How to get a driver's license in Connecticut
This page explains, step by step, how to get a Connecticut driver’s license for a regular car and which documents to bring. It is based on the website of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and on the Connecticut Driver’s Manual (revised March 2023). It describes the rules as of October 6, 2026. The DMV’s pages and the manual do not always say the same thing, so where they differ this guide leaves the point out or points you to the DMV page. Requirements change, so check the Connecticut DMV website before you go. This site is independent and is not the Connecticut DMV.
Independent educational site · not affiliated with any government agency or DMV
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-06. Requirements can change: always confirm with Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before you go.
How it works
Who does what
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and non-driver ID cards. A non-commercial driver’s license is known as Class D. The DMV’s overview lists two ways to get a driver’s license: a verified driver’s license and a drive-only license for people who cannot prove legal presence. This guide covers the Class D license, the drive-only license and the non-driver ID.
The three main steps
A new driver follows three main steps:
- Get a learner’s permit. You pass a vision test and a written knowledge test, in person at the DMV.
- Hold the permit for the required time and finish the required training before the road test.
- Pass the road test. The license then arrives in the mail.
Source: [10]
Take the Work Zone Safety Course first
The first step for a new driver is the free online Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course. Effective January 1, 2026, anyone who applies for a learner’s permit must complete it. The course takes less than an hour. You create an account with your legal name. Print the completion certificate and give it to the DMV, with your other documents, before the knowledge test.
New drivers start with a permit
A learner’s permit is required before a first-time driver begins practicing driving. Residents 16 and older can apply for a learner’s permit, and those 18 and older apply for an adult learner’s permit. Even someone who has just turned 18 must get a permit before upgrading to a license. An out-of-state learner’s permit cannot be transferred to Connecticut.
The Driver’s Manual
The DMV says its digital Connecticut Driver’s Manuals are the only source of information for all test questions. The English manual on the DMV page is Revised 3/2023, and the DMV publishes a Spanish edition (Revised 3/2023) as well. The manual tells readers to check the DMV website for the most up-to-date information because DMV laws keep changing. The audio versions of the manual do not include the most up-to-date information.
If you are under 18: permit, practice, license
Before you start
To get a learner’s permit you must be at least 16. Driver’s education can start at age 16. Complete the free online Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course first, and keep the printed completion certificate for the DMV.
Choose how you will train
All 16- and 17-year-old license applicants must complete a driver training program through a Connecticut commercial driving school, a secondary school program, or a home training program plus the eight-hour safe driving practices course, which includes two hours of parent training. Classes at a Connecticut commercial or secondary school licensed and approved by the DMV include 30 hours of classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel, on-the-road training. The driving school sends a course completion certificate electronically to the DMV when you finish.
Home training
Home training must be given by a qualified trainer who is 20 or older and has held a driver’s license for at least four years with no suspensions. The trainer can be the applicant’s parent, grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian, or the spouse of a married minor applicant. Only if none of these is qualified and available can a stepparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (by blood or marriage) be the trainer. A home-trained applicant needs:
- The equivalent of 22 hours of classroom training.
- Attendance at the eight-hour safe driving practices class at a commercial or secondary school.
- The two-hour parent training.
- 40 hours of behind-the-wheel practice driving with a qualified trainer.
- The learner’s permit held at least 180 days before the license test.
- A training log kept by a parent to track the teen’s progress.
Source: [5]
How many hours of practice
All 16- and 17-year-old applicants must have at least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road training. It can be any mix of driving-school and home training. Connecticut law requires a minimum of 40 hours of supervised driving practice before getting a license. The manual recommends at least 100 hours.
Source: [1]
Parent training
One parent or legal guardian of a teen aged 16 or 17 must take a two-hour parent training, with the teen, before the teen is eligible for a license. It covers the laws for drivers under 18 and the dangers of teen driving. If the parent or legal guardian cannot attend the training, the teen is not eligible for a license until age 18.
Forms for the permit appointment
Bring a completed Application for Non-Commercial Learner’s Permit and/or Driver’s License (Form R-229) to the permit appointment. You can print Form R-229 after you make the online appointment. If a parent or legal guardian is not present at the knowledge test, bring a completed Certificate of Parental Consent (form 2-D). For youths in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), form 2-D must be signed by an authorized DCF manager.
Pass the tests and get the permit
The permit requires a vision test and a 25-question knowledge test. A knowledge test must be passed before the learner’s permit is issued. At the office you receive a paper learner’s permit for temporary use until the permanent permit arrives by mail. The permit is valid until you get a driver’s license or 2 years from the date it is issued, whichever comes first. See the section “The tests”.
