Car Title Transfer After Divorce in Connecticut

Transferring a vehicle title after divorce in Connecticut requires an in-person DMV visit with specific forms and documents. The good news: presenting your certified divorce decree exempts you from the sales tax the DMV would otherwise charge on 50% of the vehicle's book value. Miss this step and you could owe hundreds of dollars unnecessarily.

Here is the complete process.

What You Need at the DMV

Schedule an in-person appointment at a Connecticut DMV hub office. Bring:

• DMV Form H-13B (Application for Registration and Title) — the primary form for transferring title from joint names to one spouse
• The original certificate of title signed on the reverse side by both spouses
• A certified copy of your divorce decree explicitly awarding the vehicle to you — this is what triggers the sales tax exemption
• A current Connecticut auto insurance ID card issued in your sole name
• DMV Form Q-1 (Supplemental Assignment of Ownership) — required if the vehicle is non-titled (model years over 20 years old)

The Sales Tax Exemption

Without a certified divorce decree, the DMV will assess Connecticut sales tax on 50% of the vehicle's NADA book value when transferring title from joint names to one spouse. On a vehicle worth $30,000, that is roughly $950 in unnecessary tax.

Presenting the decree showing the court awarded you the vehicle eliminates this tax. The DMV will also waive the $20 registration duplicate fee when the transfer is divorce-related.

If the Title Is Lost

If the original paper title has been lost or damaged, you will need to obtain a replacement before the transfer can be processed. Submit DMV Form H-6B (Application for Replacement Certificate of Title) along with a $25 duplicate title fee.

Both spouses may need to sign the replacement title application if both are listed as owners. If your ex-spouse is uncooperative, a certified copy of your divorce decree may satisfy the DMV — but call ahead to confirm, as policies can vary by office.

Updating Your Registration

If you are only changing the name on the registration (not transferring title), submit DMV Form B-301 (Registration Affidavit) at the same appointment. This is typically needed when you have restored your maiden name after divorce.

Auto Loan Complications

If there is an outstanding auto loan on the vehicle, the DMV will not process the title transfer unless:

• The lienholder issues a formal lien release, or
• The lienholder agrees to the transfer (which usually requires the retaining spouse to refinance the loan into their sole name)

The court can order one spouse to refinance the auto loan, but the lender is not bound by the divorce decree. Until the refinance is complete, both parties remain liable on the original loan.

Insurance Changes

Update your auto insurance as soon as the divorce is finalized:

• Remove your ex-spouse from your policy (or remove yourself from theirs)
• Obtain a new individual policy if you were on a joint policy
• Make sure your insurance card reflects your current legal name before visiting the DMV — the DMV requires the insurance ID card to match the name on the new registration

Your insurance rates may change after divorce. Multi-car and multi-driver discounts typically disappear, and your individual risk profile may differ from the joint policy's rating.

The Connecticut After-Divorce Checklist includes a vehicle title transfer guide and a timeline for coordinating the DMV visit with your name change, insurance update, and any auto loan refinancing.

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