§ 14-12 — Motor vehicle registration. Application. Issuance by dealers. Misrepresentation. Registration number and certificate. Requirements for registration. Regulations. Temporary registration. Number of registered electric vehicles.

Connecticut § 14-12

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 14: Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway By Vehicles. Gasoline
• Ch. 246: Motor Vehicles

Text

(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated, towed or parked on any highway, except as otherwise expressly provided, unless it is registered with the commissioner, provided any motor vehicle may be towed for repairs or necessary work if it bears the number plates of a licensed and registered dealer, manufacturer or repairer and provided any motor vehicle which is validly registered in another state may, for a period of ninety days following establishment by the owner of residence in this state, be operated on any highway without first being registered with the commissioner. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, (1) a person commits an infraction if such person (A) registers a motor vehicle he or she does not own, or (B) operates, allows the operation of, parks or allows the parking of an unregistered motor vehicle on any highway, or (2) a resident of this state who operates or parks a motor vehicle such resident owns with number plates issued by another state on any highway shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars, except that the fine shall be suspended for a first time violator who presents proof of registration for the motor vehicle subsequent to the violation but prior to the imposition of a fine. If the owner of a motor vehicle previously registered with the commissioner, the registration of which expired not more than thirty days previously, operates, allows the operation of, parks or allows that parking of such a motor vehicle, such owner shall be fined the amount designated for the infraction of failure to renew a registration, but the right to retain his or her operator's license shall not be affected. No operator other than the owner shall be subject to penalty for the operation or parking of such a previously registered motor vehicle. As used in this subsection, the term “unregistered motor vehicle” includes any vehicle that is not eligible for registration by the commissioner due to the absence of necessary equipment or other characteristics of the vehicle that make it unsuitable for highway operation, unless the operation of such vehicle is expressly permitted by another provision of this chapter or chapter 248. (b) To obtain a motor vehicle registration, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the owner shall submit to the commissioner an application signed by such owner and containing such information and proof of ownership as the commissioner may require. The application shall be made in such form and contain such provisions and information as the commissioner may determine. (c) (1) The commissioner may, for the more efficient administration of the commissioner's duties, appoint licensed dealers meeting qualifications established by the commissioner pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to (A) issue new registrations for passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, campers, camp trailers, commercial trailers, service buses, school buses, trucks or other vehicle types as determined by the commissioner, and (B) renew such registrations for such vehicle types. A person registering or renewing the registration of a motor vehicle or other vehicle type as determined by the commissioner from a dealer so appointed shall file an application with the dealer and pay, to the dealer, the registration fee in accordance with the provisions of section 14-49 and any other applicable fees. The commissioner may authorize such dealer to retain a service fee paid by the person registering or renewing the registration of a motor vehicle under this subsection. The commissioner shall establish the maximum service fee that such dealer may charge and prescribe the time and manner in which the application and fees, other than the service fee, shall be transmitted to the commissioner. (2) The commissioner shall permit a licensed dealer appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection to electronically register a motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds and is used or operated in intrastate commerce. Such dealer shall pay all applicable registration and title fees for each such registration. (d) A motor vehicle registration certificate issued upon an application containing any material false statement is void from the date of its issue and shall be surrendered, upon demand, with any number plate or plates, to the commissioner. Any money paid for the registration certificate shall be forfeited to the state. No person shall obtain or attempt to obtain any registration for another by misrepresentation or impersonation and any registration so obtained shall be void. The commissioner may require each applicant for a motor vehicle registration to furnish personal identification satisfactory to the commissioner and may require any applicant who has established residence in this state for more than thirty days to obtain a motor vehicle operator's license, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 14-36 , or an identification card issued