The process of registering your commercial vehicle can change based on where your vehicle is titled, if it has a lien, or if it is leased. Follow the steps here to register for every circumstance.
We define a commercial motor vehicle as any motor vehicle designed or used to transport merchandise, freight or persons in connection with any business enterprise.
Don’t forget to sign up for your Connecticut Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) Portal account online. This website serves as a one-stop-shop for commercial motor vehicles that conduct business in the State of Connecticut.
Before you can register your vehicle, make sure you don’t have any issues, like:
Identification. You need to present an acceptable form of identification to register your vehicle.
Proof of insurance. Your insurance card needs to include this information.
Completed registration application (Form H-13B). Download, fill out, and print this form before coming into the office.
Bill of sale for recently purchased vehicles. Download, fill out, and print this form before coming into the office.
Proof of ownership, such as an original title.
If you are trying to register a vehicle from outside Connecticut: please see title information by state to learn if you need the title. If the vehicle is not titled in that state, you need valid registration from the previous owner. If registration is expired, you need to get a letter of registration verification from the previous state’s DMV.
If you are trying to register a leased vehicle, you need an original power of attorney from the leasing company.
State of Connecticut
Department of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Record Updates
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
If the original title is not available, you can request a six-month registration (called a courtesy registration) to give your lienholder or leasing company time to mail your original title to Connecticut DMV. This applies only when there is a lienholder holding the original title. More information on how to apply for a courtesy registration.
USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) number is sometimes needed. Consult the FMCSA site for guidance.
Payment: The registration fees for a commercial vehicle vary by Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). See registration fee chart for commercial vehicles. There is an additional $10 fee for processing a vehicle with a lien. In addition, sales tax will be charged on recently purchased vehicles.
Upon confirmation of receipt of your title documents, please allow 5 business days for the DMV to process the vehicle into the system before visiting a branch office.
For vehicles registered at 55,000 lbs. and over, you need to file and pay a special federal highway use-tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing form no. 2290 (IRS E-filing), needed at the time of registration. This is a required annual payment.
If the purchase date of this vehicle is more than 60 days from the date you register the vehicle, you will need to bring the IRS 2290 form to register the vehicle.
When you go to renew your registration, you need to submit proof that you made this payment to the DMV. Acceptable proof of payment is a copy of IRS form 2290 receipted for payment by the IRS listing the vehicle ID number for which tax was paid.
All commercial vehicles (trucks, tractors, buses, trailers) with a gross vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight rating of the following types must receive a federal annual inspection in accordance with sections 14-163c and 14-163e of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) and 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §396.17.:
Federal annual inspection is required before the vehicle is registered. The results of the federal annual inspection need to be recorded on a report as specified in 49 CFR §396.21. That report needs to be carried on the vehicle(s) in accordance with sections 14-163c and 14-163e of the CGS and 49 CFR §396.17 and 49 CFR §396.21.
When completing section 8 of the H-13B, you need to indicate “Yes” under “if DOT #, has the vehicle been inspected? Ref 49 CFR 396.17” as proof that this requirement is met.
Additional section 8 requirement: For owners of vehicles wanting to operate above legal weight limits that require an oversize or overweight permit, you need to indicate “Yes” under “gross weight declared requires CT DOT OS /OW permit.” Once you are registered, contact the Connecticut DOT at dot.osowpermits@ct.gov to get the required oversize or overweight permit. You may also visit their website.
