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Please note:

Get your REAL ID gold star by May 7, 2025: A REAL ID is a gold star on your driver’s license or identification (ID) card that’s a federally accepted form of identification, sometimes referred to as a "verified" ID. Learn more.

Boat decals: Boat decals for the year 2026 will be distributed in April.


Get a regulated business license

Find out how to get a dealer, repairer, leasing, manufacturer, recycler or auto club license

Get a regulated business license

Find out how to get a dealer, repairer, leasing, manufacturer, recycler or auto club license

How to apply for a business license

Using the tabs below, find the instructions and documents needed for the type of license you need.

In-person appointments

Appointments are available for new license applications and changes to existing licenses on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Renewals will not be processed by appointment. To schedule your appointment, call 860-263-5056, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

 

Questions can be directed to 860-263-5056 or DMV.DR@ct.gov.

Operating without a dealer license

It’s illegal to repair or sell motor vehicles to consumers in Connecticut without a Connecticut dealer license. It’s also illegal to repair or sell motor vehicles within Connecticut if you only have an out-of-state dealer license.

Anyone found selling or repairing motor vehicles in Connecticut illegally is committing a class B misdemeanor and is subject to arrest. Anyone operating a "motor vehicle recycler's yard" (aka junkyard) without a Connecticut recycler's license is committing a class C misdemeanor.
 
If you know of someone operating an unlicensed dealership, repair shop or recycler business, send a detailed, written complaint to: 
  
Department of Motor Vehicles
Dealer Enforcement Unit, Room 145
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
 
You should also send a copy of the complaint to the local zoning authority and police department of the town in which the business is located.

Complaints against active licensed dealerships and repair shops should be sent in writing to the DMV's Consumer Complaint Center.

Using dealer or repairer plates

An employee of a dealership or repair shop may use a dealer or repairer plate if ALL of the following criteria is met:

  • The person is a full-time employee of the dealership or repair shop (meaning they work a minimum of 35 hours per week) and is authorized to use the plates by the dealership or repair shop where they work.
  • The dealership or repair shop must issue the person a supplemental identification card (as required by section 14-63-15 of the motor vehicle statutes and regulations).
  • The plated vehicle must be owned by the dealership or repair shop, not by the individual who works there.

Labor rate requirements

Connecticut does not regulate the cost of parts or labor charged by vehicle dealerships or repair shops, but a dealership or repair shop needs to post their hourly labor rates on a sign at their place of business.

Repair rate requirements
Connecticut law requires that a dealership or repair shop:

  • Businesses are required to get written or verbal authorization from the customer on any repair. ALL repairs must be authorized by the customer regardless of the cost of the repair.
    • Note: If the actual cost exceeds the estimate, the consumer can give authorization verbally or in writing. An estimate of the maximum cost to the customer of the specific job authorized is required on any repair over $50.
  • Businesses must provide the customer with an invoice of the work performed and the parts used.

If you feel you’ve been improperly charged for a repair, you can file a written complaint. The DMV determines if a statutory violation has occurred.

Please follow these steps to file a complaint:

  1. Complete a complaint against CT-licensed dealer or repairer (Form K-35) to submit to the DMV Consumer Complaint Center.
  2. Include copies of all related repair documents.
  3. Send completed forms and repair information to:
    Department of Motor Vehicles 
    Consumer Complaint Center 
    60 State Street 
    Wethersfield, CT 06161 
    Phone: 860-263-5405 
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  • Database of DMV-licensed businesses
  • How to search dealer, repairer, leasing company or manufacturer for their DMV business license
  • Type of business

Database of DMV-licensed businesses

All Connecticut motor vehicle dealers, repairers, leasing companies and manufacturers must be licensed by the DMV.
 

Please select on one of the following links below to view the business license list issued by DMV. The list is arranged by license number, DBAs (doing business as), business name, business address/location, expiration of license and type of license:

This list changes on a weekly basis. Licensees can be added or removed at any given time.

Manufacturer's License

You may also check the manufacturer’s license status in a regularly updated list of manufacturers: 

How to search dealer, repairer, leasing company or manufacturer for their DMV business license

When searching to verify if a dealer, repairer, leasing company or manufacturer is on this list, search by license number (N123, U12, R45 etc.) or business location (123 Main Street or Hartford). If you are searching the list in Excel, you may have to save it to your computer before this feature will work.

Type of business

License numbers include specific letters to indicate type of business:

  • O is for leasing company
  • J is for recycler (salvage/junkyard)
  • L is for a limited repair shop
  • N is for a new car dealer
  • U is for a used car dealer
  • R is for a general repair shop
  • M is for manufacturer  

Note: Many dealership and repair shop licenses are issued in a business name but the facility may be doing business in another name (have a DBA = Doing Business As). For example, XYZ Corporation may be doing business as Joe’s Garage. The address of Joe’s Garage will be on the list but the license will be in the XYZ Corporation name.