pursuant to section 1-1h . Any person who violates any provision of this subsection and any person who fails to surrender a falsely obtained motor vehicle registration or number plate or plates upon the demand of the commissioner shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars. (e) The commissioner may register any motor vehicle under the provisions of this chapter, may assign a distinguishing registration number to the registered motor vehicle and may then issue a certificate of registration to the owner. A certificate of registration shall contain the registration number assigned to the motor vehicle and its vehicle identification number and shall be in such form and contain such further information as the commissioner determines. (f) (1) The commissioner may refuse to register or issue a certificate of title for a motor vehicle or class of motor vehicles if the commissioner determines that the characteristics of the motor vehicle or class of motor vehicles make it unsafe for highway operation. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection and the provisions of subsection (h) of this section. (2) The commissioner shall not register a motor vehicle if the commissioner knows that the motor vehicle's equipment fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, provided nothing contained in this section shall preclude the commissioner from issuing one or more temporary registrations for a motor vehicle not previously registered in this state. (3) The commissioner shall not register any motor vehicle, except a platform truck the motive power of which is electricity, or a tractor equipped with solid tires, if it is not equipped with lighting devices as prescribed by this chapter. The registration of any motor vehicle which is not equipped with such prescribed lighting devices is void and money paid for the registration shall be forfeited to the state. Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the commissioner, at the commissioner's discretion, from registering a motor vehicle not equipped with certain lighting devices if the operation of the vehicle is restricted to daylight use. (4) The commissioner shall not register any motor vehicle or a combination of a motor vehicle and a trailer or semitrailer that exceeds the limits specified in section 14-267a . (5) No motor vehicle registration shall be issued by the commissioner for any motorcycle unless the application for registration is accompanied by sufficient proof, as determined by the commissioner, that the motorcycle is insured for the amounts required by section 14-289f . (6) The commissioner shall not register any motor vehicle which is subject to the federal heavy vehicle use tax imposed under Section 4481 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, if the applicant fails to furnish proof of payment of such tax, in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. (7) The commissioner shall not issue a certificate of title for a homemade low-speed vehicle or a golf cart that has been retrofitted from the original manufacturer's specifications in an attempt to qualify as a low-speed vehicle. (g) The commissioner may elect not to register any motor vehicle which is ten or more model years old and which has not been previously registered in this state until the same has been presented, as directed by the commissioner, at the main office or a branch office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or to any designated official emissions inspection station or other business or firm, authorized by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to conduct safety inspections, and has passed the inspection as to its safety features as required by the commissioner. When a motor vehicle owned by a resident of this state is garaged in another jurisdiction and cannot be conveniently presented at an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles, an authorized emissions inspection station or other facility, the commissioner may accept an inspection made by authorities in such other jurisdiction or by appropriate military authorities, provided the commissioner determines that such inspection is comparable to that conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If the commissioner authorizes the contractor that operates the system of official emissions inspection stations or other business or firm to conduct the safety inspections required by this subsection, the commissioner may authorize the contractor or other business or firm to charge a fee, not to exceed fifteen dollars, for each such inspection. The commissioner may authorize any motor vehicle dealer or repairer, licensed in accordance with section 14-52 and meeting qualifications established by the commissioner, to perform an inspection required by this section or to make repairs to any motor vehicle that has failed an initial safety inspection and to certify to the commissioner that the motor vehicle is in compliance with the safety and equipment standards for registration. No such authorized dealer or repairer shall charge any additional fee to make such certification to the commissioner. If the commissioner authorizes any such dealer or repairer to conduct safety inspections, such licensee may provide written certification to the commissioner, in such form and manner as the commissioner prescribes, as to compliance of any motor vehicle in its inventory with safety and equipment standards