How to Gift a Car in Connecticut in 2026

Gifting a car in Connecticut is a transfer of ownership from one person to another without consideration. The donor signs the title over to the recipient, who then applies for a new title and registration through the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

How Does Gifting a Car in Connecticut Work?

A motor vehicle gift in Connecticut comes without any compensation or consideration. Under Section 14-179 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the donor must execute an assignment of the vehicle title and deliver it along with the certificate of title to the recipient, who then applies for registration through the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Unlike a sale, a gift does not trigger Connecticut sales and use tax obligations, provided the transfer is documented appropriately, and no consideration changes hands between the donor and recipient.

Connecticut requires a completed Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration (Form AU-463) signed by the donor. This form must affirm that no compensation of any kind—cash, property, personal services, assumption of debt, or future payment—has been or will be exchanged in connection with the transfer. Both the donor and recipient must sign the form and provide contact information. Any deviation from this requirement may result in the transfer being treated as a sale subject to taxation.

Connecticut Car Gifting Rules You Should Know

Title Status

Connecticut requires a certificate of title for most motor vehicles. However, vehicles that are 20 model years old or older are exempt from the title requirement and do not need to be titled. For exempt vehicles, the recipient may establish ownership through registration records and other supporting ownership documents acceptable to the DMV.

When a title exists, it must be assigned by the donor to the recipient and presented to the DMV. The donor's signature on the title assignment must match exactly the name as it appears on the face of the title. Any variance in spelling, initials, or name format can delay processing. If the title contains two joint owners, both must sign the assignment, regardless of whether both are transferring their interests.

License Plates

When ownership of a vehicle changes, Connecticut requires that the donor remove the existing registration plate and discontinue its use. If the donor wishes to retain the plate for use on a different vehicle owned by both parties, the plate transfer must be processed through the DMV, and a transfer fee applies. Plates cannot simply be moved from one vehicle to another without formal transfer authorization.

The recipient must obtain new plates during the registration process. A new plate fee is collected at the time of registration. The recipient cannot use the donor's plates to operate the vehicle, even temporarily, except during the 10-day temporary registration period issued by the DMV to allow the new owner to transport the vehicle to inspection.

Taxes and Fees

Connecticut imposes no sales and use tax on bona fide gifts of motor vehicles. To qualify for this tax exemption, the Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration (Form AU-463) must be completed, signed by both parties, and submitted with the registration application.

However, title, registration, and certain administrative fees still apply. Beyond state fees, recipients must also satisfy local property tax obligations. Connecticut assesses motor vehicles as local property, and the local tax is computed based on 70% of the average retail value as determined by the recipient's town assessor. Local tax obligations begin as soon as the vehicle is registered, regardless of whether the recipient uses the vehicle.

Step-By-Step Process To Gift a Car in Connecticut

Step 1: Obtain and Complete the Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration (Form AU-463).

The donor obtains the official Form AU-463 from the Connecticut DMV website or a DMV office. The form requires the donor to print their full legal name, provide a complete street address, and provide contact information. The donor must then describe the vehicle by providing its year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN). The date of the gift transfer must be entered. The donor must sign and date the form under penalty of law. False statements on Form AU-463 may result in fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both.

The recipient must then sign the same form and provide their full legal name, address, and contact information. Both parties must affirm, under the form, that this is a true gift with no barter or exchange of any kind. The completed form must be retained and brought to the DMV appointment.

Step 2: Confirm Whether the Vehicle Requires a Title.

Vehicles manufactured 20 or more model years ago do not require a title to be acquired or transferred. For these vehicles, the recipient may proceed with registration using existing ownership documentation. For vehicles manufactured fewer than 20 model years ago, a certificate of title is required and must be transferred to the recipient.

Step 3: Ensure the Donor's Title Assignment is Completed.

If the vehicle is titled in Connecticut, the donor must locate the certificate of title and execute the assignment on its back. The donor's signature must appear exactly as printed on the front of the title. If the title lists two or more joint owners, all owners must sign the assignment. The assignment section requests the recipient's name and address. The donor should complete this information clearly and accurately to avoid delays. The completed title should then be maintained for presentation at the DMV appointment.

Step 4: Provide Odometer Mileage Disclosure.

