Is It Illegal to Warm Up Your Car in New Hampshire?

As Granite Staters, we consider ourselves pretty hearty folks. We stick it out during the dark cold winter months because they make the spring, summer, and fall that much sweeter.

I have tried living somewhere that doesn't experience four seasons, and you know what? It's not for me!

And when you live in New England, sometimes you even get to experience all four seasons in one day! Now that's a wild ride.

But have you ever wondered about warming up your car in the winter? Is it illegal?

I know I have.

On a bitter, 20-something degree morning, I prefer to get in my toasty car after it has warmed up for at least 10 minutes. I like to give it enough time to defrost whatever ice situation has accumulated on my windshield overnight.

So what exactly is the law?

In New Hampshire, leaving your car idling to heat it up in winter is not illegal for personal vehicles in most circumstances, but there are some considerations to be had.

There may be some local ordinances, so check your town if there is one.

Also, the state encourages people to minimize idling for environmental reasons and fuel efficiency.

There is an anti-idling law that applies mostly to commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, and according to the U.S. Department of Energy is based on temperatures. This particular law generally doesn't apply to personal vehicles.

According to Breathe New Hampshire, here are some steps you can take to improve our air:

• Turn off your engine if you are waiting more than 10 seconds
• Warm up your engine by driving it, not by idling
• Establish a “No Idling” policy at your child’s school
• Don’t use a remote starter or limit use to cold months
• Spread the word! Pledge to be idle-free

Did you know that idling isn't the most efficient way to warm up your engine? 

It's true! According to Reader's Digest, the best way to do this is to drive the car.

Also, 10 minutes of idling will use the same amount of fuel as traveling five miles (depending on the size of your engine).