Drive only with a qualified adult
The instructor of a permit holder must sit in the front passenger seat and be ready to take over control of the vehicle. There is no curfew for permit holders, but a qualified trainer must accompany the driver. Failing to follow the permit rules may result in a permit suspension. A permit holder aged 16 or 17 can carry almost no passengers for the entire time the permit is held. An instructor or qualified trainer may ride along. The DMV page “Driving restrictions for teens” lists the others who may ride, so read it before you carry anyone else. A permit holder may not carry more passengers than there are seat belts.
How long to hold the permit before the road test
An applicant who finishes driver education at a commercial or secondary school waits 120 days after the permit is issued before the road test. All other applicants wait 180 days.
Paperwork for the road test
For the road test, the teen’s qualified trainer signs a form (Form R-229) saying that all driver education and practice driving requirements were met. For applicants under 18, the qualified trainer must be present at the DMV office when signing. Qualified Trainers are eligible to train and sign this form under penalty of false statement.
After the road test
After passing the road test, a teen waits 48 hours before going to the DMV office with the passed Road Test Evaluation Report. See the section “After you pass”.
Source: [4]
Rules for young drivers
Passengers in the first year
The Driver’s Manual says that during the first six months after licensing, a 16- or 17-year-old driver may have no passengers except a licensed driving instructor, a parent or legal guardian (at least one holding a valid license), or one person at least 20 who has held a license for four or more consecutive years with no suspension in the four years before. In months seven through twelve, the only additional passengers allowed are members of the driver’s immediate family.
Source: [1]
Night driving
Until your 18th birthday, you may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except for employment, school, religious activities or medical necessity. The manual also lists being an assigned driver in the Safe Ride Program. The exception for school or religious activities covers driving to or from an activity such as a prom or away game, if the student does not drive anywhere else. The curfew exceptions do not change the passenger restrictions, which stay in effect for drivers aged 16 and 17. The passenger and curfew restrictions do not apply to active volunteer fire, volunteer ambulance or emergency medical service members responding to or returning from an emergency or carrying out duties.
Phones
Permit holders and drivers aged 16 or 17 may not use any type of cell phone or mobile electronic device while driving, including a hands-free device, except in an emergency to contact an emergency response operator, a hospital, a physician’s office, a health clinic, an ambulance company, or a fire or police department. A conviction of a driver under 18 for violating the cell phone law results in a license suspension.
Source: [1]
Other limits
Permit holders and 16- and 17-year-old drivers may not carry more passengers than there are seat belts. They may not operate a vehicle that requires a public passenger transportation permit, or a vanpool vehicle. No passenger may be carried on a motorcycle for six months after the motorcycle endorsement is issued to a 16- or 17-year-old.
Source: [1]
Violations and retraining
The DMV suspends the license (or the privilege to obtain one) of a 16- or 17-year-old for any conviction for violating a teen driving restriction, speeding, reckless driving, street racing or using a cell phone or text messaging device. Anyone 24 or younger with two or more moving or suspension violations must complete the DMV-certified operator retraining program. After completing it, an additional moving violation within three years results in a license suspension of at least 30 days.
Source: [1]
Alcohol under 21
In Connecticut people under 21 could be considered impaired after only one drink. “Zero tolerance” applies to any measurable alcohol in the blood, defined as .02% or more, on public roads and private property. For a driver under 21 with a test result of .02 percent or higher, the license is suspended for at least 45 days.
Source: [1]
Teen-Parent Safe Driver Agreement
The DMV offers a Teen-Parent Safe Driver Agreement for parents and teens. The manual says Connecticut allows parents to block teens from getting a license.
If you are 18 or older
Start with an adult learner’s permit
Anyone 18 or older who wants to drive needs an adult learner’s permit to get a driver’s license. Even someone who has just turned 18 must get a learner’s permit first. Complete the free online Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course before you apply. Adult learner’s permits are valid for two years.
Permit tests
An adult permit applicant passes a vision test and a 25-question knowledge test. Bring glasses or contact lenses if you need them to pass the vision test. Failing the vision test blocks the knowledge test. Failing either test means you reschedule the tests online and pay the fees again. See the section “The tests”.
Source: [7]
The eight-hour safe driving practices course
Most adult applicants take an eight-hour safe driving practices course. It can be taken at any time but before the on-the-road skills test, through a licensed driving school. The driving school sends proof of completion electronically to the DMV. The DMV’s pages and the manual describe who is exempt differently, so check with the DMV.
