Free Connecticut License Plate Lookup

1. Active Registration Mandatory

All vehicles on Connecticut public roads must have valid license plates per the motor vehicle law.

2. New Vehicle Registration

• In-state purchase: You have 30 days to register (per § 14-12(c)). During this term, you need to provide insurance, pay tax, and pass an emissions test (vehicles more than four model years old must test).
• New CT residents/Out-of-state purchases: You have 90 days to transfer title and registration.
• Required Form: Application for Registration & Title - Form H-13B PDF.

3. Display Rules

• Passenger cars need front and rear plates. They should be securely mounted horizontally, at least 12 inches above the road.
• Most trucks require both front & rear plates; certain tractors may carry rear only.

4. Legibility

Plates must be readable. Bending, covering, or fading characters, as well as clear covers or grime that obscures them, are violations.

1. Replacing Damaged/Lost Plates

If plates become unreadable, lost, or stolen, you must apply immediately for replacement. A police report or a lost-plate affidavit (Form E-159) is required for stolen plates.

2. Required Form

Replacement Plate Request - Form E-45 PDF.

• Cost: $25 per set.
• Turnaround: DMV cancels the original registration status and ships replacements within 5-7 business days. Those driving without new plates may face penalties.

3. Cancelling Registration

When selling, junking, or moving a vehicle out of state, you must surrender or cancel license plates immediately. Connecticut DMV requires both plates returned (unless lost-plate affidavit filed).

• This can be done online or by physical return.
• Property tax billing ceases once the cancellation is recorded by the DMV.

1. Privacy Protection

The Driver`s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) safeguards personal information associated with license plates.

• DMV can only disclose information for "authorized uses." This concerns insurance claims, legal proceedings, or law enforcement.

2. Official Records

Obtaining a copy of a title, registration, or driver record requires stating a permissible purpose (per CGS § 14-10 and DPPA) and paying a copy fee.

• Required Form: Request for Copy of Records - Form J-23 PDF.
• Turnaround: Typically 5 business days .

1. DMV Authority

The CT Department of Motor Vehicles issues custom-designed or personalized plates.

• Required Form: Vanity / Specialty Plate Application - Form M-22 PDF.
• The DMV may deny this text if it’s obscene, misleading, or a duplicate. Additional fees often fund charities or production costs.

2. "Classic / Early American" Plates

Vehicles 20 years or older, kept essentially stock, can use “Early American” plates or a year-of-manufacture plate pair.

• Required Form: YOM Plate Affidavit - Form B-320 PDF.
• DMV typically replies within 7-10 days.