If good luck is on your side and a dear family member has decided to give you their vehicle, as a gift or even by selling it to you at a reasonable price, there are a few steps you need to take to legally drive it in Connecticut. First make sure that your family member is considered immediate family: mother, father, wife, husband, civil union partner, daughter, son, sister, or brother.
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Basically, processing a vehicle family transfer is similar to a title transfer with more perks though
Family transfer with the CT DMV
Transferring a car to an immediate family member in Connecticut involves a title transfer and a registration, so that you can actually take the vehicle out on the road. You can make an appointment with the CT DMV, but please note that with the ongoing pandemic, some DMVs in the Provisions State are operating differently. Some require appointments or have longer wait times; in fact, locations like Danbury and Enfield are booked four weeks out!
You need a valid title to register your family member’s car
In order to put your new (to you) vehicle in your name, you must provide the CT DMV with a few key items. Number one and always of utmost importance, your car title. Or SUV title, or pickup title…you get the point, you need your vehicle title. So make sure little bro or dear mama gave you their car title.
The singular exception to this rule is if the vehicle is more than 20 years old. In this case, you’d use a DMV form “Supplemental Assignment of Ownership” or Form Q-1. The good thing about transferring big items like a car between immediate family members is that you can always ring them up if you need to get more info! If they didn’t properly sign their title over to you, pick up the phone and ask. It’s necessary!
SEE ALSO: CONNECTICUT REGISTRATION RENEWAL
In a family title transfer, you are the purchaser, and the family member giving you the car is the seller
As always you need a formal CT ID like a Connecticut driver’s license as well as a valid Connecticut vehicle insurance. The auto insurance card must reflect your information, not your family member’s details. Insurance is not transferable between family members, so you need your very own policy. If you can get your hands on the old registration card, (it’s not required) do so, it can be helpful.
Application for Registration and Title or H-13B
Finally, the DMV wouldn’t be DMV if there wasn’t a form to fill out! For title and registration, Connecticut uses the “Application for Registration and Title” or H-13B. It’s a downloadable form so to save time, fill it out at home before you go! This may seem obvious, but in the interest of clarity, you’re the purchaser and little bro is the seller. This is true, even if no money is exchanged.
No sales tax for family
The greatest perk of transferring vehicles between immediate family members is being exempt from sales tax! The stipulation here is that the vehicle had to be in your family member’s name for at least two months before it was given to you.
The Provisions State offers all residents with Connecticut license plates on their vehicles free parking at all state parks and beaches
Emission inspections when transferring car to family
As long as the Connecticut vehicle registration was current when you got it, you can transfer it to your name and complete the required emissions check after. You have 30 days after it’s registered to get the inspection done. Emission inspections are evaluations regulated by each state individually to be sure that vehicles are safe to drive and safe for the environment.
If you want to keep the same CT license plates as your family member, a permission letter from them is required.
34 comments
My son lives and works in New Hampshire. He is driving a car that I own which is registered in CT. What do I need to do to give it to him? CT DMV website is clear as mud. It always assumes person receiving the gift is living in CT. Thank you.
Most DMVs are clear as mud, lol.
Assuming that your son would register the car in his name in New Hampshire, then you would only need to provide him the CT title. Your son would go to a NH DMV to complete the registration.
Hi
My wife gifted me one of her cars on our wedding anniversary, both living together in the same house as husband and wife with our children in Connecticut, I will like to keep the same number plate but to change to the affordable car insurance company, is it possible to do it online since both are working during DMV office hours ?
Yes, you can keep the same plates (you would be transferring them from your wife’s name to your same as the title) and you can do this online with eTags. Keep in mind that you will be required to mail in the required forms but, you will be able to avoid a visit to a DMV office.
My 98 year old aunt wants to give me her car. I live in Florida. How does this work?
Assuming your aunt’s vehicle has a Connecticut title and is without a lien (lien free), she would need to complete all the information on the back of the title, top section for “Motor Vehicle First Re-Assignment by Owner“, except for the box/line designated for the buyer’s (your) signature and any designated as required only for dealers. Because CT titles do not have a box/line for purchase price, your aunt will also need to provide you a Bill of Sale (BoS) with the vehicle information (VIN, make, year) and purchase price or confirmation that it is a gift. You can provide a written letter or any Bill of Sale form from a DMV, such as this FL BoS.
Once you have the completed and signed CT title, you would sign the back on the box/line for “buyer”. Take the title, the Bill of Sale, your ID, your FL insurance, and a completed VIN verification form to a tag agency or tax collector office. The office you visit may be able to complete the VIN verification form so we recommend calling ahead to confirm that, as well as any other requirements they may have, such as needing to schedule an appointment. Alternatively, a police officer from any state or a Florida Notary (many banks offer free notary service to their customers) can complete the VIN verification form for you. You’ll complete other title application forms at the tag/tax office. You may also choose to use eTags online title transfer and registration service where you would mail us the title, bill of sale, and VIN verification form with a provided pre-paid label while completing all other requirements (providing ID, insurance, signing forms) online through your eTags account.
