Crashes, insurance and registration in Connecticut

By the end of this topic you can

• You can follow the legal steps at a crash scene in Connecticut.
• You can list the details you must exchange with other drivers.
• You can state Connecticut's minimum liability insurance amounts.
• You can explain what happens if insurance on a registered car lapses.

What you need to know and understand

• If you are involved in a crash, you must stop at once and give any help needed.
• You must give your name, address, license number and registration number to the other people involved or to an officer.
• Police must be notified when anyone is hurt or killed, and leaving such a scene before police have your information is a crime.
• The minimum liability insurance is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash is also required.
• Insurance must stay in force for as long as a vehicle is registered.
• New residents have 90 days to transfer an out-of-state registration.

At the scene: step by step

1. Stop. Turn on hazard lights and make the scene as safe as you can.
2. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Do not move injured people unless they are in immediate danger, such as from fire.
3. If it was a property-damage-only crash on a limited-access highway, move the cars off the travel lanes if you safely can.
4. Exchange names, addresses, license numbers, vehicle details and insurance information.
5. If you cannot give your details to the people involved, report to a police officer or the nearest police station right away.
6. If you hit a parked car and cannot find the owner, leave a note with your name, contact details, date and time.

First aid basics from the manual

• Press firmly on a bleeding wound with a clean cloth.
• Keep an injured person warm and still.
• Do not give an injured person anything to drink.

Insurance you must carry

Any car registered in Connecticut must have at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash in bodily injury liability, $25,000 in property damage liability, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash. The state warns that these minimums may not fully protect you, so many drivers choose more.

Insurers tell the DMV when a policy is cancelled. The DMV then sends a warning notice. If you do not respond with proof of insurance, the registration is suspended, and the car may not be driven on public roads.

Registration in brief

Registration is handled by the Connecticut DMV. Keep the registration certificate and your Connecticut insurance card in the car; you will need both for the road test too. If you move to Connecticut, transfer your registration within 90 days of becoming a resident.

Common mistakes

• Driving away from a minor bump without swapping details. That can count as evading responsibility.
• Arguing about fault at the scene. Stick to facts and let insurers and courts decide.
• Letting insurance lapse on a car you are not using while it is still registered.
• Moving an injured person who is not in danger.

Test yourself: Crashes, insurance and registration in Connecticut

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Connecticut 8 Hour Safe Driving Practices Course
• CT Permit Test
• Connecticut Home Training and the 2 Hour Parent Class