Driving with the permit
An adult permit holder must be instructed and accompanied while driving by a commercial driving school instructor, a secondary school instructor or a qualified trainer. A qualified trainer is 20 or older and has held a license, not suspended, for at least four consecutive years.
Hold the permit 90 days
To take the road test, an adult must have held the adult learner’s permit for at least 90 days, unless they qualify for an exemption. An adult learner’s permit is still required for those exempt from the 90-day wait. These applicants are exempt:
- Active-duty military stationed out of state (orders and military ID required).
- Someone who previously held a verifiable Connecticut learner’s permit or license.
- Someone who had a driver’s license in the past, including an out-of-state, U.S. territory or out-of-country license. They must provide an expired license or driving history from the previous state or country.
If a license has expired
If a driver’s license has been expired for two or more years, all testing requirements, including the learner’s permit and the road test, must be completed again.
Source: [2]
Moving to Connecticut
Who does not need a Connecticut license
Some people do not need to get a Connecticut license, such as a full-time student who lives in Connecticut but keeps an out-of-state or out-of-country permanent residence, or someone in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa. Connecticut lets a student or visitor drive for up to one year with a valid foreign license. A license in a language other than English or Spanish must be accompanied by an international driver permit (IDP), and the transfer page asks for an IDP from your country of origin, so check before you drive. An IDP alone is not a valid license, and it can only be obtained in the country that issued the license.
Deadlines
After you establish residency, transfer your license within the deadline the DMV states; its pages give different numbers of days, so check with the DMV. A new resident must transfer the out-of-state vehicle registration to Connecticut within 90 days.
Transfer a license from another state
The transfer is done at an in-person appointment made online. It includes a vision test at one of the DMV’s full-service offices. The out-of-state license must be current or not expired for more than two years. You are issued a temporary paper credential and the DMV keeps the out-of-state license. The permanent license is mailed. To transfer, bring:
- The current out-of-state license (not expired for more than two years).
- Acceptable forms of identification.
- The completed application for a non-commercial driver’s license (Form R-229).
- If the out-of-state license was lost, a certified out-of-state driving history record dated within 60 days.
- Payment for the fees (see the DMV fees page).
If your license has expired or you are under 16
If an out-of-state license has been expired more than two years, you get a Connecticut learner’s permit and complete an eight-hour safe driving practices course at a licensed driving school before the skills test. License holders under age 16 cannot transfer their license.
Source: [11]
Drivers aged 16 and 17 with an out-of-state license
Drivers aged 16 and 17 with an out-of-state license can be served only at a DMV hub office or the Enfield office. They must complete the eight-hour safe driving practices class in Connecticut, including the two-hour parent or legal guardian training. When they surrender the out-of-state license they provide the certificate of completion of that class, and they must pass a vision test and a road test.
A permit from another state
An out-of-state learner’s permit cannot be transferred to Connecticut. A non-resident aged at least 16 may drive in Connecticut with an out-of-state permit under the permit’s restrictions and Connecticut’s learner’s permit restrictions, under the instruction of a licensed driver with four years of license history.
A license from another country, a territory or Puerto Rico
A license from Canada, Germany or France is transferred under the same requirements as an out-of-state license. A valid license from any other country cannot be transferred, and that person needs an adult learner’s permit first. Non-U.S. citizens who want a first-time Connecticut learner’s permit or license must apply in person at a DMV hub office. A license from certain U.S. territories, listed on the transfer page, needs a driver record history from the territory before the transfer. A Puerto Rico license is verified with the home territory before the transfer.
Drive-only and commercial licenses
An out-of-state drive-only (or similar driving-privilege) license cannot be transferred to Connecticut. A holder of an out-of-state commercial driver’s license (CDL) must apply for a Connecticut CDL within 30 days of residency in Connecticut.
Documents to bring
The same documents for every credential
The same documents are needed for a learner’s permit, driver’s license or non-driver ID: two forms of identification, proof of Social Security Number, proof of Connecticut residency, proof of legal presence, and name change documents if they apply. For a REAL ID, follow the REAL ID page and its document checklist. The DMV’s document checklist (edition DI-3 REV. 6-2026) lists what is acceptable. Double-check the acceptable forms of identification and have all required documents before you start. Questions about acceptable documents can go to the DMV call center.
