What Do I Need for a Connecticut Title Transfer?
After you purchase a vehicle, you need to visit your local CT Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to initiate a title transfer and register your vehicle.
If you purchased a vehicle from a dealership, the dealership will take care of the paperwork on your behalf and submit it to the DMV. If there is a loan on the vehicle, the new vehicle title will have the lien holders name on it and be mailed to the lien holder. If you own the vehicle, the vehicle’s title will be sent to your mailing address.
If the vehicle was purchased through a private party sale, you need the proper documentation before heading to your local CT DMV office.
A Connecticut title transfer requires a bill of sale that includes the following information:
- The names and addresses of both the new owner and seller
- The vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The vehicle, year, make, model, and color
- The purchase price and purchase date
- The seller’s signature
You are also required to bring the original title to ensure it has been assigned to you on the back of the certificate. You can fill out the Connecticut Registration and Title Application form (Form H-13B) and pay the $25 fee. You will receive your new title in the mail.
Smog Certification/Vehicle Inspection
In the state of Connecticut, residents are required to have a vehicle emissions test performed every other year. The CT DMV may mail you a test notification. To initiate this process, drive your car to your local emissions testing facility and bring the test notification.
If you are a new resident of Connecticut, you are required to complete an emissions test before you can register your vehicle with the CT DMV. The type of emissions test that is performed depends on the model year, weight, and fuel type of the vehicle.
Requirements to Pass the Connecticut Smog Check
All vehicles in the state of Connecticut are required to have a smog check every two years unless you have one of these exempted vehicle types:
- Agricultural equipment
- Electric vehicle (not including hybrid vehicles)
- Motorcycles (including mopeds and motorized bicycles)
- Diesel school buses (type II)
- Vehicles that are used by dealerships (vehicles that are used for wholesale, auction, or transportation purposes, and has a repairer, dealer, or transporter license tag)
- Vehicles that weigh more than 10,001 pounds
- Vehicles that have a composite title (vehicles that are assembled with the parts of several different types of parts)
- Vehicles made in 2014 model year or newer
- Vehicles made in 1992 model year or older
- Vehicles registered and designated as not designed for highway use
How to Transfer Your Vehicle Title in Connecticut
There are different steps you need to take to ensure you correctly transfer your vehicle’s title in Connecticut.
Title Transfer If You Have Sold A Car in Connecticut
If you sell a car in Connecticut, you will have to transfer the vehicle title to the new owner by taking the title out of your name and into theirs. Transferring the vehicle’s title ensures that, should something happen after someone purchases the vehicle, the car is not in your name, and you are no longer responsible for the vehicle.
To successfully transfer your vehicle’s title in Connecticut:
- The original title that is assigned to the new owner on the back of the certificate
- A bill of sale that includes the names and addresses of both you and the buyer, as well as the vehicle identification number (VIN), the purchase price of the vehicle, and the purchase date of the vehicle, as well as your signature.
You are required to complete the Connecticut Registration and Title Application form (Form H-13B) and pay the title transfer fee of $25. The new vehicle title will be sent to the address that’s on file with the CT DMV.
CT Title Transfer From a Lien Holder
If you have paid off your vehicle loan, you don’t have to initiate the title transfer process. Connecticut requires lien holders to automatically assign and mail you the vehicle title. You can take the title to your local CT DMV to finish the vehicle title transfer. In some situations, your lien holder will provide you with a lien release letter in addition to the title as proof that you have fulfilled your loan agreement.
Title Transfer Requirements When Selling a Car in Connecticut
When vehicle ownership is transferred from one legal entity to another, you need to request a car title transfer. The Connecticut title transfer requirements may change depending on the nature of the change in vehicle ownership.
When you’re completing the vehicle title transfer, you can apply for vehicle registration with the same application form simultaneously.
When Is a Vehicle Title Transfer Required in Connecticut?
A traditional vehicle title transfer is completed when a vehicle’s ownership changes after a private sale. Some vehicles, such as vehicles that are older than 20 model years, are exempt from Connecticut titling requirements. Vehicle owners can transfer ownership of a vehicle with the DMV Supplemental Assignment of Ownership form (Form Q-1) and/or the vehicle bill of sale. The Q-1 form is available at your local CT DMV office.
