CT Owners - Proposed Bill No. 5650: REGISTRATION OF COMPOSITE MOTOR VEHICLES

[Badfish]

Going on 5+ years of fighting for my right, and 4+ years without my car. I wanted to share the latest proposed bill regarding composite vehicle registration. Proposed Bill No. 5650

I highly suggest CT residents understand their potential exposure on composite motor vehicle assessment and taxes. Based on forum member feedback in prior threads (see autosig), this abusive behavior appears to be isolated to the all-star assessors in Middletown, but you could be next!

Some potential positive news, our exposure may be less starting with the October 2024 assessments, due to changes in the assessment process. Years prior, it was based on market value. Therefore, assessors could pick & choose values for our vehicles, hence the massive increases I experienced in 2019/2020. Starting Oct 2024, vehicles are assessed based on MSRP (FFR sales order) and a depreciation schedule. So a 2004 Composite Cobra "should" have a very low assessment value after 20 years.

Either way, proposed bill 5650 seeks for composite vehicles to be registered as an antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle, and therefore eligible for classic plates. This designation allows the vehicle to be eligible for classic plates and assessed at a value of $500.

Although it would be great if the bill was passed as is, I suspect there will be push-back on not aligning with the 20-year old mark. I plan to submit written & verbal testimony supporting the bill, noting the need to align with the current statutes that composite vehicles, like other motor vehicles, are deemed 'antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles, including antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles that have been modified’, when 20-years or older. Composite vehicles are registered, insured, taxed like any other motor vehicle in CT, and therefore should not be discriminated against for classic plate eligibility when 20 years or older.

Please consider supporting with written and verbal testimony, and encourage all CT owners to call their reps & senators in support of this bill.

[Tbev]

Jay,
This bill only covers cars registered as "composite" and not "replica"? I was able to register mine as a replica but they would not give me the antique plates.
Tony

[Badfish]

Hey Tony - I can’t recall the details on how you got ‘replica’, but to my knowledge, our cars continue to be deemed ‘composite’ by CT DMV.

I can’t recall / not sure DMV’s position on replica vehicles being deemed ‘antique, rare, special interest , etc. (when 20 years old). I think I did raise to DMV legal that FFR is now has the replica certification, but they weren’t interested acknowledging that a 20-year old replica is eligible either.

If you decide to submit testimony, it’s worth suggesting that replica is added to the bill. Thanks!

[ProfessorB]

Good Luck Jay. As a former resident of the Nutmeg state, I can't say I miss the taxes and fees on everything. (I DO miss the deer hunting)