What to Do If You Lost Your Driver’s License in CT

If you lost your driver’s license in CT, you can order a duplicate from the Connecticut DMV for $30 online, by mail, or in person at a DMV office or authorized express location.¹ Online is the fastest route and takes about five to seven minutes if you have your license number handy. Before you pay the fee, though, take a few protective steps, because a missing license can become an identity theft problem fast.

First Steps Before You Order a Replacement

Search thoroughly. Licenses turn up in jacket pockets, glove compartments, and between couch cushions more often than people expect.

If the search comes up empty and you believe the license was stolen, file a police report. A report number isn’t required for the DMV replacement, but it creates a paper trail that matters if someone later uses your identity.

A stolen license puts you at real risk for fraud. Your license number, date of birth, and address are exactly what someone needs to open credit accounts in your name. Place a free fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion); that bureau is required to notify the other two. The initial alert lasts one year and prompts lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts. If you later confirm actual identity theft, you can upgrade to an extended fraud alert that lasts seven years.²

The FTC also recommends reporting the loss at IdentityTheft.gov, which generates an Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan.³ Contact your bank and credit card companies directly, using a phone number from your statement or their website, and ask about alerts and new login credentials.⁴ This matters especially if your license was in a wallet alongside debit cards or other documents.

How to Order a Duplicate License

The $30 fee is the same whether you apply online, by mail, or in person.¹

Online

The DMV’s online portal is the fastest option. You’ll need your full name as it appears on your current license, your date of birth, street address, license number, Social Security number, and a credit or debit card. No documents to upload, nothing to bring anywhere.¹

You cannot use the online option if your name has changed since your last license was issued, or if you are not a U.S. citizen. In either case, apply in person.¹

In Person

Schedule an appointment at a Connecticut DMV office or an authorized express location such as a AAA branch. Bring the identity, Social Security, and residency documents listed below. You’ll have a new photo taken if needed and pay the $30 fee. Express offices may add a convenience fee of up to $8.¹ You’ll leave with a temporary paper card while the permanent one is produced and mailed.⁵

By Mail

Download and complete Form B-350, “Request for a Connecticut Driver’s License/Identification Card by Mail.”⁶ Include a check or money order for $30 payable to “DMV” and drawn on a U.S. bank. Send it to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Attn: Central Issuance Operations Unit

Mail is the slowest of the three channels.

Documents You’ll Need for In-Person or Mail Applications

The Connecticut DMV requires original or certified copies. Photocopies and notarized copies won’t be accepted.⁷

For identity, bring two documents, with at least one from the primary list. Primary documents include a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport. Secondary documents include an out-of-state photo driver’s license or a Connecticut non-driver ID card. Two of the same type won’t count.⁷

For your Social Security number, bring the card itself, or a W-2 or 1099 from the current or previous tax year. If your Social Security card went missing along with your license, you can request a replacement from the SSA, which will accept a U.S. passport as proof of both identity and citizenship.⁸

For Connecticut residency, bring two documents from two different sources. Utility bills, bank or mortgage statements, and medical bills all work if they show your Connecticut address and are dated within 90 days. A current motor vehicle insurance card or policy also works, with a longer 12-month window. All residency documents must be computer-generated hard copies, not handwritten.⁷

Can You Drive While You Wait?

Connecticut law requires every driver to carry their license while operating a vehicle. If you’re pulled over without it, you can be cited for an infraction under Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-213.⁹ An infraction is the lowest-level violation in Connecticut and still means a fine. It is not the same as driving on a suspended or revoked license, which carries far steeper penalties.

The CT DMV offers a free online tool called the Connecticut Credential Verification service that confirms your license is valid.¹⁰ Pulling that up on your phone won’t legally substitute for the physical card, but it may help an officer confirm your status. If you applied in person, the temporary paper card is your best proof while you wait.

What About Flying?

The TSA requires valid photo identification at airport security checkpoints for passengers 18 and older.¹¹ A U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, or Global Entry card all work. The TSA also accepts expired licenses for up to two years past the expiration date, so an older Connecticut license in a drawer may still get you through. The temporary paper card from the DMV is not accepted.

If you have no acceptable ID, TSA’s ConfirmID program launched on February 1, 2026 and charges $45 to verify your identity at the checkpoint through an alternative process.¹² TSA recommends paying and completing ConfirmID online before heading to the airport. If the system can’t verify you, you won’t be allowed through security, so a backup form of ID is the safer bet.

When Your Replacement Arrives

However you apply, the permanent card is mailed to the address on file with the DMV, typically within 20 days.¹ You can track delivery through the CT DMV’s online portal, and if it doesn’t arrive within that window, contact the DMV directly.

The replacement carries the same expiration date as your original. Under Connecticut law, an original license can be valid for up to seven years from your next birthday, and a renewal can extend up to eight.¹³ If your license was close to expiring anyway, renewing instead of replacing gives you a fresh validity period for your money.

1
CT.gov. Request a Duplicate Driver’s License
2
Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
3
Federal Trade Commission. IdentityTheft.gov – What To Do Right Away
4
Federal Trade Commission. What To Do if Your Information Was Lost or Stolen
5
CT.gov. Get a Driver’s License
6
CT.gov. Request for a Connecticut Drivers License or Identification Card by Mail – Form B-350
7
CT.gov. REAL ID Document Identity Verification Checklist
8
SSA.gov. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
9
Justia. Connecticut Code Title 14 Chapter 248 Section 14-213 – Operation Without a License
10
CT.gov. Connecticut Credential Verification
11
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
12
Transportation Security Administration. $45 Fee Option for Air Travelers Without a REAL ID Begins February 1
13
Justia. Connecticut Code Title 14 Chapter 246 Section 14-41 – Expiration and Renewal of Operators Licenses and Identity Cards