Required Information and Documentation Necessary to Transfer a Vehicle Title in Connecticut
Before you can request a vehicle title transfer, the state of Connecticut requires vehicle owners to meet certain criteria. The documents that are required for a standard vehicle title transfer in Connecticut include the following:
- Complete the Registration and Title Application form (Form H-13B)
- A completed, signed over vehicle title that contains information regarding the buyer and seller
- A bill of sale containing the seller and buyer information, the price of the vehicle, and a description of the motor vehicle
- A lien release form
- Proof of a valid Connecticut auto insurance policy
- Valid proof of identification, such as a state-issued driver’s license or an ID card
If you lose the certificate of title, sellers are required to apply for a replacement vehicle title. An Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form H-6B) can also be provided to the buyer.
The final step in the Connecticut vehicle title transfer process is to pay the applicable DMV fees. In Connecticut, you are required to pay the $20 registration cost and the $5 license plate fee.
You are also responsible for paying the sales and use tax. The sales and use tax will vary depending on the cost of your vehicle. You may also be required to pay a lien fee.
Required Documents for Car Sellers in Connecticut
Once you’ve sold your vehicle, you are required to complete and provide specific documentation to the buyer. You will need to:
- Fill out and sign the back of the vehicle’s certificate of title, which can then be transferred to the new vehicle owner
- Complete a Connecticut bill of sale (Form H-31). If you choose to use a generic bill of sale form, make sure it includes the following:
- The names and addresses of both the buyer and seller
- The car’s vehicle identification number (VIN), model, year, make, and color
- The vehicle’s purchase price
- The date of the vehicle’s sale
- Your signature
Make sure you have all forms filled out and completed before heading to your local CT DMV.
How to Transfer a Car Title When the Owner is Deceased
If you’re the beneficiary of a deceased individual’s estate and a vehicle is a part of the estate, you can choose to keep a vehicle, gift it to a family member, or sell it to someone.
Who Is Responsible for Transferring a Vehicle Title of a Deceased Person?
If you are a surviving spouse, beneficiary, or joint-owner, you have the legal obligation and authority to transfer a vehicle’s title to someone else after the owner of the vehicle passes away.
Is the Vehicle Part of a Probated Estate?
Once an individual passes away, the process for transferring the vehicle title of a deceased person varies depending on if the vehicle’s title was in the individual’s name as a decedent or whether it was in joint ownership. If the vehicle’s title was solely in the descendant’s name, you need to know if the estate is being probated.
Probate is a process that includes administering the estate of a deceased person. This legal process occurs when there is no beneficiary or living spouse provided in the will. The probate is proof that the last will and testament is legitimate and checks out the deceased person’s property and assets. During the probate process, the deceased individual’s property is distributed based on their will.
If the vehicle is part of a probated estate, you need to follow these steps to transfer the vehicle title of the deceased person:
Contact Probate Court and Attorney
A vehicle’s title can’t be transferred until the probate process is complete. The administrator or executor of the deceased individual’s estate should contact Probate Court or an attorney as soon as possible and await further instructions. Every probate situation is different, so getting the title transferred can be a simple or complicated process.
Gather the Required Documents to Transfer the Car Title of a Deceased Person
Keep in mind, the required documents may vary slightly. Make sure you have the following documents in order to transfer the vehicle title in Connecticut:
- Certificate of title
- Order from Probate Court to transfer the vehicle
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Death certificate
- Transfer fee
Visit the Title Office
If you are the administrator of the deceased individual’s estate or the beneficiary of the vehicle, you can visit your local CT title office with the above-listed documents to initiate the vehicle title transfer process.
How to Transfer a Vehicle Title Without Probate
When you are transferring a vehicle’s title without probate, the deceased individual’s property can’t exceed a certain amount and a specific amount of time needs to have passed since the individual passed away before the vehicle title transfer can be initiated.