and such certification may be accepted by the commissioner as meeting the inspection requirements of this subsection. (h) The commissioner shall not register any motor vehicle unless it meets the equipment related registration requirements contained in sections 14-80 , 14-100 , 14-100a , 14-100b , 14-106a and 14-275 . (i) The commissioner or any city, town, borough or other taxing district authorized under subsection (f) of section 14-33 may issue a temporary registration to the owner of a motor vehicle. The application for a temporary registration shall conform to the provisions of this section. A temporary registration may be issued for a period of time determined by the commissioner and may be renewed from time to time at the discretion of the commissioner. The fee for a temporary registration or any renewal thereof shall be as provided in subsection (n) of section 14-49 . (j) The commissioner may issue a special use registration to the owner of a motor vehicle for a period not to exceed thirty days for the sole purpose of driving such vehicle to another state in which the vehicle is to be registered and exclusively used. The application for such registration shall conform to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner may issue special use certificates and plates in such form as the commissioner may determine. The special use certificate shall state such limitation on the operation of such vehicle and shall be carried in the vehicle at all times when it is being operated on any highway. (k) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (e) of this section, the commissioner shall issue to a municipality, as defined in section 7-245 , or a regional solid waste authority comprised of several municipalities, upon receipt of an application by the municipality or regional solid waste authority, a general distinguishing number plate for use on a motor vehicle owned or leased by such municipality or regional solid waste authority. (l) Not later than January 1, 2018, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall record the number of electric vehicles, as defined in section 16-19eee , registered in the state. This data shall be publicly available on the department's Internet web site and shall include (1) the number of electric vehicles registered in the state each year, and (2) the total number of electric vehicles registered in the state. The department shall update this information every six months. See chapter 368d re emergency medical services. See Sec. 12-430 re required proof of paid-up taxes as condition for registration of vehicles. See Secs. 14-12b, 14-12c re insurance requirements for registration of vehicle. See Sec. 14-16a re required inspection of older vehicles, antique, rare or special interest vehicles on transfer of ownership. See Sec. 14-43 re voiding of license for misrepresentation. See Sec. 14-45 re required notice of change of address. See Sec. 14-111(h) re licensing and registration penalties imposed against out-of-state violators. See Sec. 14-215 re penalty for operation of vehicle when registration or license is refused, suspended or revoked. See Sec. 14-289f re insurance requirements for operation of motorcycles. See Sec. 20-427a re commissioner's duty to deny registration for commercial motor vehicle of contractor who is in violation of provisions of Sec. 20-420 or 20-432.

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 2361; 1957, P.A. 190; 1961, P.A. 233, S. 1; 581, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 520; 550, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 205; 858; 1969, P.A. 701, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 535; 1972, P.A. 284; P.A. 73-134; P.A. 75-577, S. 11, 126; P.A. 79-188, S. 4, 10; P.A. 83-489, S. 1, 17; P.A. 84-254, S. 22, 62; 84-291, S. 2; 84-429, S. 3; P.A. 85-128; 85-181; 85-214; 85-613, S. 145, 154; P.A. 86-157, S. 1; P.A. 88-270, S. 5, 8; P.A. 89-211, S. 27; P.A. 91-355, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-13, S. 4, 21; P.A. 93-341, S. 2; P.A. 94-189, S. 2; P.A. 95-260, S. 16, 24; P.A. 98-33, S. 1; P.A. 99-287, S. 1, 9; P.A. 00-169, S. 1; P.A. 01-24, S. 2, 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 52, 131; P.A. 02-70, S. 70, 71; P.A. 04-199, S. 26; P.A. 05-218, S. 4; P.A. 08-150, S. 4; P.A. 09-187, S. 12; P.A. 11-6, S. 112; 11-48, S. 25; 11-213, S. 6; P.A. 12-81, S. 1; P.A. 16-135, S. 2; P.A. 17-79, S. 22, 24; P.A. 19-165, S. 12; P.A. 21-106, S. 30; P.A. 24-20, S. 34; 24-111, S. 54.) History: 1961 acts amended provision prohibiting registration of vehicle exceeding limits in Sec. 14-268, previous section having read “the sum of the light weight and carrying capacity of which exceeds,” increased the inspection fee in the last sentence from $1 and deleted provision re not registering a vehicle previously reported as sold for junk and requiring maintenance of records of such sales for 2 years; 1963 acts added provisions re operation of vehicle registered in another state for 60 days and providing for operation where registration expired less than 30 days prior to operation on highway; 1967 acts added provision allowing commissioner to issue temporary 10-day registration without regard to inspection requirements, substituted “is” for “was” in provision re vehicles registered in another state and specified that vehicle “which has been registered on an annual basis” is allowed 30-day grace period; 1969 act added provision