Federal and Connecticut laws require an odometer disclosure statement when vehicle ownership is transferred. The donor must record the current mileage reading and certify its accuracy to the best of the donor's knowledge. If the vehicle's odometer is broken or not functioning, or if the mileage cannot be determined, the donor must note this on the disclosure. The current mileage reading also appears on the Application for Registration and Title (Form H-13B), which the recipient completes at the DMV office.

Step 5: Obtain Proof of Connecticut Liability Insurance in the Recipient's Name.

Before the recipient can register the vehicle, Connecticut requires that the vehicle be covered by active liability insurance in the recipient's name. The recipient must contact an insurance provider and secure a current insurance card or binder for the vehicle. Connecticut minimum liability coverage includes $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability. The proof of insurance must be presented at the DMV appointment. Without proof of active insurance, the DMV will not issue a registration.

Step 6: Schedule and Attend a DMV Appointment.

The recipient must schedule an appointment with the Connecticut DMV either online or by phone. Appointments are required, and walk-in registrations are not accepted. The recipient should bring the completed Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration (Form AU-463), the certificate of title with the donor's assignment, proof of liability insurance, acceptable identification, the current odometer reading, and any required registration fees. If the vehicle was previously registered in another state or country, the recipient must also bring any out-of-state title or registration documents and proof that the vehicle identification number was verified.

Step 7: Complete the Application for Registration and Title (Form H-13B) at the DMV.

At the appointment, the recipient works with a DMV representative to complete Form H-13B, the official state application for registration and title. This form requests the recipient's name, address, driver's license number, and signature. The recipient must provide a complete description of the vehicle and the current mileage reading. Section 5 of Form H-13B is used to claim the gift tax exemption. The donor's name and the date of the gift transfer must be entered on the form, and a copy of the completed Form AU-463 must be attached to the application.

The DMV representative will collect applicable fees and provide the recipient with a temporary registration that allows the vehicle to be driven for ten days to enable the recipient to obtain an emissions inspection.

Step 8: Comply with Connecticut Emissions Testing Requirements.

If the vehicle was previously registered in Connecticut, the recipient must have the vehicle tested for emissions compliance within 30 days of the registration date. The recipient should check the vehicle's emissions compliance status online using the vehicle identification number. Failure to obtain emissions testing within the required 30-day period may result in late fees. The emissions testing requirement applies to most passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks and is enforced even if the recipient does not receive a reminder notice.

Step 9: Register the Vehicle for Permanent Use.

Once the vehicle has been inspected and certified to comply with emissions requirements, the recipient returns to the DMV with the inspection certificate to complete permanent registration. The DMV will issue permanent license plates and a registration certificate valid for 1, 2, or 3 years, depending on the recipient's selection and the vehicle class. The recipient's vehicle is then legally registered in Connecticut and may be operated on public roads.

Documents Needed for Gifting a Car in Connecticut

The following documents are required when gifting a motor vehicle in Connecticut:

• A completed and signed Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration (Form AU-463), executed by both the donor and recipient
• The current Connecticut certificate of title properly assigned by the donor to the recipient (if the vehicle requires a title)
• For vehicles without a title, registration records from the state where the vehicle was last registered, or other ownership documentation acceptable to the Connecticut DMV
• The completed Application for Registration and Title (Form H-13B), signed by the recipient
• Proof of liability insurance valid in Connecticut in the recipient's name
• Acceptable identification for the recipient, as defined by the Connecticut DMV
• Current odometer reading for the vehicle
• Payment of required title, registration, and administrative fees

For vehicles that were most recently registered outside Connecticut, the recipient must also provide the out-of-state title or registration certificate and evidence that the vehicle identification number was verified by an acceptable method.

Applicable Fees and Taxes When Gifting a Car in Connecticut

Registration fees for trucks, vans, and other vehicle classes vary based on gross vehicle weight rating. Owners should consult the official Connecticut DMV fee table for their specific vehicle classification.

Sales and use tax is not imposed on bona fide gifts. Connecticut law explicitly provides that property transferred as a gift is excluded from the definition of a taxable sale, provided the Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration is completed and signed by both the donor and recipient and no consideration is exchanged.

Local property tax obligations begin upon registration. The recipient's town assesses motor vehicles annually based on 70% of the vehicle's average retail value. Assessment dates are typically October 1 or supplement dates determined by the local assessor. Property tax bills are issued separately by the town tax collector and are payable according to the town's tax payment schedule.

A $15 greenhouse gas reduction fee applies to certain vehicle classifications. This additional fee is collected at the time of registration.

Contact Information

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