The Connecticut DMV runs 14 offices: nine full-service hub offices and five branch offices with limited services, plus a knowledge testing center in Cheshire. In-person services are by appointment, walk-ins aren’t accepted at Cheshire, Putnam or Stamford, and no office takes walk-ins on Saturdays. For most driver’s license and ID renewals, you can also use a DMV Express office at AAA or Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. This guide lists every office, then covers appointments, licenses, REAL ID, fees and how to reach the DMV.
Connecticut DMV at a Glance
| Detail | Connecticut DMV |
|---|---|
| Offices | 9 full-service hub offices, 5 limited-service branch offices and a testing center in Cheshire |
| Appointments | Required for in-person services. Book through Make or change a DMV appointment on the CT DMV website. |
| Walk-ins | Not available at Cheshire, Putnam or Stamford, or at any office on Saturdays; expect long waits without an appointment |
| Hours | The DMV doesn’t publish fixed office hours; available times appear when you book |
| DMV Express | 11 AAA offices and 4 Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union branches handle most license and ID renewals and duplicates |
| Contact center | (860) 263-5700, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Headquarters | 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161 |
Connecticut DMV Office Locations
Full-Service Hub Offices
Hub offices handle driver’s licenses, non-driver IDs, learner’s permit knowledge tests, road tests, registrations, CDL services, dealer and titling work, and disabled parking permits.
| Office | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | 95 Sylvan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 | Full service. GPS address: 60 North Avenue |
| Danbury | 2 Lee Mac Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810 | Full service |
| Enfield | 4 Pearson Way, Enfield, CT 06082 | Full service |
| Hamden | 1985 State Street, Hamden, CT 06517 | Full service |
| Norwalk | 540 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 | All services except driver’s license road tests |
| Old Saybrook | 7 Custom Drive, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 | Full service |
| Waterbury | 2210 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury, CT 06704 | Full service |
| Wethersfield | 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161 | Full service; DMV headquarters |
| Willimantic | 1557 West Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 | Full service |
Limited-Service Branch Offices
Branch offices offer a shorter list of services, so check what each one handles before you book.
| Office | Address | What’s different |
|---|---|---|
| New Britain | 85 North Mountain Road, New Britain, CT 06053 | No learner’s permit knowledge tests; CDL renewals without hazmat only |
| Norwich | 173 Salem Turnpike, Norwich, CT 06360 | No knowledge tests or road tests; CDL renewals without hazmat only |
| Putnam | 62 Providence Pike, Putnam, CT 06260 | No walk-ins; basic license and registration services, CDL renewals without hazmat and disabled parking permits |
| Stamford | 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT 06901 | No walk-ins; no cash; renewals, learner’s permit services and CDL renewals without hazmat; no dealer or titling work |
| Winsted | 151 Torrington Road, Winsted, CT 06098 | License renewals and duplicates, non-driver IDs, registration services and disabled parking permits |
Cheshire Testing Center
The Cheshire Testing Center at 1625 Highland Avenue, Cheshire, CT 06410, gives learner’s permit knowledge tests by appointment only. It doesn’t offer motorcycle endorsement tests, CDL knowledge tests or road tests, and it doesn’t accept walk-ins.
Do You Need a DMV Appointment in Connecticut?
Yes. The DMV’s in-person services are appointment-based, including knowledge tests, road tests, license and non-driver ID services, registrations, CDL services and dealer titling. To book:
- Go to Make or change a DMV appointment on the CT DMV website.
- Choose the type of appointment you need, such as a knowledge test, road test, license service or registration.
- Follow the link for that service and pick an office and an open time.
New appointments are added regularly, so check back if nothing fits. Some offices accept walk-ins on weekdays, but expect long waits, and walk-ins aren’t available at all at Cheshire, Putnam and Stamford or anywhere on Saturdays.
DMV Express: AAA and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
DMV Express offices are run by partner organizations and handle most driver’s license and non-driver ID renewals and duplicates. You don’t need to be an AAA member, but these offices may charge a convenience fee of up to $8 per transaction, and they don’t offer CDL services.