As a spouse, administrator, beneficiary, or joint-owner, you may only be required to provide a death certificate and the title of the vehicle to your local CT title office. Once you are at the title office, the vehicle title can be retitled, and no court order or attorney is required.
Transferring a Title After a Lease Buyout
After a lease buyout, in order to change the name on a vehicle’s title, you must purchase the vehicle from the leasing company. Once you purchase the vehicle, the vehicle’s title must be reissued in your name. To transfer a vehicle’s title in Connecticut, you are required to:
- Sign the CT vehicle title (buyer and seller)
- Complete an Official Release Lien or Permissions to Issue a Replacement Title (Form H-6B) and Bill of Sale/Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form H-31) if required.
- Submit the title to your local CT DMV with the payment for the necessary vehicle title transfer fees
Before heading to your local CT DMV, make sure you have the necessary documentation and payment for all applicable fees.
How to Transfer Ownership of a Car Without a Title in Connecticut
If you lose your original Connecticut Certificate of Title and plan on selling your vehicle to someone who is registering the vehicle in Connecticut, you need to follow the below-listed steps without requesting a replacement vehicle title:
- Complete the Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form H-6B)
- Supplemental Assignment of Ownership Form (Form Q1)
- The transfer of vehicle ownership will not be valid unless the Q1 Supplemental Assignment of Ownership is included.
- If there is a lien listed on the original Connecticut Certificate of Title, a lien release is required to be provided to the buyer, and an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form H-6B) must be included. If the lien release is not submitted, this transaction will not be submitted. Keep in mind the lien release must be on letterhead paper from the correct lien holder.
If the date of the lien exceeds 10 years, and you are experiencing difficulty obtaining a lien release from the lender (changed name, out of business, etc.) you are required to provide a completed Motor Vehicle Ownership Affidavit (Form H-115) in lieu of the lien release.
- Vehicles that are more than 20 model years old are not required to sell a vehicle. If the vehicle’s title is not available, a Supplemental Assignment of Ownership Form (Form Q-1) can be completed to indicate the buyer and seller. The Q1 form is available at your local CT DMV office.
Note: If you are selling the vehicle to someone in a state other than Connecticut, you are required to request a replacement vehicle title. Once you have obtained the duplicate title, make sure you complete the transfer section on the reverse side of the title and provide it to the buyer of the vehicle.
Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member?
The good news is you can gift a car to a family member. Make sure you complete a bill of sale to ensure you are no longer responsible for the vehicle you’re gifting. The bill of sale needs to be signed by you and the person you’re gifting the vehicle to. The bill of sale needs to include:
- Purchase price of the vehicle
- Model and make of the car
- Odometer reading
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
In order to release ownership of the vehicle you’re selling, you must transfer the vehicle’s title. You can initiate the CT vehicle title transfer process at your local CT DMV office.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When You Have an Out-of-State Title
If you need to perform an out-of-state vehicle title transfer, you’re required to transfer the vehicle’s registration and title with the CT DMV within 60 days of establishing residency.
The following documentation is required for an out-of-state vehicle title transfer, and must be presented at a CT DMV location:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of a valid CT auto insurance policy
- CT registration and title application
- Vehicle inspection report
- Proof of ownership
- Payment for the applicable fees
You may also be required to provide a bill of sale.
As a new resident of Connecticut, you are required to perform an out-of-state vehicle title transfer once you establish residency in this state. Here are the steps you need to follow to complete an out-of-state vehicle title transfer in Connecticut:
- Check the vehicle identification number (VIN) and/or conduct an emissions test
- Prepare the above-listed documentation
- Visit your local CT DMV branch and submit the necessary paperwork
The out-of-state vehicle titling process after purchasing a vehicle is similar to processing a vehicle title transfer after establishing residency in Connecticut, so follow the same steps to transfer the title of a newly purchased vehicle in CT.
