The Connecticut Registration and Title Application, Form H-13B, is the single state form you use to register a vehicle and apply for a Connecticut Certificate of Title through the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Anyone who buys, gifts, inherits, or brings a titled vehicle into Connecticut must complete it to put the vehicle in their name. The current version is H-13B REV. 3-2021, and the revision date is printed in the top-right corner of the form, so check that you have the right one before you start.
This form does two jobs at once: it transfers legal ownership and it sets up your registration. Connecticut titles roughly 1 million vehicle transactions a year, and the DMV warns that a single missing signature, a blank odometer box, or a wrong tax-exemption code is enough to bounce your paperwork and delay your title for weeks. A correct H-13B is the difference between driving away titled and standing in a second line.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📝 How to fill out every section of Form H-13B line by line, using the exact box names.
- 🧾 Which documents, ID numbers, and dollar figures to gather before you open the form.
- 🚗 Three full walkthroughs: a private-party purchase, a new resident, and a family gift.
- 💸 What it costs, where to file, and how to avoid the most common rejections.
- ❓ Twelve FAQs, including field-level questions filers ask the DMV most.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form H-13B is the official Connecticut Registration and Title Application issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. It is a combined form, which means you do not use a separate “title-only” application in most cases. The same sheet captures who owns the vehicle, what the vehicle is, who sold it, any loan against it, and the sales tax owed. The DMV then issues a Certificate of Title in your name and links it to your registration.
You must file Form H-13B when you take ownership of a vehicle that Connecticut titles. That includes buying from a private seller, buying from a dealer, receiving a gift, inheriting a vehicle, adding a co-owner, or moving to Connecticut with an out-of-state titled vehicle. Connecticut requires a title for most vehicles that are 20 model years old or newer, and for boats from model year 2017 or newer, as explained on the DMV title service page.
Some vehicles do not need a title at all. The DMV lists exceptions such as vehicles more than 20 model years old, trailers with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less, snowmobiles, ATVs, and vessels older than 2017. The form is required by Connecticut General Statutes, and you sign it under penalty of false statement under Sections 14-110 and 53a-157b. Lying on it is a criminal offense, not a paperwork slip.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you write a single letter on the form, because the DMV cross-checks each entry against your supporting documents. A mismatch between the form and your ID or title is the fastest way to a rejection. Here is your pre-filing checklist.
- The assigned Certificate of Title from the seller. Without the back of the title signed over to you, the DMV cannot transfer ownership and your application stops cold.
- A completed Bill of Sale, such as Form H-31. It proves the price and date, which the DMV uses to figure sales tax when the price beats the NADA value.
- Proof of Connecticut insurance for the vehicle. State law requires coverage to be in effect, and you certify this on the form, so no policy means no registration.
- Your Connecticut driver license or ID number and date of birth. The DMV matches the owner name on the form to its license records, and a mismatch triggers a hold.
- The exact current odometer reading. Federal and state law require a mileage disclosure on transfer, and a blank box stamps the title “true mileage unknown.”
- The full Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The DMV runs it through NMVTIS to catch salvage, flood, or stolen brands before titling.
- Lien or loan information if you financed the vehicle, plus a lien release letter if a prior loan was paid off. Missing a release leaves an old lien on your new title.
- Sales tax money or proof of tax already paid. Connecticut charges use tax on most transfers, and the title will not issue until the tax is settled.
- A Gift Declaration, Form AU-463, if the vehicle is a gift. Without it, the DMV taxes the “gift” as a normal sale.
- A completed emissions or VIN verification where required, so the registration side of the form clears.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can download Form H-13B free from the official DMV forms page under “Application for registration and title.” The DMV recommends you download the PDF, fill it out on screen, then print it, because a typed form is easier for clerks to read than handwriting. You can also pick up a paper copy at any DMV branch or at many town clerk offices.
Print the form on plain white paper, single-sided, and read the reverse side first. The back of H-13B holds the sales tax instructions and the full list of tax-exemption codes, and you cannot complete Section 5 without it. Do not use a photo of the form on your phone at the counter; the DMV needs an original, signed paper document.
When you fill it out by hand, the printed instructions say to print using a black or blue pen. Do not use pencil, red ink, or felt markers that bleed. The form also tells you to “fill out the applicable sections,” meaning you complete only the parts that apply to your transaction, not every box on the sheet. If you are unsure which sections apply, use the DMV website to check the document list for your specific transaction first.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form H-13B Line by Line
Work through the form in the order the sections are numbered. Below, each numbered section of the official form gets its own walkthrough. Sample entries are shown in italics so you can tell them apart from instructions.
