Below you will find important information you should know before registering a car in Connecticut:
- The official agency in charge of car registration in Connecticut is the Department of Motor Vehicles (CT DMV).
- If you are a new resident, you have 90 days (from the date of your official move into the state) to register the car in Connecticut.
- When you buy the car from an individual you have to manage the car registration in Connecticut yourself, if you buy the car from a dealer, the dealer will surely take care of it.
- In Connecticut, both plates (front and rear) are required for most vehicles.
- You can apply for temporary plates if you are waiting for some legal procedure and need to drive your car.
- Vehicle registration renewal must be done annually before its expiration.
Requirements to register a car in Connecticut
Below are the documents you need to register a car in Connecticut:
You must also meet other requirements to register a car in Connecticut, such as no parking tickets, no outstanding taxes, no suspended license, etc.
For this purpose, the official website offers two links where you must verify if you are meeting all the demands and requirements to register a car in Connecticut:
How to register a car in Connecticut?
To register a car in Connecticut you must visit a DMV office or an authorized dealer. You need to make an appointment to register a car if you are going to a DMV location.
NOTE: The state is emphatic that dealers cannot charge more than $25 per registration. If a fee is charged above that figure, drivers must notify the CT DMV of the irregularity.
On the other hand, the procedure may vary slightly if you purchased your car in the state or if you are a new resident who needs to register the vehicle in Connecticut.
How to register a car purchased in Connecticut?
If you live in Connecticut and are going to buy a car in the state, you must do the following to register it:
- Make sure you don’t have any compliance issues through the links on the official page.
- Make an appointment at the DMV (they do not accept walk-ins to register a car).
- Present all the documents (already mentioned) required by law to register a car in Connecticut.
- Pay the applicable fees with an acceptable form of payment.
How to register a car in Connecticut if you are a new resident?
If you just moved your vehicle, you must do the following to register it:
- Perform an emissions test (if the vehicle is more than four years old) or, if not applicable, a VIN check.
- Make an appointment at the DMV (they do not accept walk-ins to register a car).
- Present all the documents (already mentioned) required by law to register a car in Connecticut.
- If you are required to verify the VIN, submit the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) that the specialist will give you, along with the other documents to register a car in Connecticut.
- Pay the applicable fees with an acceptable form of payment.
You have 90 days from the date you officially move to the state to register your car in Connecticut.
How much does it cost to register a car in Connecticut?
The fees that may apply when registering a car in Connecticut are as follows:
- Registration fee: $120, and $25 more if you are also processing the title.
- $5 plate fee.
- $10 administrative fee.
- $15 fee (Clean Air Act).
- $10 lien fee, if applicable.
- Payment of $15 per passport to the parks.
- $40 emissions exemption fee if vehicle is four years old or younger.
- $15 greenhouse gas fee if the vehicle has a certificate of origin.
How to renew car registration in Connecticut?
You can renew your car registration in Connecticut through one of these methods: online, by mail, and in person.
Every year the DMV sends a notice or reminder to renew license plate stickers 45 days before expiration. In it you will be able to know which method you are eligible for, and other important information, for example, the rate to pay, if you must do an emissions test, etc.
If you renew more than five days after the expiration date, you will be charged a $10 late fee.
Connecticut Vehicle Registration Renewal Online
To renew your car registration online (if you are eligible), you will need to have the following information on hand: first and last name, license number (or ID number), date of birth, mailing address, license plate number, Social Security number, credit or debit card.
Go to the website to renew your online registration, press the blue GET STARTED box and complete the information requested by the page.
Retrieved from portal.ct.gov/dmv/vehicle-services/renew-vehicle-registration
Follow the instructions, pay the applicable fees, and print your receipt once you complete the Connecticut car registration renewal process.
Connecticut Vehicle Registration Renewal by Mail
If you are eligible to renew registration by mail, send payment (check or money order) along with the bottom of your renewal notice to the following address: Department of Motor Vehicles, PO Box 150456, Hartford, CT 06115-0456
Renew car registration in Connecticut in person
All drivers are eligible to renew their car registration in person at the DMV. You can also do this through an authorized third party. You need to bring your renewal notice or driver’s license, and an accepted form of payment.
You must make an appointment at the DMV before visiting one of their offices to renew your car registration in Connecticut in person.
Can I register a car in CT with zero emissions?
If your car is less than four years old, or is an electric vehicle (not hybrid), you can register it without taking the emissions test.
How old does a car have to be to be emissions exempt in CT?
To be exempt from emissions, vehicles must be less than four years old. Cars from 1998 or earlier are also exempt from emissions testing in Connecticut.
What is the 4 year emissions exemption rate in CT?
The emissions exemption fee in Connecticut is $40. You must pay it at a DMV office, along with other fees, when you register a vehicle in the state.