Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 14 — · Chapter 247 — Uniform Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title and Antitheft Act
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-176 (2025)

Withholding of certificate. Bond requirement

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If the commissioner is not satisfied as to the ownership of the vehicle or that there are no undisclosed security interests in it, the commissioner may register the vehicle but shall either: (1) Withhold issuance of a certificate of title until the applicant presents documents reasonably sufficient to satisfy the commissioner as to the applicant's ownership of the vehicle and that there are no undisclosed security interests in it; or (2) as a condition of issuing a certificate of title, require the applicant to file with the commissioner a bond in the form prescribed by the commissioner and executed by the applicant, and either accompanied by the deposit of cash with the commissioner or also executed by a person authorized to conduct a surety business in this state. The bond shall be in an amount equal to twice the value of the vehicle as determined by the commissioner and conditioned to indemnify any prior owner and lienholder and any subsequent purchaser of the vehicle or person acquiring any security interest in it, and their respective successors in interest, against any expense, loss or damage, including reasonable attorney's fees, by reason of the issuance of the certificate of title of the vehicle or on account of any defect in or undisclosed security interest upon the right, title and interest of the applicant in and to the vehicle. Any such interested person has a right of action to recover on the bond for any breach of its conditions, but the aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall not exceed the amount of the bond. The bond, and any deposit accompanying it, shall be returned at the end of five years or prior thereto if the vehicle is no longer registered in this state and the currently valid certificate of title is surrendered to the commissioner, unless the commissioner has been notified of the pendency of an action to recover on the bond.

(1957, P.A. 607, S. 12; P.A. 02-70, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 02-70 made technical changes, increased the bond amount to twice the value of the vehicle, in lieu of one and one-half times such value, and required that the bond and any deposit accompanying it be returned at end of five years, in lieu of three years, effective July 1, 2002.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2002–2016 · leading case: Ames v. Comm'r, 839 A.2d 1250 (Conn. 2004).
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Ames v. Comm'r, 839 A.2d 1250 (Conn. 2004). · cites it 13× “Finally, the Appellate Court relied on the fact that a similar statute, namely, General Statutes § 14-176, 7 which provides that a person seeking to obtain a certificate of title to a motor vehicle may be required to furnish a surety bond when title is in question, expressly…”
Tomick v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 153 A.3d 615 (Conn. 2016). · cites it 3× “2d 1250 (rejecting plaintiff's reliance on General Statutes § 14-176 because, inter alia, "it is reasonable to presume that the legislature considered attorney's fees to be an 'expense' within the meaning of § 14-176, rather than a component of any 'loss' or 'damage,' because…”
Ames v. Comm'r of Motor Vehs., 802 A.2d 126 (Conn. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 6× “General Statutes § 14-176 further provides in relevant part that “[t]he bond shall be in an amount equal to one and one-half times the value of the vehicle .”
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