Overview
That number is not the full story of what a registered car costs you in Connecticut. Every vehicle is also personal property in the eyes of your town, assessed at 70% of its value each October and billed at your local motor vehicle mill rate - capped statewide at 32.46 mills. This calculator totals both: the DMV's 3-year registration stack, and what your specific town would bill annually over that same period.
01 - Official fees
Connecticut registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base registration (passenger, 3-year) | $120.00 | |
| Base registration (EV, 3-year) | $57.00 | |
| Base registration (motorcycle, 3-year) | $63.00 | |
| Plate fee | $5.00 | |
| Administrative fee | $10.00 | |
| Clean Air Act fee | $15.00 | $10 motorcycles; waived for EVs |
| Greenhouse Gas Reduction fee | $15.00 | new vehicles only; $7.50 for EVs |
| Passport to the Parks fee | $72.00 | $24/yr × 3-year term |
| Municipal property tax | 70% of value × mill rate (max 32.46) | billed annually by your town |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Connecticut DMV (plus your town tax collector for the annual property tax) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a vehicle in Connecticut
- 1
Confirm you have Connecticut liability insurance in force - the DMV verifies it electronically.
- 2
Complete Form H-13B with the purchase details and, for a new title, the seller's signed-over title.
- 3
Bring your documents to a DMV office or use an eligible online renewal/dealer-assisted path.
- 4
Pay the 3-year registration stack - base fee, plate, admin, Clean Air Act, Passport to the Parks, and GHG fee if new.
- 5
Watch for your town's motor vehicle tax bill each July (or a prorated supplemental bill in January) - that's billed separately from anything the DMV collected.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Connecticut vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Connecticut registration fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a car in Connecticut?
Around $190 for a standard passenger vehicle's full 3-year term: $120 base + $5 plate + $10 admin + $15 Clean Air Act fee + $72 Passport to the Parks (plus a one-time $15 Greenhouse Gas fee on new vehicles). That averages to roughly $63/year at the DMV - before your town's separate property tax bill.
Why is my registration only $57 instead of $120?
You likely have an electric vehicle. CT charges EVs a reduced $57 triennial base fee, waives the $15 Clean Air Act fee entirely, and cuts the Greenhouse Gas fee in half to $7.50 on a new EV - savings designed to offset the fact EVs don't pay gas tax.
Is the town property tax really separate from DMV registration?
Yes, completely. The DMV collects registration fees under Title 14 of the state statutes; your town collects motor vehicle property tax under its own assessment cycle (October 1 grand list, billed the following July). Different agency, different bill, different due date.
How is my town's motor vehicle mill rate different from its regular tax rate?
Every CT town sets one mill rate for real estate and personal property, but state law caps the rate specifically applied to motor vehicles at 32.46 mills. In cities like Hartford, Bridgeport, or Waterbury, the real-estate rate runs well above that, so your car is billed at the 32.46 cap instead of the town's full rate - in lower-tax towns like Greenwich or Stamford, the town's actual (lower) rate applies since it's already under the cap.
What is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction fee and do I pay it every renewal?
It's a one-time $15 fee ($7.50 for EVs) charged only when a new vehicle is registered with its manufacturer's certificate of origin - it doesn't recur at your 3-year renewal on the same car.
Do motorcycles pay the same add-on fees as cars?
Mostly, at a lower rate: $63 base instead of $120, a $10 Clean Air Act fee instead of $15, but the same $24/year Passport to the Parks charge and $10 admin fee. Motorcycles are also exempt from emissions testing.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.