What to Bring to the Connecticut DMV for Your Permit Test
Don't get sent home. Here's the complete checklist — documents, fees, forms, and what to leave at home.
Before You Go
- →Book an appointment online at the CT DMV website to skip the long walk-in lines
- →Complete the DS-1 form online ahead of time to save time at the counter
- →Call ahead to confirm your specific branch's hours, as some close early on Wednesdays
- →Bring your study guide and practice tests to review while you wait
- →Make sure your parent/guardian knows exactly when you are going so they can meet you there
- →Double-check that your residency documents are dated within the last 60 days
- →Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment to check in
Required Documents
Proof of Identity (Primary Document)
- ✓Valid U.S. Passport or Passport Card
- ✓Certified U.S. Birth Certificate
- ✓Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- ✓Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- ✓Valid Foreign Passport with valid U.S. Visa and I-94
- ✓Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
Bring the original document only; photocopies are not accepted for primary identity proof. If you want a REAL ID, ensure your birth certificate is certified (has a raised seal).
Proof of Social Security Number
- ✓Social Security Card (original)
- ✓W-2 Form with full SSN
- ✓SSA-1099 Form
- ✓Non-SSA-1099 Form
- ✓Paystub with full name and SSN
Connecticut requires proof of your SSN. If you don't have a card, bring a W-2 or paystub. If you are not eligible for an SSN, you must bring a letter from the Social Security Administration stating ineligibility.
Proof of Connecticut Residency
Bring 2 of these:
- ✓Utility bill (electric, gas, water, sewer) issued within the last 60 days
- ✓Connecticut vehicle registration or title
- ✓Connecticut driver's license or ID card (for parents)
- ✓Mortgage statement or lease agreement
- ✓Bank statement with current address
- ✓School report card or transcript with current address
For a REAL ID, you generally need two different documents proving your address. Standard licenses may accept one, but bringing two is the safest bet to avoid a second trip.
Parental / Guardian Consent (applicants under 18)
- ✓Parent or legal guardian must sign the application form in person at the DMV
- ✓If the parent cannot appear, a notarized consent form (Form DS-1) may be accepted in specific cases
- ✓Legal guardians must bring court documents proving guardianship
- ✓Both parents must sign if they share custody, unless one has sole legal custody (bring court order)
If you are in foster care, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) caseworker must sign the consent. Single parents must bring proof of sole custody if the other parent is not present.
Proof of Driver's Education
- ✓Certificate of Completion from a state-approved Driver Education course
- ✓School-based driver education completion certificate
Yes, Connecticut requires all applicants under 18 to complete a state-approved 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course (often called the '8-hour course') before getting a permit. You cannot skip this.
Fees & Payment
$40
This $40 fee covers the application and the permit itself. It is non-refundable. If you fail the vision or knowledge test, there is a $40 re-examination fee to try again.
Accepted payment:
Forms
Application for Driver's License or Non-Commercial Driver's License (Form DS-1)
Available at: Download from portal.ct.gov/dmv or pick up at the DMV office
Do NOT sign the form until you are standing in front of the DMV clerk. If you sign it early, they will make you fill out a new one.
What NOT to Bring
- ✗Your cell phone (use it only for emergencies; turn it off during the test)
- ✗Large backpacks or bags (storage is limited and you may be asked to leave them in the car)
- ✗Friends or siblings (they cannot sit in the waiting area with you)
- ✗Pets (service animals only)
- ✗Food or drinks (no eating or drinking inside the testing area)
- ✗Your own pen (the DMV provides one, but you can bring a black or blue ink pen if you prefer)
- ✗Fake IDs or expired documents (they will be confiscated)
At the Office
- →The knowledge test is computer-based; you will use a touchscreen to select answers
- →You must pass a vision screening before taking the written test
- →If you fail the written test, you can retake it the same day for an additional $40 fee
- →Once you pass, you will receive an interim paper permit valid for 60 days
- →Your hard plastic permit card will arrive by mail within 2-3 weeks; do not drive without the paper interim permit
Official Connecticut DMV info: portal.ct.gov/dmv
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