allowing temporary registration for motor vehicles not previously registered in state and allowed issuance of more than one temporary registration; 1971 act added provision allowing commissioner to refuse registration or title for motor vehicle or class of vehicles when he determines the vehicle or class to be unsafe for highway operation; 1972 act added Subsec. (b) re issuance of new registrations by motor vehicle dealers; P.A. 73-134 specified that proof of ownership necessary for registration, and added provision allowing acceptance of inspection made in another jurisdiction or by military authorities in certain instances; P.A. 75-577 replaced provisions re fines for violation of registration procedures with references to commission of infraction and payment of amount not specified; P.A. 79-188 substituted Sec. 14-267a for reference to repealed Sec. 14-268; P.A. 83-489 amended Subsec. (a) to increase inspection fee from $2 to $7; P.A. 84-254 amended Subsec. (a) (now Subsec. (g)) to periodically increase the existing $7 motor vehicle safety features inspection fee to $25 as of July 1, 1993; P.A. 84-291 amended Subsec. (a) (now Subsec. (f)) to prohibit the issuance of a motorcycle registration without proof of liability insurance, which provision was editorially designated as Subdiv. (5) of Subsec. (f) in keeping with the technical revision of the section under P.A. 84-429; P.A. 84-429 relettered Subsecs., rephrased provisions, transferred provision concerning certificates of title to Sec. 14-16(f), added provisions re applications to Subsec. (b) from Sec. 14-42(a), added provisions re false statements to Subsec. (d) from Sec. 14-43, added provisions re registration certificates to Subsec. (e) from Sec. 14-13(a), added provisions re temporary registrations to Subsec. (i) from Sec. 14-13(c), and made other technical changes; P.A. 85-128 added Subsec. (f)(6), requiring commissioner not to register any vehicle subject to the federal heavy vehicle use tax if applicant fails to furnish proof of tax payment; P.A. 85-181 added Subsec. (j), permitting the issuance of municipal license plates for use on vehicles owned or leased by municipalities; P.A. 85-214 amended Subsec. (c) to permit commissioner to appoint licensed dealers to issue new registrations for motorcycles when sold; P.A. 85-613 amended Subsec. (j) by changing “may issue” to “shall issue” and adding “as defined in section 7-245, upon receipt of an application by the municipality”; P.A. 86-157 inserted new Subsec. (j), authorizing the issuance of special use registrations, relettering former Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 88-270 amended Subsec. (e) to require the registration certificate to contain the vehicle identification number; P.A. 89-211 clarified reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; P.A. 91-355 amended Subsec. (g) to provide for conduct of inspections at authorized official emissions inspection stations and to require inspection fees collected at such inspection stations to be deposited in separate safety inspection account within emissions inspection fund; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-13 added fee for each book of twenty-five new dealer issue forms; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (k) to apply provisions to regional solid waste authorities comprised of several municipalities; P.A. 94-189 amended Subsec. (g) by adding to the exception “a motor vehicle which has affixed to it a current, valid safety inspection decal issued by any other state that conducts a safety inspection program which meets the approval of the commissioner” and deleting obsolete inspection fee schedule of increases; P.A. 95-260 amended Subsec. (g) to provide for conduct of safety inspections at other facilities authorized by commissioner, effective June 13, 1995; P.A. 98-33 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “repairman” with “repairer” and establishing a fine of not less than $150 nor more than $300 for a resident of this state operating a motor vehicle he owns with marker plates issued by another state; P.A. 99-287 amended Subsec. (g) by limiting motor vehicles required to have safety inspections prior to registration to those 10 or more model years old and deleting provisions re new motor vehicles or motor vehicles with a valid safety inspection decal, by deleting provision re presenting motor vehicle during business hours and adding provision re presenting same as directed by the commissioner, by allowing a “designated” official emissions inspection station or other “business or firm, except a licensee of the department”, to conduct safety inspections, by deleting provision requiring a $25 fee to be charged for a safety inspection and deposited into a safety inspection account within the Emissions Inspection Fund, by adding provisions re authorization of entities to conduct safety inspections, charge an inspection fee and repair vehicles failing such inspections, and by making technical changes, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-169 amended Subsec. (c) to allow licensed dealers to issue new registrations for campers, camp trailers or trucks with a gross vehicle weight up to and including 26,000 pounds and made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 01-24 amended Subsec. (g) by changing “shall not” to “may elect not to” re registration of motor vehicles which are 10 or more model years old and which