Having to return your license plates back to the DMV is a pretty normal thing that some first-time drivers and motorists are usually surprised by when they need to do them. This is normal for most states, including Connecticut. But, do I need to make an appointment to return the plates to the DMV in CT? Well, the good news here is that while I’d still highly recommend scheduling an appointment ahead of time to skip the line, you don’t need one for returning your plates.
Most Connecticut DMV offices will now allow you to return your license plates on a walk-in basis. The upside here is that you can go to the CT DMV and surrender your old plates any day or time, at your leisure. However, on the other hand, this also means that you’ll have to suffer the often long, excruciating wait times and queues at the DMV. With that out of the way, here is what you have to know about returning your old license places to the CT DMV:
1) Why Do You Need To Return Your Plates?
As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to whether or not you have to make an appointment at the CT DMV to return your plates, there are situations where you’ll have to return your license plates back to the Connecticut DMV. Here are some of the scenarios where you’ll have to surrender them:
- When you sell your car, you’re normally required to return its old license plates to the CT DMV for them to update the car’s ownership records and transfer it to the new owner properly.
- If you’re moving out of state, you’re usually asked to return your old Connecticut license plate back to the CT DMV to prevent any complications down the line, as well as needing to comply with your new home state’s vehicle registration laws (and your new state’s plates).
- In the event that you’re no longer driving or using your car – i.e. if you’re storing it for the long term, or if you’re going to scrap it – you’ll have to cancel and return your plates to the CT DMV to make sure that it’s no longer active in the DMV’s records.
2) Do You Need To Make An Appointment?
So, do I need to make an appointment to return my plates to the CT DMV? Now, as I noted before, the Connecticut DMV generally allows you to return your plates to the DMV through a walk-in basis. However, while most DMV offices in Connecticut offer them as a walk-in service, not all of them handle walk-ins the same way. With that in mind, it’s definitely a good idea to check on and contact your local DMV office – or whichever DMV location you’re planning on visiting – to know what their license plate return policy is.
I’d also suggest checking that specific DMV office’s operating hours or any other updates. This will no doubt impact your wait times, as walk-in services at the DMV, from my experience, will almost always result in long queues and even longer waits. I’d advise arriving at the DMV early in the day since most DMV locations might turn you away if the office reaches capacity, and it gets even worse if you arrive too late in the day.
Also, while you’re researching which DMV office to visit, it’s a good idea to double-check which particular DMV location in the state of Connecticut can handle license plate returns. They might even have dedicated counters just for plate returns, so be sure to check out the CT DMV and their location finder page here. This might even save you a trip from visiting a DMV that’s not even going to offer license plate services, including returns.
3) How To Return Your Plates To The CT DMV?
Now that the appointment stuff is out of the way, what do you need to do to return your car’s old license plates back to the Connecticut DMV? Well, here’s what you need to do:
- First off, you’ll need to fill out the CT DMV’s Plate Return Form (Form E-159), which you can find and download from the Connecticut DMV’s official website. Be sure you fill out this form accurately with all your personal information and license plate details.
- Otherwise, when you arrive at the CT DMV to return your plates, you’ll be asked to provide a few other documents. This will include a valid form of ID, like your state ID card or just using your current driver’s license. In addition, you may have to bring your vehicle registration and the notice for canceling your license plates.
- When you have all that stuff at the ready, head down to your local DMV office. As I discussed earlier, make sure you’re visiting a Connecticut DMV office that can handle plate returns.
- Once you’ve arrived at the DMV, take a number or check in with the information desk. After that, when your number is called, head on down to the designated counter and hand over all the aforementioned paperwork and your old license plates to the DMV staff.
- When the DMV staff have finally processed the license plate return, they’ll normally provide a receipt or confirmation to prove that you’ve returned your plates. If not, I’d suggest asking for one, as it might be handy to have, just in case you need to prove that you’ve returned your old license plates back to the DMV.
4) Can You Mail Your License Plates To The DMV?
Alternatively, if you really, really don’t want to get stuck in a DMV line for hours at a time, you could also opt to return your license plates back to the CT DMV via mail. To do this, you’ll need to fill out that same Plate Return Form (Form E-159) that I included earlier and include a copy of this in the mail, alongside your old license plates. In addition to the Plate Return Form, they will also ask that you include a copy of your personal ID, like a driver’s license or state ID.
You can then place the license plates, the completed Plate Return Form, and that photocopy of your ID into a secure envelope or mailing package. I would suggest wrapping your old plates to prevent any damage done to them during the transit to the DMV. As to where you’ll need to mail it to, make it out to this mailing address at the CT DMV:
Connecticut DMV Plate Return Unit
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161-5057
Attn: Plate Return
5) Some Other Considerations
To be absolutely sure that your mail is received by the Connecticut DMV, I’d also recommend using a mailing service or courier that provides some sort of tracking. You can then check this tracking every once in a while to confirm that the DMV has received your plates. While it’s not necessary to do this, it’s not a bad idea to keep all copies of documents that you mailed to the CT DMV in case of any complications.
So, this includes the Plate Return Form, all your personal ID, and keep that mailing receipt and tracking number close by. I’ve learned that this will be a lifesaver in case the DMV claims that they didn’t receive those plates, or there’s a dispute along the way. You can even contact the CT DMV after the fact to confirm that they’ve received your plates and that the license plate return has been updated in your records.