Zemanek warned the gathering not to get complacent. Some supporters of the inspection law are now pushing for mandatory vehicle insurance.

“Protecting New Hampshire’s competitive, free-market auto insurance system is a top priority,” Zemanek said. “Our research showed no connection between inspections, insurance mandates, and road safety.”

The new PAC also plans to support motorists outside the State House. Among their goals:

  • Educating drivers about their rights and how to contest traffic citations

  • Hosting free, voluntary vehicle safety and maintenance events

  • Promoting local businesses aligned with their mission

Olson emphasized that safety does not require government mandates. During the HB649 campaign, volunteers surveyed neighborhoods and parking lots in Manchester and found as many as one-third of vehicles had expired inspection stickers—some by years.

“No one wants to drive an unsafe car,” Olson said. “People skip inspections because they’re expensive and inconvenient—not because they don’t care. We believe there are better ways to promote safety without government overreach.”