Selling or junking a car in Connecticut, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Connecticut DMV using H-6B, Application for Replacement Certificate of Title; it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller completes and signs the back of the title and hands it to the buyer along with a bill of sale (Form H-31). The seller then removes the plates and cancels the registration with DMV, keeping insurance until the cancellation goes through.
- Deal with your plates. The seller removes the plates and cancels the registration, after which DMV says the plates can be discarded at the owner's discretion.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Connecticut has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in Connecticut
The seller completes and signs the back of the title and hands it to the buyer along with a bill of sale (Form H-31). The seller then removes the plates and cancels the registration with DMV, keeping insurance until the cancellation goes through.
Official page: portal.ct.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Connecticut
Titled owners can request a replacement online, in person by appointment, or by mail with Form H-6B. If there is an outstanding lien, the lienholder must apply by mail.
- Form: H-6B, Application for Replacement Certificate of Title — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: portal.ct.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. The seller removes the plates and cancels the registration, after which DMV says the plates can be discarded at the owner's discretion.
Source: portal.ct.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Connecticut
DMV's title services page explains title legends: a Salvage legend means an insurer declared the vehicle a total loss, and such a vehicle cannot legally be driven on Connecticut roads. Junk appears as one of the NMVTIS brands that describe a vehicle's history.
Official page: portal.ct.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Connecticut
An owner who lost the title can still sell to an in-state buyer by giving them Form H6B and Form Q-1 (plus a lien release if needed). Connecticut does not title vehicles over 20 model years old; for those, the registration certificate serves as proof of ownership.
Official page: portal.ct.gov
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Connecticut title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Connecticut?
Titled owners can request a replacement online, in person by appointment, or by mail with Form H-6B. If there is an outstanding lien, the lienholder must apply by mail. The form is H-6B, Application for Replacement Certificate of Title.
Do I need to notify Connecticut when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Connecticut. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Connecticut DMV.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Connecticut?
The seller removes the plates and cancels the registration, after which DMV says the plates can be discarded at the owner's discretion.
Can I junk a car without a title in Connecticut?
An owner who lost the title can still sell to an in-state buyer by giving them Form H6B and Form Q-1 (plus a lien release if needed). Connecticut does not title vehicles over 20 model years old; for those, the registration certificate serves as proof of ownership. Confirm the details with the Connecticut DMV.
Official sources
- Connecticut DMV — homeportal.ct.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titleportal.ct.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (H-6B, Application for Replacement Certificate of Title)portal.ct.gov
- H-6B, Application for Replacement Certificate of Title formportal.ct.gov
- License plates after a saleportal.ct.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesportal.ct.gov
- Selling without a titleportal.ct.gov
Summarized from official Connecticut government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Connecticut DMV before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.