Section 1: Owner (Applicant) Information
What it asks: This section asks for the legal owner of the vehicle, including name, addresses, birthdate, license or ID number, and whether you are a Connecticut resident. The exact label is OWNER’S (APPLICANT’S) NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial).
How to answer it: Print your name in Last, First, Middle Initial order, then enter your mailing address, and your resident address if it differs (no P.O. Box allowed for the resident address). Fill in OWNER’S BIRTHDATE, OWNER’S LICENSE OR ID NUMBER, the issuing state, and check CT RESIDENT? YES/NO.
Example: Lopez, Maria A. enters her name, writes her mailing address as 14 Birch Lane, New Haven, CT 06511, her birthdate as 03/14/1985, and checks YES for Connecticut resident.
Nuance: If your resident address is where the vehicle most often returns to, check the box that reads RESIDENT ADDRESS IS WHERE VEHICLE MOST FREQUENTLY LEAVES FROM, RETURNS TO, OR REMAINS (For Property Tax), because this sets the town that bills your car property tax.
Common mistake and consequence: Writing your name in First-Last order scrambles the DMV match against your license record, which puts the application on hold until staff confirm your identity.
Misconception: People think the mailing address and resident address must be the same. They can differ, but the resident address controls your property tax town, so an inaccurate one can send your tax bill to the wrong town.
Section 2: Co-Owner and Co-Ownership Type
What it asks: This section captures a second owner, the CO-OWNER’S (CO-APPLICANT’S) NAME, birthdate, and license number, plus the co-ownership type: JOINT/OR or COMMON/AND.
How to answer it: Print the co-owner’s details the same way as the primary owner. Then check one box: JOINT/OR – Requires ONE signature to transfer ownership or COMMON/AND – Requires ALL signatures to transfer ownership.
Example: Lopez, Maria A. and her husband Lopez, Daniel R. add him as co-owner and check JOINT/OR so either spouse can sell the car later.
Nuance: Joint ownership carries the right of survivorship, so if one owner dies the other keeps the vehicle, per the DMV ownership rules. Common ownership (“and”) has no survivorship and may force a probate step.
Common mistake and consequence: Leaving the conjunction box blank means either party can transfer with one signature, which may not match what the owners intended and can cause family disputes.
Misconception: Many believe “or” and “and” mean the same thing on a title. They do not; “or” gives survivorship and one-signature transfers, while “and” requires every owner’s signature.
Section 4: Vehicle Information
What it asks: Section 4 describes the vehicle: VEHICLE I.D. NUMBER, YEAR, MAKE, MODEL NAME OR NO., COLOR(S), BODY STYLE, FUEL TYPE, NEW OR USED?, ODOMETER READING (Mileage), cylinders or CCs, and number of wheels.
How to answer it: Copy the VIN exactly from the title or the dashboard plate, character for character. Enter the year, make, and model from the title, list up to two colors, and check NEW or USED. Write the ODOMETER READING as the number shown on the dash today.
Example: Maria enters VIN 1HGCM82633A004352, year 2019, make Honda, model Civic, color Blue, body style 4-Dr. Sedan, fuel Gas, checks USED, and odometer 62,418.
Nuance: If your odometer has rolled past its mechanical limit or you cannot read it, note that clearly, because the DMV can brand the title “odometer exceeds mechanical limits” or “true mileage unknown.”
Common mistake and consequence: Transposing one VIN digit makes the form fail the NMVTIS check, and the DMV will refuse to title the vehicle until you correct it and re-verify.
Misconception: Filers think the mileage can be rounded or estimated. It must be the actual reading, because an incorrect figure is a federal odometer disclosure violation.
Section 3: Seller’s Information
What it asks: This section records who sold you the vehicle: NAME OF SELLER(S), SELLER’S ADDRESS, DATE VEHICLE SOLD (Purchased), and SELLING PRICE.
How to answer it: Print the seller’s full name and address, the sale date in MM/DD/YYYY format, and the price you actually paid in dollars. If there were two sellers, include both names.
Example: Maria writes seller James Carter, address 7 Elm Street, Hamden, CT 06514, date sold 05/20/2026, and selling price $15,500.