- AAA offices: Avon, Cromwell, Danbury, Enfield, Fairfield, Manchester, Norwalk, Old Saybrook, Southington, Waterford and West Hartford
- Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union branches: Glastonbury, Hamden, Orange and Stratford
Each office books its own appointments. Our guide to AAA and DMV Express services in Connecticut explains what each one handles and how to book.
Driver’s Licenses, REAL ID and Non-Driver IDs
Renewing Your License
You can renew online, in person or, in limited cases such as military service or a temporary stay out of state, by mail. Online renewal opens 180 days before your license expires.
You can’t renew online if you don’t have a recent photo on file, are getting a REAL ID for the first time, aren’t a U.S. citizen, hold a commercial or drive-only license, have a license that’s been expired for more than two years, or have an S, V, A or F endorsement.
REAL ID
A Connecticut license or ID with a gold star is already a verified REAL ID. If you’re getting a REAL ID for the first time, you’ll need to apply in person and bring documents proving your identity, your Social Security number and your Connecticut address.
License and ID Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| License renewal, 6 years | $72 |
| License renewal, 8 years | $96 |
| License renewal, 2 years (age 65 and older) | $24 |
| New non-commercial license | $84, plus a $40 examination fee |
| Learner’s permit | $19 |
| Duplicate license | $30 |
| Late renewal of an expired license | $25 |
| Non-driver ID (new) | $28 |
| Non-driver ID renewal, 6 or 8 years | $24 or $32 |
Registering a Vehicle in Connecticut
Vehicle registrations are handled by appointment at the DMV’s offices. Hub offices handle the full range of registration and title work, while branch offices offer fewer registration services; Stamford, for example, handles registration renewals but not dealer or titling transactions. A passenger registration costs $120 and lasts three years, and new residents have 90 days to register. Our guide to registering a car in Connecticut walks through the documents, fees and steps.
CT DMV Phone Numbers and Contact Details
The DMV’s Contact Center has operators on duty Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
| Line | Phone |
|---|---|
| DMV Contact Center | (860) 263-5700 |
| Title questions | (860) 263-5710 |
| Driver’s license suspensions and payments | (860) 263-5720 |
| Insurance compliance suspensions | (860) 263-5725 |
You can also send a question through the DMV’s online contact form. The mailing address is 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161.
Payment and Holiday Closures
Accepted Payment Methods
DMV offices accept cash, money orders, personal checks, bank checks, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover and most debit cards with a Mastercard or Visa logo. The Stamford office is the exception: it doesn’t accept cash. Make checks payable to DMV; checks drawn on foreign banks and third-party checks aren’t accepted.
Holiday Closures
DMV offices are closed on Connecticut state holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, offices close on the Friday before.
Before You Go
- Check online first. Many license renewals can be done online in a few minutes.
- Book before you travel. Offices don’t publish set hours, and walk-in waits can be long.
- Know your office’s limits. Branch offices skip some services, Norwalk doesn’t give road tests, and Cheshire only gives knowledge tests.
- Bring a card to Stamford. The Stamford office doesn’t accept cash.
- Consider DMV Express. AAA and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union offices handle most license and ID renewals for a small fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
The DMV runs 14 offices: nine full-service hub offices and five limited-service branch offices. It also has a knowledge testing center in Cheshire, and DMV Express services are available at 11 AAA offices and four Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union branches.
Yes. In-person DMV services in Connecticut are offered by appointment, including license and ID services, registrations, knowledge tests and road tests.
Some offices accept walk-ins on weekdays, but you should expect long waits. Walk-ins aren’t available at the Cheshire, Putnam and Stamford locations, or at any office on Saturdays.
Yes. AAA membership isn’t required for license renewals at AAA’s DMV Express offices, but AAA and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union may charge a convenience fee of up to $8 per transaction.
A six-year renewal costs $72 and an eight-year renewal costs $96. Drivers 65 and older can choose a two-year renewal for $24, and a $25 late fee applies to expired licenses.
The DMV Contact Center is (860) 263-5700, with operators on duty Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Conclusion
Connecticut’s DMV works by appointment across its 14 offices, so book online before you go and check whether your office handles the service you need, since branch offices, Norwalk and Cheshire each have limits. Renew online when you can, use a DMV Express office at AAA or Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union for most license and ID renewals, and save hub offices for road tests, registrations and title work.
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