Originals only, and in English
Documents must be valid, unexpired originals or certified copies. Photocopies, notarized photocopies, non-certified copies of forms that need certification, and damaged or mutilated documents are not acceptable. The DMV scans and stores images of all original documents. Any document in a language other than English must be translated by a DMV-approved translator, and a translation is accepted only from a business or individual listed on the DMV’s approved translator page.
Proof of identity
Identity is proved with two forms of identification, at least one from the primary document list. Two forms of the same identification are not accepted. The full name on the primary document is the legal name printed on the permit, license or ID.
- Born in the U.S.: primary documents include a U.S. passport or passport card and a U.S. or U.S. Territory birth certificate or registration of birth. Hospital-issued and Puerto Rico-issued birth documents dated before July 1, 2010 are no longer acceptable.
- Born outside the U.S.: primary documents include a U.S. passport or passport card, a foreign passport with supporting documents, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, a Permanent Resident Card and a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
- Secondary documents include an out-of-state U.S. driver’s license with photo, a Social Security card (not laminated or metal, and signed if you are 16 or older), a certified school transcript (a school photo ID is not acceptable) and a U.S. military ID or dependent card with photo; the DMV’s list has more.
- For other immigration documents, such as an employment authorization card, read the DMV’s document checklist.
Source: [10]
Social Security number
By law, applicants must present one of the listed documents to prove their Social Security Number: a Social Security card, a W-2 or a 1099. A W-2 used as proof must have been issued within the past five years. Non-U.S. citizens who are not eligible for an SSN present proof of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration. The SSN of any applicant for a new license, permit or non-driver ID must be recorded on the application.
Source: [10]
Proof of Connecticut residency
You must provide two different pieces of mail from two different sources to prove you live in Connecticut. The documents must show your name and Connecticut residence address, be dated within 90 days unless the checklist says otherwise, and be computer-generated (typed). Acceptable documents include postmarked mail (the address may be handwritten), a current valid Connecticut motor vehicle registration and official school records showing enrollment; the DMV page lists more. For a minor, a parent or legal guardian can provide any two of the listed documents addressed to the parent at the same address, or use their own Connecticut license or ID showing that address as one of the two. People with dual residency in another state may get a Connecticut driver’s license.
Source: [10]
Proof of legal presence
Applicants born outside the U.S. must prove legal presence. The DMV verifies legal status through SAVE, which may take 10 business days or more, unless you present a U.S. passport or passport card. You may be asked to return to the same DMV office.
- USCIS documents must be valid and unexpired.
- Immigration checks are valid for one year, except when verified with a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.
- Foreign students with F1 status show their passport and the I-20.
- Visitors with B1/B2, waiver-tourist or waiver-business status are not eligible for a Connecticut driver’s license or ID card.
- Non-U.S. citizens arriving with an I-94 stamp in the passport must get a hard copy of the I-94 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Source: [10]
Name changes
If your name has changed, bring name change documents, such as a marriage or civil union certificate (a certified copy from the town or city). With more than one name change, the documents must prove continuity of the names. A new name must be verified with the Social Security Administration first, so visit the SSA before the DMV.
Source: [10]
REAL ID
What REAL ID is
A REAL ID is a verified driver’s license or ID card that is a federally accepted form of identification. It is marked by a gold star in the top right corner. ID cards without an identity check are stamped “Not for Federal Identification”. Getting the gold star is optional. A license without a REAL ID is still valid for driving, but it does not meet federal requirements for a verified ID.
Source: [13]
When you need it
The U.S. federal government requires anyone who boards an airplane for domestic travel or enters certain federal buildings to show a REAL ID license or ID card, a passport, a permanent resident card or another document the TSA accepts. Since May 7, 2025 the federal government has required a REAL ID or additional proof of identification, such as a U.S. passport, for domestic flights and certain federal buildings. A valid U.S. passport can be used at the airport instead of a REAL ID.
Who can get one
U.S. citizens and permanent residents with acceptable documentation are eligible for a full-term verified license or REAL ID card; the DMV’s pages differ on other groups, so check the REAL ID page. Non-U.S. citizens must visit a DMV office for REAL ID verification, and citizens with a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship are subject to SAVE verification. A drive-only license does not qualify for a REAL ID. Currently only residents with DACA status can apply for a limited-term REAL ID in Connecticut.
- Limited-term REAL IDs are for licenses and non-driver IDs. Limited-term learner’s permits are not currently available.
- A limited-term REAL ID carries the words LIMITED-TERM next to the gold star.
