Successful Internet Vehicle Registration Program In Conn.

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the Department of Motor Vehicles' new internet registration renewal program is getting a strong and positive response from vehicle owners throughout the state.  
During its first eight days of operation, 1,050 Connecticut residents registered their vehicles by using the DMV's electronic renewal system. In addition, the number of vehicle owners using the system has steadily grown. The new program began on July 14th with 58 transactions and climbed to 187 by July 17th. In the program's second week, the average electronic transactions averaged 125 per day.

"I am pleased with the early response to our online registration system," Governor Rell said. "The growing numbers each day indicate that as people plan to renew their vehicle registrations, many are choosing the Internet system. This is a great example of how technology can be employed to improve convenience and customer service in our state agencies."  

Prior to the start of the program, the DMV mailed nearly 32,000 notices to vehicle owners advising them that they were eligible to use the new system. The new service is available now only to vehicle owners who have passenger registrations without any delinquent property taxes or parking tickets. The owners must also have the state-required insurance coverage and emissions test for their vehicles. Those with suspended registrations will not be renewed.

DMV reports that customers are finding the system easy to use. The early data indicates that while the usage numbers have been increasing, the agency has not received any major complaints about accessing the program or reports of people having trouble using it.

"This is a good first-step for DMV to bring online transactions into the homes of Connecticut citizens statewide," Governor Rell said. "The first two weeks of the program demonstrate that the online renewal is simple and easy to use."

Customers who register online are provided with an online receipt. However, the renewal will not be final until the customer receives the new registration certificate and windshield sticker. Those items will be mailed after DMV processes the information and confirms there are no problems. To allow time for mailing by the expiration date, customers should initiate the transaction shortly after receiving their renewal notice and at least ten days prior to expiration.
 
The service could be expanded after an evaluation by DMV to include other DMV transactions. The system was designed by DMV and staff from the Department of Information Technology.