The CT K-208 form is Connecticut’s official pre-sale safety inspection form that a licensed dealer must complete on any used motor vehicle before offering it for retail sale. It documents an inspection of nineteen vehicle systems, is signed by the dealer under penalty of false statement, and a copy goes to the buyer at the time of sale under Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-62(g).1FindLaw. Connecticut Code 14-62 – Order and Invoice on Sale of Motor Vehicle
What the Form Covers
The K-208 requires the dealer to inspect and record findings on nineteen items: service brakes, parking brake, tires and wheels, steering, suspension, frame and chassis, exhaust, fuel system, headlights, stop and turn lights, miscellaneous lights, wipers and washer, windshield and tint, horn, VIN verification, mirrors, seat belts, airbags, and emissions. The form itself states it “must be completed in its ENTIRETY.”2Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. K-208 Connecticut Licensed Dealer Vehicle Inspection Form
The Three Condition Options
After running through the inspection, the dealer initials one of three options on the form, labeled A, B, or C. Those options correspond to the outcomes state law allows: the vehicle passes and is roadworthy, defects were found and repaired and the vehicle is now roadworthy, or defects remain unrepaired and the vehicle is being sold “as is.”2Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. K-208 Connecticut Licensed Dealer Vehicle Inspection Form
The dealer then signs the certification. That signature is not a formality. The licensee attests to the accuracy of the information under penalty of false statement, as defined in Sections 14-110 and 53a-157b of the Connecticut General Statutes.2Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. K-208 Connecticut Licensed Dealer Vehicle Inspection Form The buyer signs and dates the form as well, acknowledging the documented condition.
Selling a Vehicle “As Is”
A vehicle with unrepaired defects can still be sold, but only with specific disclosures. If the vehicle is not covered by a warranty under Section 42-221, the dealer lists every unrepaired defect on the K-208 and marks the vehicle for “as is” sale.1FindLaw. Connecticut Code 14-62 – Order and Invoice on Sale of Motor Vehicle
The disclosures do not stop at the inspection form. The purchase order, invoice, and title documents must be prominently marked with the phrase “not in condition for legal operation on the highways” and must explain the defects. The buyer signs the purchase order, the invoice, and the K-208 to confirm they understand what they are buying.1FindLaw. Connecticut Code 14-62 – Order and Invoice on Sale of Motor Vehicle
What to Check Before You Sign
If you are buying a used car from a Connecticut dealer, the K-208 is your proof that the vehicle was inspected before it went on the lot, and the dealer is required to give you a copy at the time of sale.2Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. K-208 Connecticut Licensed Dealer Vehicle Inspection Form If you don’t receive one, ask for it before signing anything.
Look at which option the dealer initialed. Check whether any defects are noted. If the vehicle is being sold “as is,” every defect should also appear on the purchase order and invoice, and those documents should carry the “not in condition for legal operation on the highways” language. Your signature on the K-208 confirms you accept the documented condition, so read it first.
You also have the right to have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, at the dealership or at your mechanic’s shop, before you buy. Downloading a blank K-208 from the DMV site ahead of time lets you compare the completed form the dealer hands you against what the form is supposed to contain.
No Separate Inspection Charge
Dealers cannot bill buyers for the K-208 inspection itself or for repairs made to fix defects the inspection turned up.1FindLaw. Connecticut Code 14-62 – Order and Invoice on Sale of Motor Vehicle The statute prohibits an itemized line-item charge for the inspection; it does not stop dealers from building those costs into the vehicle’s retail price.
Penalties for Skipping It
A dealer who fails to perform the required safety inspection before selling a used vehicle is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.1FindLaw. Connecticut Code 14-62 – Order and Invoice on Sale of Motor Vehicle Failing to provide required documentation to the buyer can also be treated as an unfair trade practice, and a dealer who sells a vehicle with undisclosed safety defects can face civil liability if the buyer is later injured or the vehicle fails.
Where to Download Form K-208
The K-208 is available as a PDF from the Connecticut DMV’s dealer forms page.3Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Department of Motor Vehicle Forms The form is hosted directly at portal.ct.gov.2Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. K-208 Connecticut Licensed Dealer Vehicle Inspection Form Dealers should pull a fresh copy each time rather than reusing an older one, since revisions can change the required fields or the certification language.