Transfer your out-of-state license

Once you establish residency, you have 90 days to transfer your out-of-state license to Connecticut.

For your convenience, this service is available at select DMV branch offices, in addition to DMV hub offices. Learn more about our locations and the services we provide.

Steps to follow before you get a Connecticut license

• Make sure your out-of-state license is current or hasn’t been expired for more than two years.
• Take a vision test at one of our full service offices. Be sure to bring your glasses or wear your contact lenses for the appointment.
• As a new Connecticut resident, you’re required to transfer your out-of-state vehicle registration to Connecticut within 90 days. Learn more about the process to transfer out-of-state registration.

Make an in-person appointment to transfer your out-of-state license to Connecticut

• Transfer your out-of-state driver’s license
• Special situations & fees

Out-of-state license transfer

• How to transfer your out-of-state license to Connecticut

How to transfer your out-of-state license to Connecticut

• Your current out-of-state license, which is not expired for more than two years.
• Acceptable forms of identification.
• Completed application for a non-commercial driver's license (Form R-229)
• Payment for your fees. Please see acceptable forms of payment. If paying by check, two checks are needed, made payable to “DMV” for:
  
  • $84 license fee
  • $40 application fee

  Step 2: Make an appointment online

  Step 3: Get your license in the mail

  Your Connecticut license arrives in the mail within 20 business days. Learn more about the Central Issuance process.

  You can track the delivery of your new license online.

  Special situations & fees

  • When you don’t need to transfer to a Connecticut License
  • Solutions to common problems
  • Transfer an out-of-state drive-only license
  • Transfer an out-of-state commercial driver’s license
  • Fees

  When you don’t need to transfer to a Connecticut License

  You’re not required to get a Connecticut license if:

  • You’re a full-time student who lives in Connecticut but you maintain an out-of-state or out-of-country permanent residence
  • You’re active-duty military personnel or a dependent of military personnel
  • You’re in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa

  You may operate a vehicle in Connecticut for one year with a valid out-of-country license and an international driver permit (IDP) issued by your country of origin. Learn more about IDP requirements.

  Solutions to common problems

  If your out-of-state license is expired for more than two years:

  Get a Connecticut state learner’s permit and complete an eight-hour safe driving practices course at a Connecticut-licensed driving school before you take a skills test at a DMV office.

  If you lost your out-of-state license:

  Get a certified copy of your out-of-state driving history record dated within 60 days. Your previous licensing state will be notified of your new Connecticut license and can cancel your old license.

  If you’re under age 18 and have a driver’s license from another state:

  In addition to the requirements for out-of-state license holders, if you’re under age 18 you need to complete the eight-hour safe driving practices class at a commercial driving school or secondary school in Connecticut, including the two-hour parent/legal guardian training.

  Connecticut has passenger restrictions and other laws for newly licensed drivers age 16 and 17. Learn more at Teen Driver’s Center.

  License holders under age 16 can’t transfer their license.

  If you have a valid license from American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands or the U.S. Virgin Islands:

  In addition to the requirements for out-of-state license holders, you need to get a history of your driver record from your territory of origin before you can transfer your license to Connecticut.
  We waive the requirement for active-duty military personnel (and their family members and dependents) to present an abstract when transferring a non-CDL license from Guam. The applicant's military identification or their family member's identification must be shown.

  If you have a valid license from Puerto Rico:

  The requirements for an out-of-state license holder apply. Your Puerto Rico license is verified with your home territory prior to the transfer. We provide you with a status update via mail that includes next steps.

  If you have a valid license from Canada, Germany, or France:

  The requirements for an out-of-state license apply.