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Connecticut · What a car really costs

Buying a car in Connecticut.

Connecticut charges sales and use tax of 6.35% statewide on vehicles, with no local add-on. A trade-in does reduce the taxable price, which is real money on the deal.

6.35%
Sales and use tax on a vehicle
Full credit
Trade-in reduces the taxable price
$25.00
Title fee
$179
Registration, typical new car
~$599
Doc fee, typical (no cap)

How the tax works.

No local sales tax in Connecticut.

Manufacturer rebates are not deducted from the taxable price (DRS treats them as consideration paid by a third party).

The 7.75% luxury rate is triggered when the sales price exceeds $50,000 before trade-in.

7.75% on motor vehicles with a sales price over $50,000 (luxury rate applies to the entire price, not just the excess).
Trade-ins: Trade-in allowance for a motor vehicle taken in trade by a licensed dealer reduces the taxable price (Conn. Gen. Stat. 12-430(4)).

At the DMV.

FeeAmount
Title$25.00
Registration~$179
Plates$5.00
Clean Air Act fee (each registration)$15.00
Passport to the Parks fee (each 3-year registration)$24.00
Greenhouse gas fee (new vehicle registered with certificate of origin)$15.00
Passenger registration is $120 for a three-year term. First-time issuance adds new plates $5, Clean Air Act fee $15, Passport to the Parks $24 (3-year; $8/yr since July 1, 2025) and a $15 greenhouse gas fee on vehicles registered with a certificate of origin; a $10 lien fee applies if financed.
Annual value-based tax: {"name":"Municipal motor vehicle property tax","rate":"Assessed at 70% of value times the town mill rate, capped at 32.46 mills statewide","notes":"Billed annually by the town where the vehicle is garaged; a $40,000 car at the cap owes roughly $900."}

Leasing in Connecticut.

Lease tax applies to each monthly payment rather than to the full price of the car, so you pay it as you go.

Cities in Connecticut.

Pick your city for the exact combined rate where you register, plus what title and registration run there.

HartfordCapitol Region CountyNew HavenSouth Central Regional CountyStamfordWestern Connecticut CountyWaterburyNaugatuck Valley CountyBridgeportConnecticut Metropolitan CountyNorwalkWestern Connecticut CountyWest HartfordCapitol Region CountyDanburyWestern Connecticut CountyEast HartfordCapitol Region CountyManchesterCapitol Region County
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Questions.

How much is sales tax on a car in Connecticut?

6.35%. Connecticut applies one rate statewide on vehicles, so it does not change from city to city.

Does a trade-in lower the sales tax in Connecticut?

Trade-in allowance for a motor vehicle taken in trade by a licensed dealer reduces the taxable price (Conn. Gen. Stat. 12-430(4)).

What are title and registration fees in Connecticut?

Title is $25.00. Passenger registration is $120 for a three-year term. First-time issuance adds new plates $5, Clean Air Act fee $15, Passport to the Parks $24 (3-year; $8/yr since July 1, 2025) and a $15 greenhouse gas fee on vehicles registered with a certificate of origin; a $10 lien fee applies if financed.

Is the doc fee capped in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut sets no statutory cap, and dealers typically charge around $599. No statutory cap; the 'dealer conveyance fee' must be disclosed on a sign. Typical from CarEdge 2026 (secondary).

How is a lease taxed in Connecticut?

Tax applies to each monthly payment rather than the whole price of the car, so the tax is spread across the lease.

Where these numbers come from.

Rates, fees, and rules change. These figures are estimates for planning, not tax advice; confirm the final numbers with the dealer and your state's motor vehicle agency before you buy.