How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership in Connecticut

Different requirements apply if you want to transfer vehicle ownership in Greenwich, CT, depending on whether you’re buying, selling, gifting, or donating a vehicle. The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (CT DMV) determines the procedures for all these transfers. These requirements can seem complicated, so we’d like to explain how these transfers work.

Transferring Vehicle Ownership in Greenwich, CT

Buying a Vehicle

If you’re buying a vehicle from us, we’ll complete all the paperwork and send it to the CT DMV on your behalf. The most crucial document is the vehicle’s certificate of title. This title is provided by the CT DMV and contains all the registered particulars of the car. It includes the legal owner’s name, address, and other details that specifically identify the vehicle.

We’ll sign the certificate of title as the seller, and you’ll sign as the buyer. We’ll also complete a Bill of Sale (form H-31) together. These documents will be sent to the local CT DMV office, which will issue you with a new certificate of title in a few days.

Selling a Vehicle

If you sell a vehicle to us, we’ll complete the same paperwork but in reverse. You’ll complete the certificate of title and Bill of Sale as the seller, and we’ll complete these forms as the buyer. The lien must be paid in full if you previously had a lien on the vehicle. The lienholder must then supply a letter confirming the lien has been discharged.

Gifting a Vehicle

If you want to gift a vehicle, you’re transferring it to a family member. The CT DMV defines a family member as a parent, spouse, child, or sibling. The procedure is similar to selling a vehicle, but you’ll also need to complete a Motor Vehicle or Vessel Gift Declaration (Form AU-463). You and the family member must complete and sign the AU-463.

Once the paperwork is complete, you and your family member must visit a CT DMV office with paperwork and photo identification. Once this step is complete, the CT DMV will post the new certificate of title to your family member in a few days.

Donating a Vehicle

Donating a vehicle involves transferring the vehicle title to a charity. It’s advisable to choose a 501 (c) (3) charity, as you can deduct the vehicle’s value on your next 1040. This process is identical to selling a car, except you must sign the charity’s name on the certificate’s reverse. The purchase price must also be filled in as “Donation.”

Now that you’ve transferred a vehicle, you’ll need a new car. Come in and see our fantastic range of new and pre-owned vehicles at DARCARS INFINITI of Greenwich.

Tags: Gifting a Vehicle, Selling a Vehicle, Transferring Vehicle Ownership
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