Nuance: For a private-party purchase, the DMV figures sales tax on the greater of your price or the current NADA Official Used Car Guide value, so a suspiciously low price will be taxed at NADA value instead.
Common mistake and consequence: Writing a fake low price to dodge tax is a false statement under Section 53a-157b, and the DMV taxes you at book value anyway while flagging the entry.
Misconception: Buyers think the seller fills in this section. You, the applicant, complete it from the bill of sale and the signed-over title.
Section 5: Tax Exemption
What it asks: Section 5 is where you claim an exemption from Connecticut sales or use tax. The labels are CODE NO. FROM BACK OF FORM and EXEMPTION INFORMATION.
How to answer it: Read the reverse side, find the code that fits your situation (1 through 5), write that single digit in the CODE NO. box, then add the required detail in EXEMPTION INFORMATION. Leave it blank if you owe normal tax.
Example: For a car gifted by her father, Maria writes code 1, then in Exemption Information writes FATHER, previously registered in CT, and attaches Form AU-463.
Nuance: Code 1 (immediate family) only covers mother, father, spouse, son, daughter, sister, or brother, and the giver must have had the vehicle registered for at least 60 days. Code 4 covers vehicles you owned out of state for at least 30 days before moving in.
Common mistake and consequence: Claiming a code without the backup document, like skipping the AU-463 for a gift, voids the exemption and the DMV charges full use tax on the spot.
Misconception: People assume a cousin, aunt, or grandparent counts as immediate family. They do not qualify under code 1, and claiming it triggers a tax bill plus possible penalty.
Section 7: Security Interest (Loan or Lien Information)
What it asks: This section records any lender with a claim on the vehicle: NAME OF LIEN-HOLDER, ADDRESS OF LIEN-HOLDER, DATE OF LIEN, and space for a SECOND LIEN-HOLDER.
How to answer it: If you financed the purchase, print the lender’s exact legal name and address and the lien date from your loan papers. If you paid cash, leave this blank and make sure no old lien lingers on the title.
Example: Maria’s loan is through Nutmeg Federal Credit Union, 200 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103, lien date 05/20/2026.
Nuance: When there is a lien, Connecticut mails the new title to the lienholder, not to you, as the title service page explains, and you get it once the loan is paid.
Common mistake and consequence: Forgetting to attach a lien release for a paid-off prior loan leaves the old lender on your new title, which blocks a future sale until you clear it.
Misconception: Buyers think they can register first and add the lien later for free. Adding a lienholder afterward is a separate transaction with a $45 fee.
Sections 8 and 9: Other Vehicles and Dealer Transactions
What it asks: These addendum sections cover vehicles other than passenger style (buses, trucks, trailers) and dealer transactions, including weights, seat capacity, axles, trade-in details, and dealer license numbers.
How to answer it: Skip these if you are a private buyer titling a passenger car. Complete Section 8 only for trucks, trailers, or commercial vehicles, entering light weight, gross weight, axles, and similar fields. Section 9 is for licensed dealers reporting trade-in and sales tax figures.
Example: A contractor titling a 2020 Ford F-250 completes Section 8 with light weight 6,200, declared gross weight 10,000, and number of axles 2.
Nuance: Commercial trucks over 26,000 pounds gross weight may qualify for a sales tax exemption under code 5F, so a heavy truck owner reads the reverse side carefully.
Common mistake and consequence: A pickup or combination-use owner who skips Section 8 gets the registration kicked back, since the DMV needs the weight to set the correct registration class and fee.
Misconception: Owners assume dealers always fill Section 9. If you buy privately, Section 9 stays blank, and your tax comes from Sections 3 and 5 instead.
Section 6: Owner Signature(s)
What it asks: This is the certification and signature block. It holds OWNER’S SIGNATURE, CO-OWNER’S SIGNATURE, and DATE SIGNED, above the penalty-of-false-statement language.
How to answer it: Sign in ink on the line marked X and date it. By signing, you certify there are no undisclosed liens, that insurance is in effect, and that all prior CT vehicle property taxes are paid. If you have a common (“and”) co-owner, every owner must sign.
Example: Maria signs on the first X, dates it 05/22/2026, and her husband Daniel signs the co-owner line because they hold the car jointly.
Nuance: If someone other than the titled owner signs, you must attach a Power of Attorney, as the DMV instructions note for lien and title changes.
Common mistake and consequence: Leaving this block unsigned is the number-one reason H-13B forms bounce, because an unsigned application is legally void and cannot be processed.