- The legal status document must have at least six months remaining.
- Once someone gets a limited-term REAL ID, they cannot go back to a regular full-term credential.
How to get one
The initial REAL ID needs an in-person visit by appointment, at any DMV office or partner office such as DMV Express. Identity verification checks are done at DMV hub and branch offices and at participating AAA and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union locations. The REAL ID page and the DMV’s REAL ID document checklist list the documents to bring. Two pieces of mail from two different sources dated within 90 days prove your Connecticut address.
Source: [13]
Getting one later, and renewing
A verified license or ID card can be obtained any time before the current one expires. A duplicate fee applies (see the DMV fees page). A renewal costs the same whether or not your identity is verified. A holder of a license with the gold star need not bring extra identity documents to renew if nothing changes.
Source: [13]
At the office
Appointments
The DMV offers in-person, appointment-only services for specific transactions. A valid email and/or mobile phone number is required to create an appointment. An appointment is only valid for the selected service, and multiple transactions may need multiple appointments. The DMV conducts appointments or transactions for one person at a time. New appointments are added regularly, so check back often and check neighboring locations.
Source: [14]
Which appointment to book
Online appointments include a road test for non-commercial drivers, getting a REAL ID, and, for new residents, transferring an out-of-state license or registration. Testing is offered by appointment only at select DMV offices. The vision and knowledge tests are taken in the same appointment, vision first. The teen page lists the offices that hold learner’s permit testing:
- Bridgeport, Cheshire, Danbury, Enfield, Hamden, Norwalk, Old Saybrook, Waterbury, Wethersfield and Willimantic.
Types of offices
DMV services vary by office. Hub offices are full-service and handle all transactions. Branch offices perform a limited number of services. Express offices are non-DMV organizations, such as AAA and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union offices, that perform limited DMV transactions and offer no CDL services. At express offices, driver’s license renewals are for U.S. citizens only. Express offices charge a convenience fee per DMV transaction. New-issue ID cards are processed only at DMV offices, not at express offices.
Paying
Fees change, so see the DMV fees page for the current amounts. DMV offices accept cash, money orders, personal checks, bank checks, American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover cards, and most debit cards with a Mastercard or Visa logo. Payment methods vary by location. Checks drawn on foreign banks and third-party checks are not accepted at any location.
At your visit
Keep these points in mind:
- If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them to your appointment.
- You do not have to provide a photo to apply. The DMV takes it during the in-person appointment.
- Head coverings and dark glasses are not allowed in the photo, except for sincere religious belief or a valid medical reason.
- Hearing interpreter services need at least two weeks’ notice when you schedule the appointment.
The tests
The knowledge test
The knowledge test has 25 questions based on the Connecticut Driver’s Manuals. You need at least 20 correct answers to pass. A knowledge test must be passed before the learner’s permit is issued.
Where and how you take it
The knowledge and vision tests must be taken in person, by appointment only, at select DMV offices. The knowledge test is scheduled and prepaid through the DMV’s online service. The vision and knowledge tests are taken in the same appointment, vision first. Before the knowledge test, give the DMV the printed completion certificate of the free Work Zone Safety Course, with your other required documents.
The vision test
Applicants pass the DMV vision test, which checks sharpness of vision and peripheral (side) vision. The minimum requirement for a Class D license is 20/40 or better, with or without corrective lenses. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them to the appointment. After failing the vision test you can reschedule immediately, but you cannot go on to the knowledge test that day.
Languages and audio
The knowledge test is offered in several languages, including Arabic, English and Spanish. You can also request a hard-copy written test in more languages that the DMV lists on its test page. The DMV can provide a headset for an audio version of the knowledge test. Check the DMV test page for the current list.
If you fail the knowledge test
After failing the knowledge test, wait seven days and pay the exam fee again to reschedule. You reschedule the tests online.
Study and practice
The knowledge test is based on the information in the Connecticut Driver’s Manual. The DMV offers a free mobile app with sample knowledge test questions, and it posts practice tests (for example Practice Test Three) in English and Spanish.
Who can take the road test
The road test is the last test needed before the license. It is available after the required permit holding time, training and/or waiver. To be eligible for it you need:
- Passed vision and knowledge tests.
- The free online Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course.
- The learner’s permit for the required time. Without the permit you will not be tested.
- The required driver training.
What the road test checks
Before driving, the DMV agent checks your knowledge of common driving phrases and commands and the condition of the vehicle you use for the test. The road test evaluates, among other things:
- Adjusting the seat, mirror and seat belt.
