State DMV Dropping Car Window Registration Stickers

WETHERSFIELD — Beginning August 1 vehicle owners in Connecticut can peel off that front window registration sticker as part of customer-service improvements the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is making in the vehicle registration system.

According to a July 14 announcement from DMV, vehicle owners in Connecticut will be able to legally drive without stickers and people either renewing or applying for a new registration will only receive the official paper registration, which still must be carried in the vehicle at all times.

“This change of eliminating a sticker and taking away an unnecessary step in the registration process is part of creating a 21st Century DMV that is more modern and efficient by improving service to customers,” said DMV Commissioner Robert M. Ward, who added that eliminating the sticker and making a few other changes in mailings will save the state nearly $1 million annually.

As a customer service, this change will benefit vehicle owners statewide by cutting down on steps needed to properly register their vehicles. Major technological changes now make stickers unnecessary because registration enforcement can be done through computer checks. For instance, DMV provides law enforcement with electronic information allowing police officers to check the validity of a marker plate from a patrol car. DMV has also worked with law enforcement to set up marker-plate readers in some departments around the state. These readers capture an image of a plate from a camera on the patrol car. Up-to-date registration information from the DMV goes to law enforcement to use with these readers.

Commissioner Ward said DMV expects eliminating the stickers will save about $400,000 per year, which is an important savings during a time when the state faces a multibillion-dollar deficit. DMV also plans a second registration improvement that is expected to save an additional $400,000 yearly, bringing the total savings to about $800,000 annually for this project.

The second change, which may begin in September, will eliminate the mailing to customers with their renewed registration certificate. Instead they will receive their registration certificate as a tear-off part of the registration application, which is mailed to them 60 days prior to its due date.

Vehicle owners will be instructed to keep the registration certificate in the vehicle after they mail a check to the DMV or complete an online renewal. The validity of their registration can be checked through the updated law-enforcement computer information systems. As part of its customer service, DMV will also provide a look-up online to determine the validity of the registration. It will let customers know whether their registration payments were processed and registrations renewed.

The expiration sticker is being eliminated on all vehicles, including trailers and motorcycles. Valid or expired registration stickers can be removed from your vehicles on or after August 1 . Stickers for boats will continue to be issued.

It is important to keep current registration certificates in vehicles at all times. Certificates issued after August 1 will say “Connecticut no Longer Requires Registration Stickers.” Registration certificates issued prior to August 1 will not have this message, but require no additional action until they are up for renewal.