Hi,
My brother who is a CA resident is willing to gift to me. I am a CT resident. Could you help me with the required steps to get this done.
Sure, you can transfer the title online. Just select CT as you state and follow the prompts.
Hello! I recently paid off my car and just received the Title. I would like to gift the car to my stepson. Wed like to keep the existing plates on the car. Do we need to fill out anything beyond a Gift Declaration and the Title? Thank you!
Your stepson would also need to apply for a title transfer, even if it’s a gift and you would have to sign over the title to him. You can do the title transfer online.
My son lives in Ohio and owns a vehicle registered in the same state. If he sells me this vehicle (I’m a CT resident) will I still qualify for the no sales tax benefit when I register it in my name in CT?
Your son can gift the vehicle to you as there are no sales taxes when gifting. He’ll sign the title over to you and then you’ll have to apply for an out of state title transfer in CT. You can do this online with eTags. You and your son will also have fill out and sign (both of you) a Gift Declaration form.
My car is currently in my and my cousin’s name, I want to put it in my name only, is this possible?
Yes, it is possible. If the car is financed and the title has a lien, you will have to do it through your lending company. They will likely (re)finance the vehicle under your name only and complete all the title and registation paperwork. If the title does not have a lien, then your cousin can sign the title over to you as the seller and you sign the title as the buyer. Depending on whether you designate the transfer as a sale, gift, etc, you will need specific forms.
I live in NY and gifting a car to my daughter who lives in CT. I have a valid NYS title in my name. My daughter went to CT DMV and was told she needed a title in her name before they could do the transfer. My daughter said the person who helped her seemed a bit confused. It will take about 6-8 weeks in NYS to get a new title in my daughter’s name and trying to see if that step is really necessary.
We will be happy to assist your daughter in transferring the title to Connecticut. The documents we will need are.
Your daughter’s Connecticut ID
Connecticut Vehicle insurance
Affidavit of gift form ( We will provide once the order is placed)
Emissions test
If my son is on the car loan with me I’m the co signer but it’s registered to me can I transfer the registration to him
In CT, you can transfer your own plate to a different car, but not to a different person.
My step dad wants to give me the car he no longer drives? Is a step father immediate family?
Only mother, father, wife, husband, civil union partner, daughter, son, sister, or brother are conisdered immediate family in CT. However your step dad can sign over title title to you, even as a gift, and you would have to apply for a title tranfer in CT and registration in your name to be able to drive. You can do all of it online with eTags.
Hi
I just moved to the US (I’m a legal resident). I got a car from by brother. Is it possible to be co owners of the car? Since I do not have driving record, can he add the car to his insurance policy and add me as a driver?
You and your brother can be co-owners, but you would have to have a driver’s license. As far as insurance, you would have to get in touch with your bro’s provide to see if it’s something they can do.
I am being gifted a car by an immediate family member. This car is registered in CT and I am a CT resident with CT car insurance. What do I need to do in order to get the car in my name?
Hi Jason,
You’ll need the title signed over from the family member. As long as you have the title, vehicle insurance and your license, eTags can help! Use my link to place an order and our dedicated customer support will walk you through the process.
I want to add my son to the registration/title of my car. We live in CT. My wife passed away and she was a co-owner on the title. What do I need to do?
To add a name in CT, you must visit a local CT DMV as we don’t offer that service online, only title transfer and registration.
If I am active duty military (not a CT resident) and planning to gift an out-of-state vehicle to an immediate family member (CT resident), do I just transfer title and follow the rest of the guidance (registration, emissions test, etc) you have in the article?
Yes, you can apply for a title transfer on eTags.com with the order to be placed in the new owner’s name. Essentially it’s the person getting the gift that’s doing the title transfer, as he’s the buyer even though it’s a gift.
Make sure there are no errors on the title as CT considers any correction or error a defaced title.
The giftee will need a VIN verification for out-of-state vehicle as well as a Bill of Sale, Title, CT ID and Auto Insurance for registration purposes
Are there any special requirements for a immediate family transfer originating in another state, like RI?
Hi there! Only you’ll need a new registration in CT!
What do you need to give the DMV if you’re gifting a used car to a non family member?
Hi there! You as the seller don’t need to submit anything to DMV. You’ll sign the title over and the buyer will take the title to DMV and complete the transfer. I hope this helps!
How do I add my Spouse to an existing title?
Hi Lois,
The easiest way to add your spouse to your title is online with eTags. You’ll do a title transfer (add name) Go ahead and place your order here and let me know if you need any help!