- Response to traffic control signs, signaling, road markings and interaction with other motorists.
- Basic skills such as turns, backing up and parking, and other driving maneuvers at the direction of the license agent.
- Operation of vehicle equipment such as windshield wipers and washers, heater and defroster, parking brake, headlights and high beams, and the horn.
- Recognizing warning lights on the instrument panel (the manual says this is evaluated).
Booking and fees
Road test appointments are scheduled online. Road testing fees must be prepaid in advance. You avoid losing your prepaid test fee if you reschedule at least three days before your appointment. Bad weather may cancel road tests in some areas of the state. If your driving school offers the road test at its facility, the school advises you when you are eligible. See the DMV fees page for amounts.
What to bring to the road test
Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time and bring:
- The road test appointment confirmation page.
- A fully completed Form R-229.
- Your learner’s permit. If it is missing, a duplicate can be requested.
- A properly registered and insured vehicle appropriate for the test, and its valid motor vehicle registration certificate.
- A Connecticut insurance card, in the same name as on the registration (for a leased vehicle it may be in the name of the lessee).
- The driving school sends the driver education certificate electronically to the DMV.
Source: [9]
The test vehicle and who may be in it
A road test is not conducted if the vehicle is unsafe, and it must be rescheduled. The vehicle must follow the tinted-window rules. It must not have an ignition interlock device unless you are required by law to use one. A rental vehicle cannot be used if you do not hold a valid driver’s license. A non-licensed driver cannot drive to the test location unless accompanied by a licensed driver. No other person may be in the car for a road test, so you cannot bring an interpreter. Every applicant must understand and speak enough English to understand basic driving instructions from the DMV agent and to read the road signs.
If you fail the road test
If you fail the road test, you must reschedule online within 72 hours after the failed test. The new test must be at least two weeks (14 days) after the first one.
After you pass
Upgrade the permit to a license
You can upgrade online if you held the permit for the required time, completed the training and passed a road test. An online upgrade needs your learner’s permit number. For an in-person upgrade, bring your current learner’s permit and payment. Keep your learner’s permit until the license arrives. A teen waits 48 hours after passing the road test before going to the DMV office with the passed Road Test Evaluation Report. See the DMV fees page for the license fee.
The temporary paper credential
All Connecticut residents get a temporary paper credential in an in-person appointment. It is valid for driving, and a new Connecticut driver can use it to drive before the license arrives. TSA does not accept a temporary paper credential as a standalone identification. No temporary paper credential is issued for an address change.
Source: [16]
Your card comes by mail
Your license or ID card is mailed to you. Credentials are not delivered to a forwarding address. If it has not arrived in the time the DMV states on its Central Issuance page, contact the DMV. During the mailing period the DMV checks that the applicant is not already using a fake or stolen Social Security Number, immigration card or birth certificate.
Source: [16]
How long the license lasts
A new non-commercial license expires on your birthday. The DMV’s pages give different lengths for a new license; the renewal notice states the length of a renewed license.
Organ donors and voter registration
Registering as an organ and tissue donor is free and can be done when you get or renew a license. Applicants are offered voter registration when they apply for, renew or replace a license or ID.
Source: [1]
Keeping your license
Renewing
A license can be renewed online, in person or by mail. You can renew online on the expiration date or as early as 180 days before it expires. In-person renewal is by appointment only, from 180 days before expiry. Drivers 65 or older can request a two-year renewal. A late fee applies to renewing an expired license (see the DMV fees page).
When you cannot renew online
You cannot renew online in some cases, including:
- You are applying for a REAL ID license for the first time. Make an in-person appointment.
- You are not a U.S. citizen.
- Your license has been expired for two or more years. You need the new-license procedure.
- Your license is suspended.
- You did not get a new photo taken the last time you renewed.
Source: [17]
Renewing by mail
A person temporarily out of Connecticut or the U.S. can renew by mail, and the license is mailed to the out-of-state or out-of-country address. Active-duty U.S. military can renew by mail for free. The renewal page gives different time limits for veterans after an honorable discharge, so check it. If your last renewal was by mail or online, you must make an appointment for a new photo. The new license is mailed only to the mailing address on file. With mail forwarding you will not receive it.
Source: [17]
Changing your address
All Connecticut residents with a vehicle registration, a Connecticut driver’s license or a Connecticut non-driver ID card must update the DMV within 48 hours of any change of address. Changing the address is free. The new address label goes on the back of the license or non-driver ID.
