How to Get a CT DMV License Replacement Appointment

To get a CT DMV license replacement appointment, use the Connecticut DMV’s online scheduling portal at portal.ct.gov and select “License and non-driver ID services” as the appointment type. Before you book, check whether you qualify to replace the license online instead. Most residents can, and skipping the office visit is faster.¹

Check First Whether You Can Skip the Appointment

The DMV lets you request a duplicate license online for a lost, stolen, or damaged card. You’ll need your driver’s license number, Social Security number, date of birth, current street address, and a credit or debit card. The fee is $30, the same as in person, and the new card arrives by mail within about 30 days.²

You cannot use the online option if any of the following apply:

Your name has changed since your last license was issued
You are not a U.S. citizen
You hold a drive-only license
You have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)

If any of those describe you, book an appointment.²

Booking Through the DMV Portal

Connecticut DMV offices are appointment-only for in-person services. You schedule through the online portal, and you’ll need a valid email address or mobile phone number to create the appointment.¹

Pick “License and non-driver ID services” as the appointment type. There is no category specifically labeled “Duplicate License,” so choosing the correct general category matters. The wrong pick can get you turned away at the counter.

The portal shows available dates and times at DMV offices statewide, including Wethersfield, Bridgeport, Hamden, and others. After you confirm, the same portal stores your appointment receipt, and the appointment search tool on that page lets you cancel or reschedule without calling.¹

AAA Branches as an Alternative

You don’t have to go to a state DMV office. Connecticut authorizes several AAA branches to handle duplicate licenses through the DMV Express program. Participating locations include Avon, Cromwell, Danbury, Enfield, Fairfield, Manchester, Norwalk, Old Saybrook, Southington, Waterford, and West Hartford.³

These branches also process name changes, renewals, and duplicate non-driver IDs.⁴ AAA appointments are booked online too. Expect a convenience fee of up to $8 on top of the $30 replacement fee.⁵ If your nearest DMV office is booked weeks out, check AAA availability.

What to Bring

Connecticut uses a two-tier document system to verify your identity. You must present at least two forms of ID, and at least one must come from the primary list.⁶

Primary documents:

U.S. passport or passport card
U.S. birth certificate (hospital-issued copies are not accepted)
Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
Permanent Resident Card

Secondary documents:

Social Security card (not laminated; must be signed if you’re 16 or older)
Connecticut or out-of-state photo driver’s license or ID
Certified marriage or civil union certificate
U.S. military ID
Certified school transcript

You don’t need to fill out an application form in advance. The duplicate license form is an internal DMV document that staff handle at the counter.⁷

What Happens at the Appointment

Check in at the front desk with your appointment details. Staff will send you to a service counter, where you hand over your identity documents and pay the $30 fee. The DMV accepts cash, money orders in the exact amount, personal checks made payable to “DMV,” bank checks, and credit cards (American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover). Most debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard logo also work.⁸

The replacement carries the same expiration date as the license it replaces.

You won’t leave with a plastic card. Connecticut prints every license at a central secure facility and mails it to your address. At the office you’ll get a temporary paper license that’s legal for driving.⁹ The permanent card arrives within about 20 business days, and you can track it through the DMV’s online card tracking tool.¹⁰

Limits on the Temporary Paper

The paper license is valid for driving in Connecticut, but the TSA does not accept temporary driver’s licenses as ID for domestic flights.¹¹ If you’re flying during the wait, bring your passport or another TSA-accepted document. This matters most if you’re replacing a stolen wallet where the passport may be gone too.

If You Also Need to Change Your Address

You cannot combine an address change with a duplicate request in one transaction. Connecticut law requires you to notify the DMV within 48 hours of any address change, and failure to do so is an infraction.¹² Process the address change online first, then request the duplicate for $30. Until your new card arrives, you can print an address label from the DMV website or pick one up at any Connecticut police department and stick it on the back of your current license or temporary paper.¹³

1
CT.gov. Make or Change DMV Appointment
2
CT.gov. Replace a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Driver’s License
3
CT.gov. Make a AAA Office Appointment
4
CT.gov. DMV Locations and Hours
5
Connecticut General Assembly. Connecticut Code Chapter 246 – Motor Vehicles
6
CT.gov. REAL ID Document Identity Verification Checklist
7
CT.gov. Department of Motor Vehicle Forms
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CT.gov. DMV Fees
9
CT.gov. DMV’s New Driver License and Process
10
CT.gov. Delivery Status
11
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
12
Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 14 Chapter 246 Section 14-45 – Change of Address or Name, Notice to Commissioner
13
CT.gov. Update a Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit, or Non-Driver ID