What is a License Plate Replacement in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles handles plate replacements as a standalone transaction, separate from periodic registration renewal. A replacement reissues either a single plate or a full set when the original is lost, stolen, damaged, mutilated, or faded beyond legibility.
- Replacement carries its own fee and documentation list. The renewal cycle and its fees do not overlap; replacement is an out-of-cycle event triggered by a specific condition.
- Lost or stolen plates are retired permanently. The DMV issues a new set with a new plate number. You can reapply for the old number after 10 months by using Form E-45 and paying the applicable fee.
- Damaged plates are replaced online, and you also receive a new set, since the DMV issues off-the-shelf stock. Connecticut does not reprint a plate with your existing number as part of the standard replacement transaction.
- Both plates are replaced together. The DMV does not issue a single-plate replacement for passenger vehicles; you receive a full pair of off-the-shelf plates regardless of whether one plate or both triggered the request.
When Do You Need to Replace Your Connecticut License Plate?
Connecticut law sets a 48-hour window. Once a plate is lost, mutilated, or rendered illegible, the owner must notify the Commissioner and apply for a new plate within 48 hours (Connecticut General Statutes § 14-18).
- A stolen plate must be reported to the local police immediately. The DMV requires the written police report (not just a case number) before it will process the replacement at the reduced fee.
- Plates that are cracked, peeling, bent, or faded to the point where letters and numbers are no longer plainly legible at all times meet the statutory threshold for replacement under CGS § 14-18(c).
- Lost plates follow the same 48-hour notice rule but do not require a police report. The fee without a report is $25, not $5.
- New residents have 90 days after establishing Connecticut residency to transfer their out-of-state registration and surrender non-Connecticut plates, per the CT DMV transfer page.
How to Get a Replacement License Plate in Connecticut
The path depends on why the plate needs to be replaced. Damaged plates can go through the online portal. Lost or stolen plates require an in-person appointment at a CT DMV hub or branch office.
- Gather your current registration certificate, Connecticut Insurance Identification Card, remaining plate (if any), and your driver’s license number before starting either channel.
- For lost or stolen plates, complete the Lost or Stolen Marker Plate Notice (Form E-159). Bring the police report if the plate was stolen, along with your form of payment. Schedule an appointment at any full-service DMV office.
- Two off-the-shelf plates are issued during the appointment. The new registration card arrives by mail afterward.
- For damaged plates, the online portal handles the full transaction, as described in the online channel below. No appointment is needed.
- The DMV does not publish a mail-in replacement option. Replacement runs either online (damaged) or in-person (lost, stolen).
Can You Replace a Connecticut License Plate Online?
Yes, but only for damaged or mutilated plates. The CT DMV online replacement portal accepts requests from individuals with a current registration. Lost and stolen plate replacements cannot be completed online and must go through an in-person appointment.
The portal asks for your name (as it appears on your license), date of birth, driver’s license number, and plate class. Payment is by credit or debit card. The fee is $25 for regular plates and (15 for Long Island Sound or flag-style veteran designs). New plates ship by mail after the order processes.
When the online channel does not apply, book an appointment at any DMV hub or branch. The DMV locations page lists all offices and their hours. Bring the documentation referenced in the procedure section above, including Form E-159 for lost or stolen cases.
How Much is License Plate Replacement in Connecticut?
The base replacement fee is set by CGS § 14-50a, and the DMV publishes the current schedule on its fee page. The sharp difference sits between the stolen-plate path and everything else: a police report cuts the cost from $25 to $5.
- Damaged or lost plates (no police report): $25 for a full set of replacement plates, regardless of vehicle class.
- $5 replaces a stolen or mutilated set when you present a written police report. The commissioner has statutory authority to waive the fee entirely under CGS § 14-50a(c).
- Vanity plate replacement runs $25 for most designs. Long Island Sound and flag-style veteran plates carry a reduced replacement fee of $15.
- Connecticut does not charge a separate one-plate versus two-plate fee. Every replacement issues a full pair at the same flat rate.
- No county or municipal add-on applies to the replacement transaction. The fee on the DMV fee schedule is the complete cost.