Source: [20]
Changing your name
Name changes are by appointment only at DMV hub offices or DMV express offices. First visit the Social Security Administration to file the name change. A name change needs the Change of Name Request (Form E-78). Original documents are required. Photocopies and religious marriage certificates are not accepted.
Source: [20]
A lost, stolen or damaged license
A lost, stolen or damaged license can be replaced with a duplicate. A duplicate cannot be requested online if your name has changed since your last license. An in-person duplicate uses Form 1-B and an appointment. A duplicate by mail uses Form B-350 with payment.
Source: [21]
Health conditions and limited licenses
The DMV’s Limited Licenses Program is for people whose physical abilities have changed. A person with a mental, medical or physical condition that affects driving should contact the Driver Services Division at least four months before applying, whether a new driver or a new resident.
Source: [1]
The drive-only license
What it is
The drive-only license is designed for individuals aged 16 or older who cannot establish lawful presence in the United States. It is only valid for driving. It cannot be used as identification, for federal identification or to vote, and it does not qualify for a REAL ID. It can be used to register a motor vehicle in Connecticut. The only restriction unique to the drive-only license is that it cannot be used for identification. Connecticut’s drive-only license may be honored in other states, but check with the other state before driving in it.
Who is not eligible
U.S. citizens, documented immigrants and non-immigrants, including B1/B2, WT and WB visitors with unexpired USCIS documents, are not eligible. With an expired B-1/B-2 status you can still be eligible by proving that the status has ended. An applicant with a Connecticut felony, or who committed identity fraud at the Connecticut DMV, is not eligible. Once your status is legalized, you can apply for a regular or verified Connecticut driver’s license.
The steps
The steps are:
- Collect your documents (see Documents below).
- Study for the learner’s permit knowledge test.
- Make an online appointment for the knowledge and vision tests. Appointments are required for all tests. You pay online when you make the appointment, and no refund is given when documents are missing at the test appointment.
- When scheduling, you sign an affidavit that you have filed or will file, as soon as you are eligible, an application to legalize your immigration status.
- The learner’s permit is mailed after the tests. If there is no felony conviction, the DMV mails the permit within 30 days once all requirements are satisfied. Driving practice starts once it arrives.
- Meet the driver training requirements with the learner’s permit. They vary by age: 16-17, or 18 and older.
- Schedule your road test online.
- After you pass the road test and pay the license fee, the DMV mails the drive-only license.
Documents
You present two forms of identification, at least one from the primary list. The drive-only checklist on the DMV site is edition DI-4 Rev. 9-2018, so read the current checklist before your appointment. According to that checklist:
- A primary document is a foreign passport not expired for more than 3 years, or a valid, unexpired consular identification document from the country of citizenship.
- Secondary documents include a valid foreign national identification card (current or expired), a valid unexpired operator’s license with security features from another state or country, an original foreign birth certificate with a raised seal, and a marriage certificate issued by any U.S. state or territory.
- The drive-only law requires at least 90 days of Connecticut residency. Show it with two pieces of mail or electronic mail from two different sources; the checklist sets how old the mail must be and asks for more mail if you moved recently.
- Photocopies, notarized photocopies, non-certified copies, and damaged or mutilated documents are not acceptable.
- You must schedule the appointment online.
Source: [24]
What the DMV checks and keeps private
After the appointment is scheduled, the DMV checks for suspensions, rejected license issues, fake or fraudulent licenses or ID cards, and Connecticut felony convictions. If the DMV finds an issue with your Connecticut driving record, it tells you by email and you must resolve it before the appointment. An applicant with an outstanding immigration issue is still eligible, and the DMV does not check immigration status. The DMV says it does not give out personal information to government agencies. It adds that agencies needing the information for official functions may obtain it under exceptions to privacy laws (the DPPA and section 14-10), and the Commissioner may grant or deny each request.
The road test and young drivers
Every applicant must understand and speak enough English to understand basic driving instructions and to read road signs. No interpreter may ride along. A drive-only holder under 18 must follow the teen driving laws, such as curfews and passenger restrictions.
Source: [23]
Renewing, replacing and next steps
A drive-only license can be renewed from six months before it expires. It is renewed in person at a DMV office by appointment, not online and not at an express office such as AAA. A lost or stolen drive-only license is replaced by visiting a DMV office and paying the duplicate license fee. No temporary paper credential is issued for a drive-only permit. Once you have the drive-only license, you can apply for a motorcycle permit. See the DMV fees page for amounts. The DMV’s pages give different lengths for a new drive-only license.
