Last Update: September 16, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Connecticut

Vehicle registration and certificate of title records in Connecticut are maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a state agency headquartered in Wethersfield. Several events necessitate an update: a move, a legal name change, an error on a registration certificate or title, the purchase or sale of a vehicle, moving into the state, or a transfer of license plates. Registration transactions are handled directly by the DMV through online services, mail, and appointments at its hub and branch offices; Connecticut has no county-level motor vehicle offices.

Connecticut Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

The following situations typically require a change to registration or title records:

• A physical or mailing address change, which must be reported to the DMV within 48 hours.
• A legal name changes due to marriage, civil union, divorce, or court order, affecting both the registration and the title.
• An owner name is added to or removed from the registration and title.
• A vehicle is purchased or sold, and ownership is transferred through the assignment of the certificate of title.
• A person establishes residency in Connecticut, which starts the 90-day deadline for transferring an out-of-state registration.
• A license plate is transferred to another vehicle owned by the same person.
• A registration certificate or title is lost, stolen, or damaged, requiring a duplicate document.

Where to File a Connecticut Vehicle Registration Change

Since Connecticut operates its motor vehicle program at the state level, the DMV is the single point of contact for registration changes and title corrections alike. Three channels are available:

• Online through the DMV's customer service portal for address changes, registration renewal, duplicate vehicle registrations, replacement titles, and plate transfers.
• By mail to the department at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161, or to PO Box 150456, Hartford, CT 06115-0456 for renewal payments.
• In person, by appointment at a DMV hub or branch office, which is required for name changes, owner additions or removals, temporary registrations, and out-of-state registration transfers.

Registration and title law for motor vehicles is found in Title 14 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which addresses the application for registration and the issuance of certificates of title.

Connecticut Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

An address change can be reported online for free. Any Connecticut resident holding a vehicle registration, driver's license, or non-driver identification card may change the address online, and the change takes effect once the transaction is processed. All residents must update the DMV within 48 hours of any change of address.

After the online update, the owner crosses out the old address on each current registration certificate and writes the new address in the space provided. An optional address label may be obtained from a police department or printed from the DMV website for placement on the back of a license or identification card. Requesting a duplicate driver's license or ID card featuring the new address costs $30.00, although the address change itself carries no fee.

Connecticut Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A name change on a Connecticut registration or title requires an in-person appointment at a DMV office. The owner brings the original certificate of title signed on the reverse side to show the change of name; when a lienholder holds the title, it must be released for "transfer purposes only" with an indication of which name may be changed. For vehicles more than 20 years old that do not require a title, a completed supplemental assignment of ownership (Form Q-1) is submitted instead.

The following documents accompany the appointment:

• A completed application for registration and certificate of title (Form H-13B), signed by both parties and including dates of birth, with the ownership conjunction shown as "and" or "or."
• The owner's current Connecticut Insurance Identification Card in the new name or names.
• Certified documentation of the name change, such as a marriage license, civil union certificate, or divorce decree; when the ownership of the title is not changing, only the registration document must be presented.
• The current registration certificate; a $20.00 duplicate registration fee is charged if it cannot be turned in.

Adding a name follows the same procedure as the title signed by the owner or seller, showing the additional names, while removing a name requires both owners to sign the title. After a divorce, a certified copy of the divorce decree awarding the vehicle must also be provided; without it, sales tax applies to half of the vehicle's NADA value.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Connecticut Registration Record

The required procedure depends on whether the error involves the registration certificate or the title record.

A duplicate registration certificate can be reprinted online at no cost for a vehicle, while a vessel registration reprint costs $20.00. By mail, an owner sends a written request or Form B-341 with the marker plate number, vehicle type, name and address, signature, and a $20.00 payment to the Customized Services Division at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161.

A lost or damaged certificate of title is replaced with a completed Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form H-6B) and a $25.00 duplicate title fee. The application can be filed online, by appointment in person, or by mail; replacement titles arrive within 20 business days for online requests, while mail requests can take up to 90 days. When a lien is recorded, the lienholder applies with a power of attorney by mail, and a lien release letter is submitted with the form. Altering or correcting a title in place is not accepted; a new title application must be completed, and a lienholder addition that requires a duplicate title totals $70.00 in fees.

Connecticut Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

• An address change must be reported within 48 hours of the change taking effect.
• A person who establishes residency in Connecticut has 90 days to transfer a vehicle registration from another state.
• A vehicle purchased in another state must be registered within 90 days of purchase or within 90 days of establishing residency.
• Registration renewal invitations are mailed 45 days before expiration; renewing more than 5 days after the expiration date adds a $10.00 late fee, assessed beginning on day 6.
• A vehicle that transfers within a family must have been registered to the prior family member for at least 60 days to qualify for the sales tax exemption.
• Emissions testing must be completed within 30 days of registration for a vehicle previously registered in Connecticut that has not been tested.
• A duplicate title requested online arrives within 20 business days; requests by mail can take up to 90 days.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Connecticut?

Connecticut vehicle registration and title records are administered by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which publishes flat fees for duplicate documents, titles, and the components of first-time registration. The current amounts for the most common changes are listed in the table below.

Contact Information

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161
Phone: (860) 263-5700
Official Website: Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles