All vehicles must be registered through Connecticut’s Department of Motor Vehicles. If you have just moved to the state, you have 60 days to register your vehicle. However, before the vehicle can be registered, you will need your VIN verified and emissions tested. Once these are completed, you are ready to register your vehicle.
New resident registration
If you are a new resident and wish to register your vehicle, you must provide the following:
- Registration certificate or title from out-of-state
- Emissions report and VIN verification
- Connecticut auto insurance proof
- Identification, such as a driver’s license, ID card, or military ID
Connecticut requires drivers to meet certain requirements before registering their vehicles. You will not be able to register your car if:
- The vehicle does not comply with emission standards
- You have unpaid parking tickets
- You owe property taxes
- Vehicle registration privilege has been suspended
Before registering a new or used vehicle, it has to go through an emissions test or a VIN verification (if the vehicle is exempt from emissions testing). Once these are complete, you can register your vehicle at the DMV office.
Registering your vehicle
To register the vehicle you must provide the following:
- Application for registration and certification title
- Current registration certificate and certificate of title if registering a used vehicle
- Bill of sale
- Current Connecticut insurance card
- Identification, such as driver’s license, learner’s permit, or ID card
- Pay registration fees
If you purchase a vehicle from a private seller, you need to transfer the title and register the car in your name before driving it. In addition, if the previous owner did not have an emissions test or the car registered for a while, you should apply for a temporary registration and have the vehicle inspected so it can be fully registered.
There are fees associated with registering a vehicle in Connecticut, which depend on the type of vehicle you own.
Registration and additional fees
The following are registration fees for vehicles in Connecticut:
- Commercial vehicles depend on weight but start at $47 for one year
- Passenger vehicles are $80 for two years
- Motorcycles cost $42 for two years
- Trailers are $19 for two years
- Snowmobiles are $20 for two years
- Electric vehicles are $38 for two years
Some additional fees include:
- Federal Clean Air Act is $10
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction is $5
- Late fee is $10
Military
Military members stationed outside of Connecticut can register vehicles by mail. To do this you will need:
- Current U.S. military ID card
- Current auto insurance ID card
- Application for registration and certificate of title
- A federal odometer statement, if the car was purchased from a dealer
- Bill of sale
- Application for waiver of registration fee - Active Service in U.S. Armed Forces
- Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin for new vehicles
- Out-of-state vehicle title for used vehicles
- Out-of-state VIN verification
Send these to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Customized Services Unit
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
Vehicles may be registered in person at the local DMV or through the mail, depending on your circumstance. Late fees do apply if registration is not completed within the set timeframes.
If you have any more questions about this process, be sure to visit the Connecticut DMV website.