The non-driver ID card
Who can get one
Residents without a valid driver’s license, or whose license is suspended, can apply for a non-driver ID. You complete an identification application (Form B-230) before the appointment. New-issue ID cards are processed only at DMV offices, not at express offices. A REAL ID-verified non-driver ID needs additional accepted identification. A blind veteran, or a person in a shelter or transitional housing, can apply for the ID for free in person. A non-driver ID card is for identification only. A Connecticut non-driver ID card must be surrendered when a learner’s permit is issued, and a license holder who wants a non-driver ID must surrender the license.
Exchanging a license, permit or ID
A Connecticut license or permit can be exchanged for a non-driver photo ID without bringing all identity documents. The exchange needs the voluntary surrender or downgrade Form P-147, and the license or permit must be unexpired or expired no longer than two years. A person who is medically unfit to drive can exchange the license for a non-driver ID at no additional cost. A Connecticut non-driver ID can be exchanged for a new learner’s permit if it is unexpired or expired no longer than two years. To exchange a non-driver ID, bring the card as your only required form of identification.
Renewing the ID
A non-driver ID can be renewed online as early as six months before it expires.
Source: [29]
Official links
- Make or change an appointment (portal.ct.gov)
- DMV fees (portal.ct.gov)
- DMV locations and office hours (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut driver’s manuals (English, Spanish and audio versions) (portal.ct.gov)
- Get a learner’s permit (portal.ct.gov)
- Get an adult learner’s permit (portal.ct.gov)
- Take the knowledge and vision tests (portal.ct.gov)
- Take the road test (portal.ct.gov)
- Teen driver’s license information (portal.ct.gov)
- Driving school requirements for teenagers (portal.ct.gov)
- Driving restrictions for teens (portal.ct.gov)
- Get a driver’s license (portal.ct.gov)
- Upgrade from a learner’s permit to a driver’s license (portal.ct.gov)
- Transfer your out-of-state license (portal.ct.gov)
- Get a REAL ID (portal.ct.gov)
- REAL ID document checklist (English PDF) (portal.ct.gov)
- Approved translators for non-English documents (portal.ct.gov)
- Central Issuance (how the license is mailed) (portal.ct.gov)
- Renew a driver’s license (portal.ct.gov)
- Request a duplicate driver’s license (portal.ct.gov)
- Make changes to a driver’s license (address, name, Under 21) (portal.ct.gov)
- Get a non-driver ID (portal.ct.gov)
- Exchange a license, non-driver ID or permit (portal.ct.gov)
- Get a drive-only license (portal.ct.gov)
- Drive-only license FAQs (portal.ct.gov)
- Renew a drive-only license (portal.ct.gov)
- Driving school locations (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course (free, linked from the DMV pages) (work-zone-safe.teachable.com)
Practice-hours log · A free log for supervised driving practice: add each session, see your total and night hours, and print it. Saved only on your device.
Ready for the knowledge test?
Practice free with questions from the Connecticut driver's manual.
Sources
- Connecticut Driver’s Manual, English, Revised March 2023 (Chapter 1: Obtaining a Connecticut Driver’s License, pp. 4-9, plus pp. 13, 30-35) (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Get a learner’s permit (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Take the knowledge and vision tests (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Teen driver’s license information (Teen Drivers Center) (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Driving school requirements for teenagers in CT (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Driving restrictions for teens (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Get an adult learner’s permit (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Upgrade from a learner’s permit to a driver’s license (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Taking the road test (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Get a driver’s license (with its FAQs and non-U.S. citizen sections) (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Transfer your out-of-state license (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- REAL ID Document Identity Verification Checklist (DI-3 REV. 6-2026), English (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Get a REAL ID (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Make or change an appointment (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- CT DMV locations & hours (overview text only; the per-office lists were not used) (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Central Issuance helps protect you from identity theft (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Renew a driver’s license (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Get a non-driver ID (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Exchange a license, non-driver ID or permit (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Make changes to a driver’s license or vehicle registration (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Request a duplicate driver’s license (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Get a drive-only license (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Drive-only license FAQs (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Drive Only Document Checklist (DI-4 Rev. 9-2018), English (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Renew a drive-only license (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- The State of Connecticut driver’s manuals (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- DMV fees (used only for the license-term column, never for amounts) (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Approved translator list (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)
- Renew a non-driver ID (portal.ct.gov) — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (portal.ct.gov/dmv)