Getting a Connecticut Driver's License

A Connecticut Class D license is the standard adult credential for non-commercial passenger vehicles. Connecticut runs a tight document-checking process at every issuance — and because the state operates only eight full DMV branches, applicants who arrive missing a single proof of address often have to rebook several weeks out.

Eligibility

The minimum age for a full unrestricted Connecticut Class D license is 18. Applicants 16 or 17 follow the graduated path through a Connecticut learner's permit and the 16-17 teen license phase. Adult first-time applicants 18 or older still need to hold a permit for at least 90 days before taking the road test, but they're exempt from the curfew and passenger restrictions that apply to younger drivers.

Documents required

Connecticut issues both REAL ID-compliant licenses (with a star icon) and standard non-REAL ID licenses. For a REAL ID, bring:

• One primary identity document — a U.S. birth certificate (with raised seal), valid U.S. passport, or Permanent Resident card.
• Proof of your Social Security number — Social Security card, W-2, or recent SSA-1099.
• Two proofs of Connecticut residency from two different sources, dated within the last 90 days — utility bill, bank statement, lease, mortgage statement, town tax notice.
• A completed H-69 Driver's License Application (downloadable from the CT DMV website).

Names that don't match across documents — common after marriage or divorce — require additional name-change records (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order). See Connecticut name change for the document chain.

Fees

The Connecticut Class D license fee is $84 for a 6-year credential, plus a $40 testing fee for the knowledge and road tests at first issuance. Total typical cost for a first-time license: about $124. REAL ID does not cost extra at first issuance. Verify current fees on the CT DMV website before scheduling, as the legislature adjusts them periodically.

Knowledge test

The Connecticut knowledge test contains 25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the current Connecticut Driver's Manual. You must answer at least 20 correctly (80%) to pass. Topics emphasized in Connecticut: distracted-driving law, four-way stop right-of-way, school-bus passing rules, "Move Over" law for emergency vehicles, OUI thresholds, and the rules for snow/ice removal from a vehicle's roof (a Connecticut-specific statute).

Road test

The Connecticut road test runs roughly 20-25 minutes and is administered at full DMV branches and a few satellite testing sites. Expect:

• Pre-drive checks (signals, brakes, lights, defroster).
• Three-point turn or K-turn on a residential street.
• Parallel parking between cones or actual cars (still required in Connecticut, unlike many states that have dropped it).
• Backing in a straight line for 50 feet.
• Right and left turns from the correct lane.
• Highway entry and merging when the route includes one.
• Stopping smoothly at controlled intersections.

The most common reasons applicants fail the Connecticut road test: rolling stops at stop signs, failure to use mirrors and head checks during lane changes, and parallel parking errors (hitting cones or ending more than 12 inches from the curb).

License delivery and the 6-year cycle

You'll leave the DMV branch with a printed temporary license valid for 60 days; the permanent card is mailed within 20 business days. The permanent license is valid for 6 years and expires on the holder's birthday. Connecticut allows online renewal every other cycle — meaning every 12 years a driver has to appear in person for an updated photo and vision screening. After an OUI, lapsed renewal, or address mismatch, an in-person visit is required regardless of cycle. Track your record through Connecticut driving records.