Insurance requirements for registering a car in Connecticut
All Connecticut drivers are required to have automobile insurance or "financial liability" in order to operate a vehicle legally and maintain a vehicle registration. Current laws state that you must retain three types of insurance to drive legally: liability, uninsured motorist, and property insurance.
The minimum financial liability requirements for individuals under Connecticut law are as follows:
A minimum of $20,000 per person to cover liability for bodily injury or death. This means you need to have at least $40,000 with you to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$10,000 minimum for property damage
Minimum $40,000 for uninsured or underinsured motorists.
This means that the total minimum amount of financial liability you will require is $90,000 for all three types of mandatory insurance coverage.
proof of insurance
If at any time you must provide proof of insurance, Connecticut will only accept these documents as acceptable proof:
Permanent insurance card from your authorized insurance company
Declaration page from your insurance policy
The SR-22 Financial Liability Certificate, which is a specific type of proof of insurance that is required only from drivers with previous convictions for reckless driving.
If you do not carry your insurance card with you while driving, you may be subject to a $35 fine, which increases to $50 for subsequent violations.
Penalties for Violation
If you drive in Connecticut without insurance, you may face several types of fines:
Fines of $100 to $1,000 for passenger cars and suspension of registration and driver's license for one month.
Fine up to $5,000 and possible imprisonment for up to five years for commercial vehicles.
Repeat offenders may be deprived of their registration and license for up to six months.
In order to lift the registration suspension, you will be required to provide acceptable proof of insurance and pay a $200 reinstatement fee.
If you do not insure your vehicle in Connecticut, you may also face the following penalties:
Class C misdemeanor charge
Fine up to $500.
Imprisonment for up to three months
If you do not respond to the DMV's request to prove you have adequate insurance, your vehicle may be towed and your license may be suspended. All auto insurance providers notify the DMV on a monthly basis of any changes to insurance policies made by Connecticut drivers.
The only time it's acceptable to not have insurance on a vehicle is when you've turned in your license plates to be put on hold, usually while your vehicle is being restored or in storage for the season.
For more information, contact the Connecticut DMV through their website.
