Originally Posted by ramonajim

Buy a car in CT, and you can't drive it away from the point of sale until you go to DMV and get a temporary tag (tag stays with the owner, not the car - unlike CA).

So the process (as I recall it from an 18 month stint in CT):

1) Hand nice seller person a wad o'cash. Take the keys. Walk away from the car.

2) Go to DMV. Hand over another wad o'cash. Take the lovely paper temp tag.

3) Go back to the car, hopefully still sitting where you left it. Tape the temp tag to the inside glass (front or rear, can't remember).

4) Go to a smog check place. Hand over another (small) wad o'cash. Hopefully pass test. If so, walk away with certificate.

5) Go back to DMV. Hand over certificate, another wad o'cash. Get your permanent tag. Swear beneath your breath as you walk outta DMV and vow to never, ever register another vehicle in CT (note - you WILL repeat this swearing every year when CT collects PROPERTY TAXES on your vehicle).

3, 4, 5 - as much as 6% in some counties: the taxes you get to pay against the value the fine state of CT assigns to your vehicle each and every year.