Connecticut Auto Dealer Bonds
Auto dealer bonds protect consumers and the state. The bond amount and license type required depend on your state's DMV.
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At a glance
Connecticut Auto Dealer Bond Key Facts
Governed by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-176.
The basics
What Is an Auto Dealer Bond in Connecticut?
A bonded title in Connecticut is a regular certificate of title the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues on the strength of a surety bond (DMV form H-113). You use it when you cannot give the DMV the documents normally required to prove you own the vehicle — for example, the title is lost — and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles requires a bond before issuing title. Connecticut sets this bond under General Statutes § 14-176.
Good to know - There is no minimum vehicle value to require a bond — when the commissioner is not satisfied as to ownership, the surety bond is the path to title. Connecticut only titles vehicles 20 model years old or newer; vehicles more than 20 model years old are non-titled and do not get a bonded title.
The bond protects the State of Connecticut and any prior owner, lienholder, or future buyer if someone else turns out to have a claim on the vehicle. You file it together with your title application — it does not replace the application.
Connecticut sets the bond at twice your vehicle’s value, and the bond stays in effect for five years. If no valid claim is made during that time, the bond is returned. It can be returned sooner if the vehicle is no longer registered in Connecticut and you surrender the valid title.
Connecticut only titles vehicles that are 20 model years old or newer. Vehicles more than 20 model years old are non-titled under the state’s rules, so a bonded title is not needed — and not issued — for them.
Qualification
What You Need to Qualify for a Connecticut Auto Dealer Bond
Approval depends on your dealer license type, required coverage amount, and underwriting factors such as credit.
- You cannot furnish the documents normally required to prove you own the vehicle (for example, the title is lost and the seller cannot provide one).
- The vehicle is one Connecticut titles — generally 20 model years old or newer.
- The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles is not satisfied as to ownership, or that there are no undisclosed security interests, and requires a bond as a condition of issuing title.
- The bond is executed by a surety authorized to conduct business in Connecticut (or you deposit cash with the commissioner).
Step by step
How to Get an Auto Dealer Bond in Connecticut: Step by Step
Confirm Connecticut will title your vehicle
Connecticut titles vehicles that are 20 model years old or newer. If your vehicle is older, it is non-titled and you do not need a bonded title. If it qualifies and you cannot prove ownership, the commissioner may require a surety bond before issuing a title.
Have the DMV determine your bond amount
The bond must equal twice the value of the vehicle, as determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Once you know the value the DMV assigns, enter it in the calculator above to estimate your premium.
Buy and complete your H-113 surety bond
Purchase the Surety Bond - Certificate of Title and complete DMV form H-113 for twice the vehicle’s value. The bond names the State of Connecticut and stays in effect for five years.
Surety Bond - Certificate of Title (H-113)Complete your Registration and Title Application
Fill out the Connecticut Registration and Title Application (Form H-13B) and gather your supporting documents, such as a Bill of Sale (Form H-31). If a Connecticut title was lost, stolen, or damaged, use the Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form H-6B) instead.
Registration and Title Application (H-13B)File everything with the DMV
Submit the signed H-113 bond with your H-13B application and supporting documents to the DMV, and pay the $25 title fee (plus a $10 lien fee if applicable). Mail to Specialized Registry Services in Wethersfield, or follow the DMV’s instructions for your transaction.
Paperwork
Connecticut Dealer Bond Forms & Documents
Used when a Connecticut title is lost, stolen, or damaged.
View formYou'll also need
Cost
How Connecticut Auto Dealer Bond Pricing Works
You do not pay the full bond amount. In Connecticut, the surety bond must equal twice your vehicle’s value. You pay a premium, which is a smaller percentage of that bond amount.
Your premium depends on the bond amount and underwriting. Use the calculator above for an estimate; your final premium may vary. The $25 title fee and any registration fees are separate from the bond premium.
Worked example
If the DMV sets your vehicle’s value at $8,000, the bond amount is twice that, or $16,000. You pay only the premium on the $16,000 bond, not the full $16,000.
Filing
Filing Information
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
We prepare the issued bond and send you a copy for your records. Filing requirements vary by state, license type, carrier, and bond form.
860-263-5710FAQ
Connecticut Auto Dealer Bond FAQ
Yes. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 14-176, the DMV issues a certificate of title backed by a surety bond (Form H-113) when you cannot furnish the normal proof of ownership and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles requires a bond.
The bond amount equals twice your vehicle’s value, as determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. You pay a premium — a percentage of that amount — not the full bond amount. Use the calculator above to estimate it.
Five years. Under § 14-176, the bond and any deposit are returned at the end of five years, or sooner if the vehicle is no longer registered in Connecticut and the valid title is surrendered.
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles determines the value, and the bond is set at twice that value. Confirm the value the DMV assigns before you buy the bond.
Mail the signed H-113 bond with your Registration and Title Application (Form H-13B) and supporting documents to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Specialized Registry Services, Room 305, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Call 860-263-5710 with questions.
Connecticut does not title vehicles more than 20 model years old — they are non-titled. A bonded title is neither needed nor issued for those vehicles.
Sources
Last verified 2026-06-23. Requirements change - confirm current details with Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before you file. This page is informational and not legal advice.
FAQ
Connecticut Auto Dealer Bond Questions
The cost of a Connecticut auto dealer bond is usually a small percentage of the state-required bond amount. Your exact premium depends on the bond amount, license type, business details, and underwriting factors such as credit.
Many auto dealer bonds can be issued the same day after you complete the application. Larger bond amounts or applications that need underwriting review may take longer.
Requirements vary by license type, but most Connecticut auto dealers need to complete a short application and purchase the bond amount required by the state before their license can be issued or renewed.
Often, yes. Many states have separate bond requirements for wholesale, retail, broker, or other dealer license types. Choose the bond that matches your Connecticut license instructions.
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AutoDealersBond.com is operated by Insurance Services by Shield, a California and Texas licensed insurance agency (CA License #6018195, TX License #3446536). Insurance Services by Shield is not an insurance carrier and does not underwrite bonds or insurance policies. Bond and coverage availability, pricing, and issuance are subject to carrier underwriting approval, eligibility, applicable state requirements, and policy or bond terms. Availability varies by state.