Misconception: People think they can sign later at the counter. The clerk needs a signed form to accept it, and an electronic or photocopied signature is not allowed.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common ways people use Form H-13B. Each table follows one named filer through the major sections.
Scenario 1: Maria buys a used car from a private seller in Connecticut.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Section 1 Owner | Lopez, Maria A., 14 Birch Lane, New Haven, CT 06511, CT Resident YES |
| Owner birthdate / license | 03/14/1985 / CT license number |
| Section 4 VIN | 1HGCM82633A004352 |
| Year / Make / Model | 2019 / Honda / Civic, USED |
| Odometer | 62,418 |
| Section 3 Seller | James Carter, 7 Elm Street, Hamden, CT 06514 |
| Date sold / Selling price | 05/20/2026 / $15,500 |
| Section 5 Tax exemption | Left blank (pays 6.35% use tax) |
| Section 6 Signature | Signs and dates 05/22/2026 |
Scenario 2: David moves to Connecticut from Massachusetts with his titled SUV.
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Section 1 Owner | Nguyen, David T., 88 Park Ave, Stamford, CT 06901, CT Resident YES |
| Section 4 VIN | His SUV’s full 17-character VIN |
| Year / Make / Model | 2021 / Toyota / RAV4, USED |
| Odometer | 31,200 |
| Section 3 Seller | Original MA dealer name and address |
| Section 5 Tax exemption | Code 4 |
| Exemption Information | MA; purchased 02/2024; registered MA 02/2024; moved to CT 04/2026 |
| Attachment | Photocopy of Massachusetts registration |
| Section 6 Signature | Signs and dates |
Scenario 3: Janet receives a car as a gift from her brother.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Section 1 Owner | Reyes, Janet M., 5 Maple Court, Bristol, CT 06010, CT Resident YES |
| Section 4 VIN | The gifted car’s full VIN |
| Year / Make / Model | 2018 / Subaru / Outback, USED |
| Odometer | 74,905 |
| Section 3 Seller | Her brother Reyes, Carlos M. as the prior owner |
| Selling price | $0 (gift) |
| Section 5 Tax exemption | Code 1 |
| Exemption Information | BROTHER; previously registered in CT |
| Attachment | Form AU-463 Gift Declaration |
How to File the Completed Form
Form H-13B is filed in person at a DMV branch or by mail; Connecticut does not offer electronic titling, as the DMV confirms. Bring or send the signed form with the assigned title, proof of insurance, your ID, the bill of sale, and any exemption attachments. Many private-purchase title-and-registration transactions are done in person so you leave with plates the same day.
In person: Make an appointment through the DMV website and bring the original signed H-13B plus all documents to your branch. Pay the $25 title fee plus registration fees and 6.35% sales or use tax. The DMV accepts cash, check, money order, and card at branches, and you receive a stamped registration as your proof of filing; the title arrives by mail in about 30 days.
By mail: For title-only changes such as adding a lienholder, mail the H-13B with the current title and payment to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Specialized Registry Services, Room 305, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Make checks payable to “DMV.” Adding a lienholder costs $45, and a duplicate title with Form H-6B adds $25, for a $70 total in that case. Keep a copy of everything you send and use certified mail for proof of filing.
What Happens After You File
After you file, the DMV verifies your VIN against NMVTIS, confirms your tax and insurance, and processes the registration first so you can drive. The Certificate of Title itself is issued separately and mailed about 30 days from the registration date, per the DMV title page. If there is no lien, the title goes to you; if there is a lien, it goes to your lienholder.
If 30 days pass and no title arrives, you have 90 days from the transaction date to re-apply at no cost by filing a statement of non-receipt with Specialized Registry Services. The DMV then checks your eligibility and reissues the title, which takes about another 30 days. Keep your stamped registration as proof in the meantime.
Sometimes the DMV finds an issue, such as an NMVTIS brand, a name mismatch, or an unpaid prior property tax, and it will hold the title until you clear it. Connecticut requires all prior CT vehicle property taxes to be paid before titling, which you certified on the form. Resolve any compliance flag quickly, because you cannot renew or transfer until the hold is lifted.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Leaving Section 6 unsigned, which voids the entire application and forces a redo.
- Writing your name in First-Last order, which breaks the license-record match and holds processing.
- Transposing a VIN digit, which fails the NMVTIS check and stops titling.
