Beginning in 2018, Connecticut began offering all residents with Connecticut license plates on their vehicles free parking at all state parks and beaches.
Connecticut wants to make state parks, forests, trails, historic sites, and beaches more available to our residents so they can enjoy the many attractions and beauty they offer.
A $15 fee, which amounts to $5 per year, will be included in all three-year non-commercial vehicles with new registrations, renewals, and plate transfers. These are passenger cars and vehicles with combination plates as well as motorcycles, campers/motor homes, and vehicles with antique car plates.
In addition, seniors age 65 and older with a one-year registration renewal will have only an additional $5 fee each year.
The new program allows the Connecticut to give more to the public that has now invested in our park system:
When people visit our state parks and other sites they visit local restaurants, shops, and local farms. This program brings many economic benefits for our state.
How to transfer a vehicle from deceased member of immediate family
When an immediate family member dies, their vehicle may be able to be passed on to an immediate family member (designated as the purchaser) by the executor or administrator of the deceased family member’s estate (designated as the seller). This happens by updating the vehicle’s title and/or registration to be in the purchaser’s name.
If the vehicle is titled in the state of Connecticut, the seller needs to assign the Certificate of Title to the purchaser. If there are two executors of the estate, both executors are required to reassign ownership to the purchaser.
Required forms
If the vehicle is registered in Connecticut but doesn’t require a Certificate of Title, the seller needs to request and complete a supplemental assignment of ownership (Form Q-1) assigning ownership to the purchaser. This form is required, as well as a copy of the vehicle’s most recent registration certificate. Learn how to reprint a vehicle registration certificate online for free.
A certified version of the original probate document naming the administrator or executor of the estate is required at the time the vehicle is being registered. The following probate court documents are acceptable for this purpose:
In certain cases where the estate of the decedent falls within certain monetary limits, the court may authorize the transfer of the decedent’s vehicle by issuing a transfer of personal property without probate proceedings (Form PC-264 or PC-264S).
To transfer a vehicle from the estate of a deceased immediate family member to another family member (“you”), you must make an appointment at a DMV hub office or branch office.
Bring the following documents to your appointment:
Note: If the vehicle was previously registered out of state, please see purchase of a used vehicle previously registered out of state for additional requirements.
If the vehicle was previously registered in Connecticut and isn’t compliant with emissions testing, you may register it first. However, you will need to have the vehicle’s emissions tested within 30 days of the date of registration or you will get a late fee. Note: You will not receive a notice for testing.
To find out if the vehicle you are buying is compliant, check the date online. Please have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ready.
The vehicle must have been registered in the previous immediate family member’s name for at least 60 days in order to qualify for the sales tax exemption. Section 7 on the application for registration and title (Form H-13B) must be completed to obtain this exemption.
A vehicle exempt from sales tax by a family* or business relationship can’t be registered if it has delinquent property tax or parking tickets are owed, or if the registration is under suspension. Learn more about resolving suspensions.
*No sales tax is due on a vehicle received through the transfer or sale to a member of the immediate family. Immediate family is defined as one’s mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, husband or wife. Refer to transfer/sale between immediate family members. Delinquent property tax restrictions apply.
A letter of authorization from the executor or the administrator of the estate (i.e., the seller) is necessary for transfer of a vanity plate.