A new depreciation schedule approved by legislators in 2022 will be applied to all vehicles and will be effective for the 10/1/2024 tax year. You can read the original law directly here. The original depreciation schedule for motor vehicles starts on page 7. The base value for all calculations is MSRP as reported by JD Power (NADA) or other sources as recommended by the State regardless of condition or mileage.
In late February of 2025, the CT legislature amended this law through Senate Bill 7067 Section 2 to allow towns, through a local ordinance, to adopt a less robust depreciation schedule than previously approved. This ordinance was adopted by Canterbury and the Grand List was finalized with the alternate depreciation schedule in late March of 2025. Doing so mitigated the estimated loss in assessment from 17% to only 8%, further allowing the mill rate to be reduced. The new valuation system will be reflected in billing as of July 2025.
Utility trailers are now exempt if used exclusively for residential purposes and if a timely reply to the Vehicle Use survey sent out by the Assessor in December of 2024 was received prior to June 30th, 2025. ATVs and snowmobiles are also exempt. The State has published a document outlining the changes for the public and that is linked below under the name " Motor Vehicle Changes for Taxpayer 7.21.25".
Commercial vehicles and/or vehicles with after-market components are calculated based on MSRP plus the cost of added components.
Whether registered or unregistered at DMV, vehicles over 20 years old that are further defined as "antique, rare or special interest" motor vehicles in accordance with the provisions of CGS Section 14-1(3) as amended, shall not be assessed more than $500. This is merely a minimum value for all vehicles, not a maximum one, therefore your assessment may calculate higher under the new depreciation schedule. To have the state-wide $500 minimum assessment apply to your vehicle automatically, an Antique license plate must be issued through DMV. For more information on that go to https://www.dmv.com/ct/connecticut/custom-vehicle-registration. If you have a different license plate type, to have a $500 assessment applied you must complete an affidavit with the Assessor annually. The Antique Vehicle Affidavit form is listed in the files shown below.
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BILLING: Motor Vehicle Bills are issued in July for vehicles registered prior to October 1st of the previous calendar year. Those vehicles registered between October and the next August are billed later in the following January. This means that you could be taxed 9 to 15 months after the car is first registered creating a situation where you may have disposed of the vehicle before the bill is even issued!
If you are in need of an adjustment due to the sale, loss or other disposal of a vehicle, please find the "required proofs of motor vehicle disposal needed for credits or refunds" document below for complete instructions on what to provide for an adjustment to your bill.
If you need an adjustment to a recent bill you have not yet paid, please provide the required documentation to the assessor PRIOR to overpaying the bill. Refunds of overpayment can take up to three months to process! Please complete form below to have a Motor Vehicle Tax refund processed and include this form with your proof of disposal.
UNREGISTERED: If a vehicle is not registered and is typically stored/used in Canterbury, the owner must declare it as Personal Property by November 1st of each year or face a steep penalty. Use form found here: Personal Property declarations
EXEMPTIONS: Active Duty Service Members and those with handicapped equipped vehicles, click BLUE RECTANGLE below for exemption applications: