State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles

Connecticut Vehicle Insurance Requirements  

If you received a pending suspension notice for an insurance compliance violation, see more information here.
The Law
Connecticut law requires that any motor vehicle registration that has not been canceled must have liability insurance.   If your registration has expired, liability insurance on the vehicle is required until the registration/license plates have been canceled. 
Note: Insurance companies are required to provide you with an automobile insurance identification card for each vehicle. This card must be presented for registration of the vehicle and must be carried in the vehicle at all times.

Personal Insurance

A permanent insurance card must include the following information:

  • Name of the insurance company
  • NAIC#
  • At least one name on the registration must be indicated as a policy owner, policy holder or named insured on the insurance card. If a vehicle owned by a leasing company, the name of the leasing company and/or the lessor may be listed.
  • Policy number.
  • Effective date of coverage (must be valid when the vehicle is registered) and expiration date (not to exceed one year).
  • Vehicle year, make or model, and complete vehicle identification number. 

A temporary insurance card may be obtained from your insurance agent. A temporary insurance card must include the following information:

  • Name of the insurance company or agency.
  • At least one name on the registration must be indicated as a policy owner, policy holder or named insured on the insurance card. If a vehicle owned by a leasing company, the name of the leasing company and/or the lessor may be listed.
  • Binder number, policy number or the agent's code number.
  • Effective date of coverage (must be valid when the vehicle is registered) and expiration date (not to exceed 60 days).
  • Vehicle year, make or model, and complete vehicle identification number.
  • Printed name and signature of the agent or authorized representative. 

Limits of liability as required by law are as follows (effective January 1, 2018):

  • $25,000 bodily injury per person.
  • $50,000 bodily injury per accident.
  • $25,000 property damage per accident.
Commercial Insurance

If you are a motor carrier and conduct commercial business with motor vehicles meeting any of the following criteria, you are required to report insurance coverage to DMV once a year:

1.A vehicle that operates in intrastate commerce (within Connecticut only) with a gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross  truck/trailer weight or gross combination weight rating of 18,001 pounds or more;

2. A vehicle that operates in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight, or GVWR or gross truck/trailer combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more;

3. A vehicle designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver;

4. A vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring HAZMAT “placarding” under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

5. If the first four choices do not apply to you, you must complete and submit a Compliance Affidavit form to DMV for new registration transactions or renewals.

If any of above applies to any of your vehicles, Section 14-163d of the Connecticut General Statutes requires that you must file proof of insurance, either a valid CT insurance card or an Acord 25 Certificate Of Liability Insurance with DMV once a year that you maintain the following minimum levels of insurance coverage which is identified in state statutes that adopt the federal motor carrier regulation of 49 CFR 390.19.