CT · Registration fee guide
Connecticut car registration fees
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Connecticut registers passenger cars for three years at a time.
Your itemized estimate
Estimate your registration
Use your vehicle details to calculate the listed fees. Amounts reflect the schedule verified in 2026.
Start with the published example below, then adjust the details for your vehicle.
Published example · listed fees
$159.0036-month renewal example
No listed fees for this selection.
- State fees$159.00
- County / local$0.00
- One-time$0.00
View breakdown data
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| State fees | $159.00 |
| County / local | $0.00 |
| One-time | $0.00 |
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Triennial registration fee (passenger vehicle) | $120.00 |
| Federal Clean Air Act fee | $15.00 |
| Passport to the Parks fee | $24.00 |
Estimate only. Includes only the fees listed here; other taxes, penalties or local charges may apply. Confirm with the official agency.
Confirm with Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Registration fee schedule
Only applicable fees contribute to your estimate. Optional fees are excluded unless selected. One-time fees apply only to new registrations.
| Fee | Amount or rule | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Triennial registration fee (passenger vehicle) | $120.00 CGS 14-49(a): $120 every three years for each passenger motor vehicle. Drivers 65 or older may renew for one year at a prorated fee. The DMV fee list shows $120 for both regular and electric passenger cars. | All listed vehiclesAll listed vehicles |
| Federal Clean Air Act fee | $15.00 CGS 14-49b(a)(1): $15 per three-year registration, new or renewal. It does not apply to electrically powered vehicles, matching the DMV fee list, which omits it for electric cars. | See conditionsfuel type: gas, hybrid, phev |
| Passport to the Parks fee | $24.00 CGS 14-49b(b) as amended: $24 per three-year passenger registration, new or renewal. The DMV fee list says the fee became $24 on July 1, 2025. It applies to electric cars too. | All listed vehiclesAll listed vehicles |
| Title fee | $25.00 DMV fee list, passenger car (regular): $25 title fee. | New registrationAll listed vehicles; one-time |
| Plate fee | $5.00 DMV fee list, passenger car (regular): $5 plate fee. | New registrationAll listed vehicles; one-time |
| Administrative fee | $10.00 DMV fee list: $10 administrative fee; CGS 14-12s charges it on each transaction involving an electronic check of the manufacturer's VIN, as at a new registration. | New registrationAll listed vehicles; one-time |
| Emissions exemption fee (vehicles four years old or newer) | $40.00 DMV fee list: $40 emissions exemption fee if the vehicle is four years old or newer, charged at registration in place of an emissions test. Not listed for electric cars. | New registrationfuel type: gas, hybrid, phev; max age years: 4; one-time |
How Connecticut fees work
Connecticut registers passenger cars for three years at a time. The registration fee is $120, plus a $15 federal Clean Air Act fee (not charged on electric cars) and a $24 Passport to the Parks fee, so a typical gas car pays $159 every three years. New registrations also pay a $25 title fee, a $5 plate fee and a $10 administrative fee, and cars four years old or newer pay a $40 emissions exemption fee. Sales tax applies when you buy, and towns bill a separate annual vehicle property tax.
The listed registration period is 36 months. Agency information
Cost factors: flat, fuel.
Late registration
Connecticut DMV: a $10 late fee applies if you renew more than five days after the expiration date. Late emissions testing carries a separate late fee.
Confirm deadlines and penalties with the agencyWorked example
2022 gas sedan, three-year renewal: $120 registration + $15 Clean Air Act fee + $24 Passport to the Parks fee = $159. Town property tax is billed separately.
Listed total: $159.00
See the fee rules and sources aboveCommon questions
How are Connecticut registration fees calculated?
Connecticut registers passenger cars for three years at a time. The registration fee is $120, plus a $15 federal Clean Air Act fee (not charged on electric cars) and a $24 Passport to the Parks fee, so a typical gas car pays $159 every three years. New registrations also pay a $25 title fee, a $5 plate fee and a $10 administrative fee, and cars four years old or newer pay a $40 emissions exemption fee. Sales tax applies when you buy, and towns bill a separate annual vehicle property tax.
Where can I confirm my final registration cost?
Confirm the final amount with Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Its official website is linked below the calculator and in this guide’s sources.
What other limitations should I consider?
All recurring amounts cover the standard three-year registration. Drivers 65 or older can choose a one-year renewal at a prorated fee ($8 Passport to the Parks fee and $5 Clean Air Act fee for one year). Towns bill an annual motor vehicle property tax based on the car's assessed value and the local mill rate; it is not paid to the DMV and is not included. Unpaid property tax blocks renewal. Buying a car triggers Connecticut sales tax of 6.35%, or 7.75% for cars over $50,000. Not included. New vehicles registered with a manufacturer's certificate of origin pay a $15 greenhouse gas fee, and a lien adds $10. Not included. Electric cars have no extra EV registration fee in Connecticut; they skip the Clean Air Act fee and the emissions exemption fee. The emissions exemption fee is applied to vehicles up to four years old by model year (calculator age 0-4); the DMV decides the exact cutoff.
Sources and last checked
Sources
- DMV fees Connecticut DMV
- Renew your vehicle registration Connecticut DMV
- Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 246 (sections 14-12s, 14-49, 14-49b) Connecticut General Assembly
Last verified
Fees can change. Confirm your final amount with the official registration agency before paying.
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