Motorists in Connecticut are required to pay the price for cross-state vehicle title transfers, as it is one of the requirements for completing the vehicle title transfer. As a resident of Connecticut, you may be required to pay the title fees in addition to the mandatory registration fee. The fee for a passenger vehicle title in CT is $25.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title in Connecticut
In Connecticut, duplicate vehicle titles are only granted to the vehicle owners on record, so if a lien holder is listed on the original title, you are required to obtain a lien release from the lender.
If you lose your vehicle’s title, you can order a duplicate vehicle title by mail or in person at your local CT DMV. You will need the following documentation and items to complete the request of a duplicate CT vehicle title:
- Complete an Online Request for Duplicate Certificate of Title Application (Form H-6B). This application needs to have sections 1-3 completed and the signature of the vehicle owner(s). The signatures of the lien holder, or the owner’s legal representative must be present on the title (if applicable). Authorizing documentation is required if the signatures of the lien holders are necessary.
- Payment for the duplicate title fee of $25
- Valid photo identification
- Lien release letter (if required)
If you are mailing your duplicate vehicle title paperwork, mail it to the following address:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Specialized Registry Services
60 State St.
Wethersfield, CT 06161
You should receive your duplicate CT vehicle title in about 90 days. The duplicate title will be mailed to the vehicle title owner and/or lien holder.
If your vehicle is 20 years old or less, a duplicate Connecticut vehicle title can be issued at any Connecticut Hub Office, with the exception of Putnam, because they don’t process or replace lost vehicle titles.
How Much Does a Vehicle Title Transfer Cost in Connecticut?
In the state of Connecticut, owners of vehicles that are 20 years old and newer must have a certificate of title in their name. This vehicle document is produced by the state of Connecticut that serves as proof of vehicle ownership. The fee to transfer a vehicle title in Connecticut is $25.
Where Can I Go to Transfer a Vehicle Title in Connecticut?
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles – Waterbury Office
2210 Thomaston Ave
Waterbury, CT 06704
(860) 263-5700
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (7:45 AM to 4 PM)
Thursday (9:15 AM to 5:30 PM)
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (closed)
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles – Bridgeport Office
95 Sylvan Ave
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(860) 263-5700
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (7:45 AM to 4 PM)
Thursday (9:15 AM to 5:30 PM)
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (closed)
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles – New Britain Office
85 N Mountain Road
New Britain, CT 06053
(860) 263-5700
CT Department of Motor Vehicles
(Automobile Registration Service)
7 Custom Dr
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
(860) 263-5700
Sunday and Monday (closed)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (7:30 AM to 4 PM)
Thursday (9 AM to 5:30 PM)
Saturday (8 AM to 12:30 PM)
How to Fill Out the Connecticut Title and Title Transfer Forms
The Connecticut DMV requires most vehicles to carry a certificate of title. The certificate of title serves as proof of vehicle ownership. In most situations, the vehicle’s title is required when transferring ownership of the vehicle by sale or donation.
To obtain a CT title or title transfer form, you need to make sure these forms are completed and you have the required items to initiate and complete the transfer process, such as:
- The vehicle’s title correctly assigned to you. (If the vehicle exceeds 20 years old, you are not required to obtain a vehicle title.)
- Complete the Application for Registration and Certificate of Title (Form H-13B)
- Valid photo identification (ID card, passport, CT driver’s license)
- Proof of an emissions test (An emissions test is required for vehicles model year 2016 and older). The CT vehicle inspection fee is $20. If your vehicle is exempt from emissions testing, you must provide proof of a VIN inspection, which has a $10 fee.
- Payment for the $25 CT title fee
Once you properly fill out these forms and pay the necessary fees, the CT DMV will mail the vehicle’s title certificate to you, or you can successfully complete a vehicle title transfer.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred. What Do I Do?
A vehicle’s title can be signed but never transferred, which means the seller of the vehicle didn’t transfer ownership or register the vehicle in their name. Vehicles that have titles that are not transferred are considered open titles.
With an open title, vehicle sellers do not put the vehicle title in their name, which excludes them from assuming legal responsibility for the vehicle. The way to fix this problem is to request a duplicate vehicle title. The individual who is listed on the title is responsible for requesting the duplicate title and signing it over to the buyer to put in their name.