Compliance Alert: Issues with extended vehicle registrations

MTAC members are aware that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued three separate extensions of expiring credentials, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This message is to emphasize that these extensions are separate from each other. They are:

• A 180 day extension for credentials that expired between March 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020.
• A 90 day extension for credentials that expired between July 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020.
• A 90 day extension for credentials expiring between August 1 and September 30.

Registrations that were extended in the first window were NOT then extended again by one of the subsequent extensions. For example, if a truck registration expired on March 15, the new expiration date was 180 days from that point (September 11, 2020). It was NOT then extended another 90 days because the new date fell between August 1 and September 30.

There is growing concern that carriers are all waiting until the absolute end of applicable extensions to complete the renewal process. To that point, MTAC was informed that during the first full week when DMV made appointments available for carriers to go to DMV to complete IRP transactions, there were only two appointments made.

MTAC wishes to respectfully reiterate a message we have been sharing consistently for a few months: Do not wait! Registrations that are renewed after the expiration date of any applicable extension may face late fees. Additionally, carriers probably would not want to go through a weigh station, or be pulled over for a roadside inspection, while operating on a registration that is expired after having received an extension.

Finally, as a friendly reminder, MTAC members should be aware that they will not be able to make any changes to their fleet (for example, vehicle additions) until they have paid for the registrations of the vehicles that had their registrations extended.

To make an appointment to go to DMV and complete IRP transactions (Add/Delete a Vehicle; Change Carrier; Weight Increase; Return Plate), call the IRP unit directly at (860) 263-5281.

Appointments to go to DMV to conduct transactions for non-IRP registrations, and other credentials, can be made online at Connecticut’s DMV web portal.