Calling the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles might take a while, but the results are worth the wait. One important thing to know when you dial this number is that it's only meant to be used by people who are either in Hartford County or outside of the state. If you're in a different part of Connecticut, you will need to dial 800-842-8222 to get assistance.

You should also expect to wait a fair amount of time, as I spent 30 minutes on hold before getting connected to a customer service representative. One bit of good news is that even if your call exceeds the listed hours of availability, the system will allow you to complete your call if you called when the office was still open. I placed my call at 3:50 p.m., 10 minutes before the office was set to close for the day. I was assisted just before 4:20 p.m., well after the office was scheduled to have closed for the day. 

Through the automated system, I was able to request driver's license information, as well as inform the system that I was not currently a Connecticut resident. After holding for a half-hour, I was connected with a representative and asked how she could assist me.

I told her that I would soon be a resident of Connecticut and wanted to know how long I had to get my new license. She said it was recommended that I exchange my out-of-state driver's license within 90 days, and I should make sure it was unexpired to make the process much easier. I confirmed my license would not expire in that period, and she told me that I'd need to bring either my passport or birth certificate to establish my identity, as well as two forms of mail proving my Connecticut residency.

Without my needing to ask, she told me I would pay $124 for a new license when I obtained my Connecticut license. She then asked on her own if I intended to register my vehicle in Connecticut. When I told her I did, she asked if I leased or owned, and I confirmed that I owned my vehicle and it was a 2014 car. She said that to register my vehicle, I would need proof of an emissions test and would have to bring that and my title to get and fill out form H13B for registration.

She said the cost for registration was about $190, and I would need to make an appointment online once I had all the needed documentation. She said I should select new resident, as it would let the employee know exactly what I needed done. I thanked her, and she welcomed me to Connecticut.

Overall, I was impressed with her demeanor and the ease of assistance. She clearly knew what she was talking about, and I hardly had to ask any follow-up questions once I let her know I would be a new resident. If I needed assistance from the Connecticut DMV, I would not hesitate to call.