When you sell your vehicle, you must complete and sign the reverse side of the Certificate of Title and give it to the new owner along with a Bill of Sale (form H-31). You may draft your own Bill of Sale (form H-31), as there is no special form required.  As a seller you should keep a copy of the completed Bill of Sale for your records.  If you are drafting your own bill of sale it must contain the following information - name and address of purchaser; name and address of seller; description of vehicle (make, model, year, color, vehicle identification number); sales price; date of sale; signature of seller.

The marker plates from your vehicle should be removed and returned to the DMV with the registration certificate, and you should ask that they be cancelled. You will then be given a receipt which you should keep for your records.  Once the registration has been cancelled, the vehicle will be removed from the next Grand List that is provided to the municipalities on October 1st each year.  Until you cancel your plates, the vehicle is subject to property tax assessment in the town of record for that vehicle.  If you receive an additional property tax bill for the vehicle you should check with your local property tax assessor for a prorated bill showing your cancelled plate receipt and a copy of the bill of sale for the vehicle.

You must maintain liability insurance on the registration as long as it is active; therefore, do not cancel the insurance on the vehicle until the plates have been returned and cancelled.

The new owner will then be required to register the vehicle in his/her name and apply for a new certificate of title. Please see Registration of a Used Vehicle for more information.

You must cancel your registration if you no longer have the vehicle or if you have moved out of state.  To cancel a registration:

1. Return your registration marker plate(s) to any DMV branch or satellite office .  If the plate(s) have been lost or stolen, the Marker Plate Notice, (form E-159) can be completed.  
2. Request a cancellation of the plates(s).
3. Request a receipt and keep for your records.  You may need the receipt to request a proration of your municipal property tax bill.  There will be a $20 fee if you lose the receipt and need a replacement.
4. Your vehicle will be subject to property tax assessment in the town of record until the plates are returned and cancelled.  Once the registration has been cancelled, the vehicle will be removed from the next Grand List that is provided to the municipalities on October 1st each year.  It is also recommended that you retain a copy of the bill of sale if you are selling the vehicle.  You may contact your local tax assessors office for information on removing the vehicle from the property tax list.

If you cannot visit a DMV branch or satellite office you may send the plate(s) to:

DMV
60 State Street
, CT 06161
Attn: Plate Return

Please enclose a written request to cancel the registration and indicate whether you would like a receipt. A receipt will be mailed to the address that is on file with DMV. If you have moved out of state you must enclose a self addressed stamped envelope for the receipt to be mailed to you.

Note:  If you received a property tax bill on a vehicle that you sold and need proof of the sale, you will need to fill out a Copy Records Request (form J-23) which can be ordered online or through the DMV Phone Center.