- Leaving the odometer box blank, which can brand the title “true mileage unknown.”
- Claiming a tax exemption code without the required attachment, which voids the exemption and triggers full tax.
- Using code 1 for a non-immediate relative, which the DMV rejects and taxes.
- Writing a fake low selling price, which is taxed at NADA value and flagged as a false statement.
- Forgetting a lien release for a paid-off loan, which leaves an old lien on the new title.
- Using a P.O. Box for the resident address, which the form prohibits and the clerk rejects.
- Filling the form in pencil or red ink, which violates the print-in-blue-or-black instruction.
- Skipping Section 8 on a truck or trailer, which sends the registration class back for correction.
- Sending a photocopy instead of an original signed form, which the DMV will not accept.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do read the reverse side first, because the tax codes and instructions live there.
- Do print clearly in black or blue ink, since clerks must read every entry.
- Do copy the VIN character by character, because one wrong digit fails verification.
- Do attach every supporting document, as the DMV cross-checks the form against them.
- Do sign and date in ink, because an unsigned form is legally void.
- Do keep copies and proof of mailing, so you can prove you filed on time.
Don’ts
- Don’t guess your sales tax exemption code, since the wrong code triggers a tax bill.
- Don’t use a P.O. Box for your resident address, because the form bans it for property tax reasons.
- Don’t estimate the odometer reading, as that is a federal disclosure violation.
- Don’t leave the co-ownership conjunction blank, because it controls who can sell later.
- Don’t understate the price to save tax, since the DMV uses book value and flags fraud.
- Don’t assume the title is electronic, because Connecticut issues only paper titles.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing It Yourself | Using a Dealer or Service |
|---|---|
| Free except for state fees, so you save money. | Costs a service fee on top of state fees. |
| You control accuracy and can fix errors fast. | A pro spots tax-code and lien errors for you. |
| You learn the process for next time. | Saves you the DMV trip and the wait time. |
| Risk of a bounced form if you miss a box. | Lower rejection risk from experienced filers. |
| You handle tax math and NADA lookups alone. | The dealer often handles tax and title together. |
Filing yourself works well for a simple private purchase where the title is clean and you owe standard tax. Getting help makes sense when there is a lien to release, a probate transfer, an out-of-state title, or a tricky exemption, where one wrong entry costs weeks. Either way, the signed H-13B and the assigned title are what actually move ownership.
FAQs
Do I file Form H-13B for a title-only change or only for registration?
Yes. Form H-13B is the combined registration and title application, so you use it for both new registrations and many title changes like adding a lienholder or owner.
Do I have to pay sales tax when I title a gifted car?
No. A vehicle gifted by an immediate family member qualifies under tax exemption code 1, but you must attach Form AU-463 and meet the 60-day registration rule.
Do I write my name as First-Last in Section 1?
No. The box reads Last, First, Middle Initial, so enter your last name first; reversing it breaks the DMV license-record match and delays your title.
Do I need both owners to sign if the title says “or”?
No. Joint “or” ownership needs only one signature to transfer, while common “and” ownership requires every owner to sign Section 6.
Do I fill in the odometer box if the car is old?
Yes. You must enter the actual current mileage; leaving it blank can brand the title “true mileage unknown” and hurt resale value.
Do I leave Section 5 blank if I owe normal tax?
Yes. Only enter a code in Section 5 when you legitimately qualify for an exemption; otherwise leave it blank and pay the 6.35% use tax.
Do I use a P.O. Box for my resident address?
No. The form bans a P.O. Box for the resident address because it sets your car property tax town; a mailing-address P.O. Box is allowed.
Do I file H-13B online in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut does not offer electronic titling, so you file the signed paper form in person at a branch or by mail to Wethersfield.
Do I need a Bill of Sale with the form?
Yes. A bill of sale like Form H-31 proves the price and date, which the DMV uses to set sales tax against the NADA value.
Do I owe tax if I already paid it in another state?
No. Use tax exemption code 3 and attach an official receipt or dealer invoice showing the amount and jurisdiction where you paid the tax.
Do I get my title right away at the counter?
No. You leave with a registration, but the Certificate of Title is mailed in about 30 days, or sent to your lienholder if there is a loan.
Do I need the form notarized before filing?
No. Form H-13B is not notarized; you sign it under penalty of false statement, and if a non-owner signs you attach a Power of Attorney instead.
Related reading
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