Connecticut Title Transfer

Transferring a vehicle title in Connecticut is a single transaction that combines the title change, sales tax payment, and registration into one DMV branch visit. Connecticut uses form H-13B for supplemental assignments and processes the title at the same window where the buyer registers the vehicle.

Seller responsibilities

The seller of a Connecticut-titled vehicle must:

• Sign the back of the certificate of title in the "Assignment of Ownership" section.
• Provide an accurate odometer reading on the title (federal law requires odometer disclosure for vehicles less than 20 model years old; Connecticut also accepts the federal Q-1 form).
• Provide a bill of sale that lists the buyer, seller, vehicle VIN, sale date, and sale price.
• Remove license plates from the vehicle. Connecticut plates belong to the registrant, not the vehicle, so the seller takes the plates and either transfers them to a new vehicle or returns them to the DMV.
• Cancel the insurance policy on the vehicle promptly to avoid coverage gaps that affect the buyer.

Buyer responsibilities

The buyer must register and title the vehicle in their own name within the standard registration window. To do so, the buyer brings:

• The signed-over original title (with seller's odometer reading).
• The bill of sale.
• Form H-13B if the title has run out of assignment lines (common with older vehicles that have been re-sold multiple times).
• Form B-345 Application for Registration and Certificate of Title.
• Connecticut auto insurance on the vehicle, meeting the 25/50/25 + UM minimum.
• Connecticut driver's license or other state-issued ID.
• Sales tax payment of 6.35% on the purchase price (or 7.75% if the vehicle is over $50,000), unless the transaction qualifies for an exemption.

Sales tax calculation

Connecticut charges sales tax on the higher of the actual purchase price or the NADA clean retail value when the transaction is between private parties. Dealers handle sales tax at the point of sale, not at the DMV — so a buyer purchasing from a Connecticut dealer pays tax on their dealer invoice and the dealer remits it directly. Buyers who paid sales tax in another state on the same vehicle within the past year may receive a credit, with documentation.

Sales tax exemptions

Connecticut exempts certain title transfers from sales tax:

• Transfers between immediate family members (parent-child, spouse, sibling).
• Inheritance transfers from an estate.
• Transfers between divorcing spouses pursuant to a court order.
• Gifts when accompanied by a notarized statement that no consideration was exchanged.

Each exemption requires specific documentation. Family transfers typically use form CERT-106; inheritance transfers require a copy of the death certificate and probate documents.

Title fees

• Title transfer fee: $25.
• Lien recording fee: $10 if the buyer is financing.
• Registration fee: $80 for 2 years (passenger).
• VIN inspection: $10 if required for an out-of-state vehicle.
• Late title transfer: Penalty for failing to title within the standard window.

Odometer disclosure

Federal law requires the seller to provide an accurate odometer reading on transfer for vehicles less than 20 model years old. Connecticut implements this through the title's odometer block; if the title doesn't have an odometer block, both parties must complete federal form Q-1 (Odometer Disclosure Statement). Tampering with the odometer or providing a false reading is a federal crime and a Connecticut Class A misdemeanor.

Liens and lender complications

If the seller's vehicle still has a lien, the lender holds the original title. The seller arranges the lien payoff with the buyer's funds, the lender releases the title, and the title is then transferred to the buyer. Most Connecticut transactions of this type close at the lender's office or with the lender's overnight title-release process. Buyers should not pay the seller in full until they have a clear path to the released title.

For a lost or damaged title before transfer, see CT title replacement. For other vehicle types, see other Connecticut registrations.