Selling a Car in Connecticut
If you’re selling a car in Connecticut, you’ll need to complete and sign the title and give it to the new owner along with a bill of sale.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Table of Contents
- What you need to sell a car in CT
- Getting a pre-sale inspection
- Documenting the sale
- Signing the title over
- Reporting the sale
- Cheap car insurance
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
To sell a car in Connecticut, you’ll need to complete and sign the reverse side of the Certificate of Title and give it to the buyer along with a bill of sale. Once the transaction is complete, remove the license plates and cancel your registration with the DMV before canceling your
liability insurance
. Preparing to sell your car privately can feel intimidating, but it’s the best way to get a good price for a used vehicle. The most important part of conducting a private sale is understanding the rules for selling a car in your state. Every state has its own regulations, but the process is generally simple.
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What you need to sell a car in Connecticut
Start by gathering some basic paperwork. The two essential documents you’ll need to sell your car in Connecticut are a Certificate of Title and a Bill of Sale.
If you don’t have your original Connecticut Certificate of Title and are selling a car less than 20 model years old to a buyer outside of Connecticut, you’ll need to
apply for a replacement title
(form H-6B). However, if you’re selling your car to someone who intends to register it within the state of Connecticut, you can sell the vehicle without a title by following these steps: - If there was a lien on the original Connecticut Certificate of Title, include a lien release letter on the lender’s letterhead.
- If the date of the lien is more than 10 years ago and you can’t obtain a lien release letter, complete aMotor Vehicle Ownership Affidavit (form H-115)instead.
If your car is over 20 model years old, a title is not required to sell the vehicle. Simply fill out a
Supplemental Assignment of Ownership Form (form Q1)
to complete the transaction. Getting a pre-sale inspection
For private sales, Connecticut law does not require any pre-sales inspection for safety or emissions. However, it’s a good idea to allow your buyer to bring your vehicle to a third party for an inspection if they choose.
Documenting the sale
Once you’ve settled on a price with your buyer, you’ll need to create a bill of sale to document the transaction. Connecticut provides a standard
Bill of Sale (form H-31)
, but you’re not required to use it. If you do choose to draft your own bill of sale, make sure it has all the following information: - Name and address of buyer
- Name and address of seller
- Description of the vehicle (make, model, year, and color)
- The vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Purchase price
- Date of sale
- Signatures of buyer and seller
Signing the title over
The bill of sale creates a record of your vehicle’s purchase, but the only way to legally transfer ownership of a vehicle is by completing and signing the reverse side of the title. You and your buyer will both need to sign the title to complete the transfer of ownership.
Keep a copy of the title certificate as well as the bill of sale for your records.
Reporting the sale
Once the sale is complete, you’ve got one last step—removing the license plates and canceling your registration with the DMV. You can cancel your plates
online
or by mail. Be sure to keep a record of your receipt number if you cancel online. Canceling your registration is an important step. In Connecticut, your car will be subject to property tax assessment in the town where it was registered until you’ve canceled the plates. Contact your local tax assessor’s office with a copy of your registration cancellation receipt so that your tax bill can be adjusted.
Finally, you’ll need to wait until the registration is canceled before you cancel your liability insurance. Connecticut state law requires all drivers to maintain liability insurance as long as the registration is active, so don’t cancel early!
Finding affordable car insurance
Selling a car privately can be a nerve-wracking process—the last thing you need to worry about when handling all those forms and figures is shopping for a new car insurance policy.
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FAQs
How do I know how much my car is worth?
Use resources like
Edmunds
and Kelley Blue Book
to figure out what a fair price is based on the make, model, year, and condition of your car.
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