have not been previously registered in this state, deleting provision authorizing a licensee of the department to conduct safety inspections on such motor vehicles, allowing certain motor vehicle dealers and repairers to perform inspections required by section, deleting provision re the commissioner's issuing temporary registrations without regard to the inspection requirements of the general statutes, and adding provision re licensee's submission of written certification of compliance of any motor vehicle in its inventory with safety and equipment standards, effective May 15, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (c) to increase the fee for a new dealer issue form from $10 for a book of 25 to $10 for each form, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (f)(5) to eliminate requirement that proof of insurance be submitted for renewal of a motorcycle registration and amended Subsec. (f)(6) to make a technical change and substitute Internal Revenue Code of “1954” for “1986”, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 04-199 amended Subsec. (i) to eliminate provision permitting commissioner to require deposit from applicant for temporary registration, to permit temporary registration to be issued for time determined by commissioner and to establish fee for temporary registration or renewal as provided in Sec. 14-49(n), effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-218 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision authorizing commissioner to require identification for applicant for registration and resident in state for 30 days to obtain an operator's license or identification card, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (a) to add definition of “unregistered motor vehicle”; P.A. 09-187 amended Subsec. (f)(1) to authorize adoption of regulations for purposes of Subsecs. (f) and (h), effective July 8, 2009; P.A. 11-6 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes and, in Subdiv. (2), to increase fine from not less than $150 or more than $300 to $1,000, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (i) by adding provision re issuance of temporary registration by authorized city, town, borough or other taxing district, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (c) to include issuance of registration for commercial trailers, service buses and school buses, require vehicles to be sold by licensed dealer, delete gross vehicle weight limit of 26,000 pounds and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-81 amended Subsec. (c) to authorize licensed dealers to issue new registrations for “other vehicle types as determined by the commissioner” and make conforming changes, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 16-135 added Subsec. (l) re number of registered electric vehicles, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-79 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re parked motor vehicles, designate existing provisions re infraction as Subparas. (A) and (B) in Subdiv. (1), and make technical and conforming changes; P.A. 17-79 amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change; P.A. 19-165 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “on an annual or biennial basis” with “with the commissioner”, effective January 1, 2020; P.A. 21-106 amended Subsec. (a) to replace 60 days with 90 days re period following establishment of residency, to decrease fine from $1,000 to $250, and to add provision re suspension of fine for first time violator in Subdiv. (2), amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amended same to add Subpara. (A) designator and delete provision re $10 fee, to add Subpara. (B) re renewal of registrations, to add provision re service fee, and to add Subdiv. (2) re electronic registration of motor vehicle with gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 26,000 pounds, amended Subsec. (f)(5) to delete “On or after October 1, 1984, no” and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 24-20 amended Subsec. (f) to add Subdiv. (7) re no certificate of title for homemade low-speed vehicle or retrofitted golf cart; P.A. 24-111 deleted provision in Subsec. (f)(2) re issuing a temporary registration for a motor vehicle under a trade name without a certified copy of the notice required by Sec. 35-1, effective January 1, 2025. Registration certificate is for the purpose of identification and revenue. 90 C. 414; 97 C. 145; 104 C. 168; 107 C. 141; 114 C. 264. Conditional vendee or chattel mortgagee may register a car as owner. 92 C. 254; 104 C. 169. Certificate is prima facie evidence that the statutory requirements were fulfilled. 106 C. 257. Whether registration is invalidated by failure of owner to register trade name, quaere. Id., 258. Purpose of direction to refuse registration to improperly equipped vehicle is to assure protection to other users of highway. 114 C. 265. Mere operation of unregistered vehicle is not negligence nor nuisance. Id., 266. Cited. 30 CA 263. 1939 amendment unconstitutional. 7 CS 332. Legislature did not intend to make commissioner liable for failure to comply with the regulations of this and similar statutes. 19 CS 171. Cited. 29 CS 155. Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 390; 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 73. Subsec. (a): Does not govern registration of commercial vehicles. 177 C. 588. Cited. 23 CA 50; 30 CA 742. Cited. 37 CS 693.