Registration FAQs

Do I have to register my all-terrain vehicle?

You are required to register three-wheel and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. The only time an ATV does not need to be registered is if it is used exclusively on property owned or leased by the vehicle's owner. ATV registrations do not allow them to be legally driven on Connecticut roads.

What are acceptable forms of ID for registering a vehicle?

The Connecticut DMV requires anyone registering a motor vehicle to have a driver's license or state ID card. An active U.S. Military ID is also acceptable.

Why the change from registration tags on the license plate to inside the car?

Connecticut has chosen to enact the use of window stickers to replace the more traditional registration tags that would normally be affixed to the license plate. The State decided to go that route because many tags were being removed and put onto other vehicles. This program has been phased in since 2006 and should be full circle by July of 2008.

When you receive your window sticker, you should place it on the lower inside corner of the driver’s side of the front windshield. Be sure not to block the Vehicle Identification Number.

How do I apply for a disabled plate?

Connecticut allows anyone certified with a permanent disability that impairs walking to apply for a disabled plate or placard. A plate is issued to a vehicle owner or their immediate family. A placard can be issued to anyone with a certified disability, and can be transferred among vehicles. Placards are also available for residents certified with temporary disabilities.

How do I notify the DMV when I move?

For change of address, you need to notify the CT DMV within 48 hours of your move. You must complete a change of address form and print it out. Mail it to:

• Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles

• 60 State St.

• Wethersfield, CT 06161-5070

• Attention: Data Entry Change of Address Unit

You also can bring the form to any CT DMV office.

What do I need to show for insurance when registering my vehicle?

You need to provide a current Connecticut Insurance Identification Card. You should be able to get the ID card from your insurance carrier. It must be in the vehicle owner's name.

How do I transfer ownership when I sell my car?

Fill out and sign the back of the title. Give it to the new owner, with a bill of sale. Remove the plates and return them to the DMV with your vehicle's registration. Remember to contact your local tax assessor, so you aren't billed for the excise tax on a car you no longer own.

If I buy a car out of state, do I need special documents to drive it back to Connecticut?

You need to get a temporary registration from the CT DMV. Bring the vehicle's title, the bill of sale, and your insurance card to get the temporary registration. You must pay a 6% sales tax before you can get the temporary registration.

How can I transfer ownership of my vehicle to a family member?

Fill out the reverse side of the title, which allows you to assign ownership to a third party. Your relative will need to go to the DMV with the title, proof of insurance, and application for registration and title. Your relative might qualify for a tax exemption if you owned the vehicle for more than 60 days.

I am serving out of state in the U.S. military. Can I drive on my expired registration until I get home?

No. Unlike some states, Connecticut does not extend privileges to U.S. military members to drive on an expired license or registration while out of state. However, active-duty U.S. military members may renew a registration by mail or have an immediate family member process a registration renewal for them.

What is a combination plate?

Pick-up trucks, SUVs, vans, and other large non-commercial vehicles may be required to register for a combination plate, which costs more than a standard passenger plate; the fee is based on the vehicle's weight. However, some pick-up trucks can be registered with standard passenger plates, in place of the combination plate.

What is a temporary registration plate?

Some vehicles need to go through emissions and other inspection processes before they can be registered. In these cases, the vehicle owner may apply for a temporary, 10-day registration in order to drive the vehicle legally for inspections and repairs.

How do I get a vanity plate?

It's not as easy to apply for a vanity plate in Connecticut as it is in some other states because the Connecticut DMV does not allow checking of the vanity plate database through its Web site. You have to apply by mail and hope that your choices have not been taken already.

How do I register a boat or watercraft?

All boats and watercrafts that have a motor, or non-motorized boats and watercraft that are more than 19.5 feet long, must be registered with the Connecticut DMV before going on waterways. Also, anyone wishing to register a personal watercraft (Jet Ski) must complete a safety course before driving.

Can I get a reduced registration fee if my vehicle isn't operable?

No. Connecticut does not offer special registrations for vehicles than are non-operable.

Do I need to display one or two plates on my vehicle?

For most passenger, non-commercial vehicles, you will be issued two plates and you are required to place them in the front and rear of your vehicle.

Can I renew my license or registration via the Internet?

No. Connecticut does not currently have any provisions for performing any DMV paperwork through the Web site.

Can I register my pickup truck as a passenger vehicle?

If your truck weighs less than 8,500 pounds and it's not for commercial use, you can register it as a passenger vehicle. If your truck is currently listed as a combination vehicle, you can request a change at your local DMV office. Bring the license plates, your current registration, and proof of insurance. You will pay a $45 class-transfer fee.

How do I register my new motorcycle?

If the motorcycle is new, you need to follow the same rules for registering a car.

If you bought a used motorcycle, you will need to fill out an application for registration and title. Bring the application, along with the title, the bill of sale, and your insurance card, to any DMV office. You will need to show proper identification.

If you purchased your motorcycle out of state, you need to go to a full-service DMV office, where a staff member will verify the vehicle identification number (VIN).

Do I need to register my golf cart?

You need to register a golf cart only if you plan to have it towed. Golf carts are not motor vehicles. They are allowed to cross highways only to get to another part of a golf course.

But if you plan to transport a golf cart by tow truck, you will need to get a temporary registration.

The registration fee is $18, and you must present a certificate of title or bill of sale at your local DMV office. You also will need to pay any sales taxes due on the golf cart.

Can a teenager own a car in Connecticut?

Teenagers must be at least 16 years old and have written approval from their parents to register a car in their name. Parents must fill out and sign a Certificate of Parental Consent for minors who are 16 or 17 years old.

What do I need to do when donating a car to charity?

Remove the license plates before you drop off the car at the charity site or before it is towed away. Bring the license plates into a local DMV office. You also need to transfer the title to the new owner. Fill out the information on the reverse side of the title, which requires you to assign ownership and sign the title.

What should I do if I didn't get my registration?

For renewals, call the CT DMV Telephone Center. Staff will check to see if the renewal has been processed. You will need to provide your license plate number.

For new registrations, dealers issue temporary registrations that are good for 60 days. You need to contact your dealer if you did not receive a permanent registration by the end of that time period.

How do I get a duplicate title?

You need to make a written request to obtain a duplicate title. Fill out a request form for an application. When you receive the application, fill it out and bring it to a full-service Connecticut DMV office or mail it to the following address:

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• Title Division

• 60 State St.

• Wethersfield, CT 06161

The cost is $25. It takes about 10 business days for the duplicate to arrive in the mail.

How do I get replacement tags?

Losing your license plates or having them stolen is serious. You are required to report the loss immediately to local or state police. Bring a copy of your police report to a full-service Conn. DMV office, along with a request for replacement form and registration affidavit.

New plates are free for vehicle owners who show a police report. The DMV requires you to pay any back taxes or DMV fines before it will issue the plates.

How do I get a duplicate registration?

Complete a duplicate registration form. Bring it to any full-service branch or satellite Connecticut DMV office, or mail it to the following address:

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• Customized Services Division - Duplicate Registrations

• 60 State St.

• Wethersfield, CT 06161

The cost is $20. Make sure to include your license plate number. If using mail, write the plate number on your check.

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.