[WillNY]

My family and I - currently car-less - plan to move from Manhattan to Connecticut in a couple of weeks. We will need a car basically from Day 1 once we move to CT. My driver's license is currently issued by NYS.

I could buy a car in NY shortly before the move, with the car registration and insurance done in NY, based on my current NY address, and then switch everything over to CT once I make the move. However, I am wondering if there is a more streamlined approach, such as buying the car from a CT dealer (as an out-of-state buyer), just before the move, using an "in-transit registration" in CT, and then formally register the car in CT once I make the move. That would save me the step of registering the car in NY, but I don't know if this approach would fly with the CT DMV. In any case, I imagine that I am not the first person to have encountered this challenge. Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has dealt with similar issues, including on any other approach that I might have missed. Thanks.

[Tubulus]

Surprisingly the CT DMV was pretty helpful over the phone with advice on co-ordinating a move. I would just call them. You could also try to establish CT residency before your actual move (maybe your closing/lease signing is before the move?).

[Roadkill95]

Originally Posted by WillNY

My family and I - currently car-less - plan to move from Manhattan to Connecticut in a couple of weeks. We will need a car basically from Day 1 once we move to CT. My driver's license is currently issued by NYS.

I could buy a car in NY shortly before the move, with the car registration and insurance done in NY, based on my current NY address, and then switch everything over to CT once I make the move. However, I am wondering if there is a more streamlined approach, such as buying the car from a CT dealer (as an out-of-state buyer), just before the move, using an "in-transit registration" in CT, and then formally register the car in CT once I make the move. That would save me the step of registering the car in NY, but I don't know if this approach would fly with the CT DMV. In any case, I imagine that I am not the first person to have encountered this challenge. Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has dealt with similar issues, including on any other approach that I might have missed. Thanks.

If you have the address where you are moving to in a couple weeks I would just say I just moved there and register it in CT, why jump through hoops and pay all of the extra money. If you buy a car from a dealer they will do it all for you. Remember to change you license over to CT not sure what that entails, but I think it has to be done within 30 -90 days

[WillNY]

Thank you both for your helpful advice.

I have spoken to both the CT DMV and a car dealer in CT. The person that I spoke to at the DMV at first thought that my idea of buying a car in CT using an "in-transit" registration might work, but upon further probing, she had to consult others internally. After holding for 15 min., I was told that in fact such approach would not fly. She actually suggested that I buy the car in NY first and then switch the registration over to CT after my move, which I thought was not the best approach for my situation. The dealer I spoke to had no particular advice other than to refer me to the DMV, but he did think that he cannot sell me a CT-registered car unless I had a CT license.

What I have settled on is to make the move to CT first and apply, as you have suggested, as soon as my lease is signed, for a CT driver's license. As soon as I have my license - hopefully the turn-around time is short - I will buy the car from a CT dealer. I will simply have to rent a car to tide me over until I get to buy my own.

Thanks again and, despite the hassles over car registration, I am looking forward to living in CT.

[movingtowestchester]

thanks for this info, i am about to make the same move. did you research whether it was cheaper to purchase a car in nyc or connecticut (car price, registration, taxes)?