Get a temporary commercial vehicle registration

CDL HOLDERS: As of June 16, 2025, DMV will no longer accept a paper medical certificate. Your certificate will be sent electronically to DMV. Learn more here.

SMISHING SCAM ALERT: We have been informed that some residents are receiving fraudulent text messages and phone calls. Please be advised that the CT DMV does NOT contact residents regarding motor vehicle related violations.

REGISTRATION SERVICES: We offer appointments to reduce in-office wait times. Residents with an immediate need to register a vehicle may visit any office location, except for Cheshire, Putnam and Stamford. Residents without an appointment may experience longer wait times, as those with appointments will receive priority service. We will do our best to accommodate everyone. (HOURS: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m./Thursday - 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) Before visiting DMV: Select this link to verify that services are available at your desired location.

Why you need a temporary commercial registration

You may need to have a 10-day commercial temporary registration to:

Get an emissions test
Have a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) verification or assignment
Complete any required inspections

Fees:

10-day temporary commercial registration for vehicles with a GVWR of 6000 lbs. or less: $27
10-day temporary commercial registration for vehicles with a GVWR of 6000 lbs. and more: $49
10-day inspection-only temporary registration: $49

Once you complete the inspection or VIN verification or emissions, then you will schedule an appointment to register the vehicle permanently.

Restrictions for vehicles with inspection-only plates

Any vehicle with a temporary plate, for inspection purposes, is not allowed to carry a load of any kind under any circumstances.

Inspection-only temporary registrations are required for any commercial vehicles with a GVWR over 18,000 lbs. and trailers with a GVWR over 10,000 lbs.

Vehicles that receive temporary plates for inspection purposes are only able to use the plates to:

Move the vehicle to or from the place of sale or transfer
Travel to the plant, construction site or other job location
Obtain repairs
Drive to a site offering a safety inspection

Inspections for vehicles with temporary registrations
Once you receive the inspection-only temporary commercial plate, you need to have a safety inspection done on the vehicle within 10 days.

An inspection won’t take place if the title documents are marked "not safe for the road”, “junk”, etc. The owner of the vehicle needs a letter from a licensed dealer or repairer stating that repairs have been made and the vehicle is now safe for the road.

Temporary plates aren’t issued to a vehicle that has failed for service brakes, steering components, or frame rot until repairs have been certified by a licensed dealer or repairer as completed.

Any inspection requires a signed Inspector Qualifications form completed by the inspector.

Before you go

Step 1: Check for outstanding issues

Before getting a temporary registration, make sure you don’t have any issues (such as property taxes or insurance lapses) that may stop you. Check for issues online.

Gather documents

Identification. You must present an acceptable form of identification to get a temporary commercial registration.
Proof of insurance. Your insurance card must include this information.
Completed registration application (Form H-13B). Download, fill out, and print this form before coming into the office.
Bill of sale for recently purchased vehicles. Download, fill out, and print this form before coming into the office.
Proof of ownership, such as an original title.
- If you are trying to register a vehicle from outside Connecticut: please see title information by state to know if you need the title. If the vehicle is not titled in that state, you need valid registration from the previous owner. If registration is expired, you need to get a letter of registration verification from the previous state’s DMV.
- If you are trying to register a leased vehicle, you need an original power of attorney from the leasing company.

If the original title is not available, you can request a six-month registration, called a courtesy registration, to give your lienholder or leasing company time to mail your original title to the Connecticut DMV. This applies only when there is a lienholder that holds the original title. More information on how to apply for a courtesy registration.

USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) number is sometimes needed. Consult the FMCSA site for guidance.

Step 3: Make an appointment

This is an appointment-only service.

Make an appointment

Upon confirmation of receipt of your title documents, please allow 5 business days for the DMV to process the vehicle into the system before visiting a branch office.

Step 4: Heavy-Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) payment

For vehicles registered at 55,000 lbs. and over, you need to file and pay a special federal highway use tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing Form no. 2290 (IRS E-filing). This is a required annual payment.

When you go to renew your registration, you need to submit proof of making this payment to the DMV. Acceptable proof of payment is a copy of IRS form 2290 receipted for payment by IRS listing the vehicle ID number for which tax was paid.

Get a temporary commercial registration