Purpose of this page
This page discusses transferring a mobile home’s ownership from a seller to a buyer in the great state of Connecticut. This is not intended in situations where the land the mobile home sits on is included in the sale. If the land is included in the sale please reach out to a local real estate attorney to help facilitate your closing. However if you are dealing with an individual mobile home located in a pre-existing mobile home park, on somebody’s rented land, in a lot, or somewhere else than please see the information below.
In the state of Connecticut the process to transfer a mobile home title from one owner to the next is sometime fairly simple and straightforward. Please see the steps and tips below when considering purchasing or reselling a mobile home in the state of Connecticut.
Disclaimer: This page is not intended for mobile home investors. The reason this is mentioned is because you may require extra documents and agreements if you are a mobile home investor. These extra documents would include an after closing agreement if the seller was remaining in the home for a bit after closing, personal property trust agreements, a promissory note or lien paperwork, power of attorney, and more. Below is the minimum paperwork required to successfully transfer ownership from one party to another.
Interesting Connecticut Fact: If a mobile home is older than 20 years old (from the date you are reading this) a mobile home title may not be needed to complete a sale. Call your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with the mobile home’s serial number or VIN to ask specifically about this mobile home and whether or not a Title is truly needed for this home.
Older than 20 years: No Title potentially needed. Call DMV to double-check.
Newer than 20 years: Title 100% needed.
Mobile Homes (20 years and older) in Connecticut
Step 1: Verify seller has previous or current year’s Registration (This Registration letter will have been mailed to the owner in the past. A Registration bill/letter will be mailed and paid every 2 years to the state.), and previous Bill of Sale (optional) with he/she listed as purchaser: Ask to see the Registration and Bill of Sale (optional) during your initial walk through of the mobile home. The seller may be willing to text message a picture of the Registration (must have) and Bill of Sale (optional) to you to verify information. Verify with the park manager that this seller does have the right to sell the mobile home.
Step 2: Go to your local DMV to obtain Connecticut DMV form Q-1. The form can be picked up at your local DMV or you may call your local DMV office to have the Q-1 form mailed to you. Both seller and buyer must sign the Q-1 form. The Q-1 form cannot be downloaded at home. Signing a Bill of Sale is optional. No notary is needed.
Step 3: Bring the seller’s mobile home Registration (must have), Bill of Sale (optional), and Q-1 form (must have) to your local DMV to notify the DMV of sale and that you are the new owner. Sales tax is likey needed. Only buyer(s) must be present at DMV to obtain new Registration, however it is highly-suggested that buyer and seller go to DMV together to transfer ownership and help expedite any last-minute issues that arise at the DMV. All forms should already be signed. No notary is needed.
Extra: In order to show proof-of-ownership the new owner should keep safe the Registration letter provided by the state. This Registration bill/letter will be mail to the owner every two years. However, another way to show proof is by using the Connecticut approved Title Letter form.
—-End of No title needed section.—-
Mobile Homes (20 years and newer) – Prior to your Connecticut mobile home closing
Verify seller has a Title and he/she is listed as owner: Ask to see the Title during your initial walk through of the mobile home. The seller may be willing to text message a picture of the Title to you to verify information. If inside a preexisting park, verify with the park manager that this seller does have the right to sell the mobile home.
Lost or Missing Title on a mobile home 20 years and newer? Call the local DMV office with the mobile home’s VIN or serial number. Explain the situation concerning the lost or missing title to the clerk over the phone and ask for instructions moving forward. The seller will likely need to sign and submit a Application for Replacement Title and fee to the local Motor Vehicle branch office to obtain a new title.
Check for back taxes: Contact the DMV office in the county the home is located. Call with the mobile home’s serial number or VIN to verify taxes are current. Taxes must be current prior to title transfer. If purchasing the home and the taxes are past due then you may want to deduct this amount from the purchase-price you will give to the seller. This way you can pay the back taxes at the time you transfer title in the near future.
Check for hidden liens: Contact the DMV office in the county the home is located. Call with the mobile home’s serial number or VIN to verify there are no unexpected liens you don’t know about. These liens may or may not be listed on the mobile home’s title(s) in the “Lien’s Holder’s” section of the title(s).
If inside a mobile home park aim to speak with the community manager to 1.) become park approved, 2.) verify the seller is current on all payments, 3.) ask for a copy of the park rules, 4.) ask if lot rent is increasing in the near future, and 5.) if the park manager see any needed improvements to the mobile home if/when you purchase the home?
At a Connecticut Closing with Title
Paperwork needed: Title (must have), Bill of sale (Optional – You may create this by hand or this generic Bill of Sale here.) No notary is needed. One title per mobile home; a single-wide and double-wide will have 1 title.
Pro Tip: If purchasing the mobile home perform one last walk through before closing and handing over any money. The seller wants your money just as bad as you want the property. If there are any surprise repairs needed or trash/furniture you may have to remove then adjust the price accordingly
After closing – Transferring ownership with Title
Additional form needed, only signed by purchaser: Connecticut Registration and Title Application (must have). Print and sign. Take this filled-out and signed form with you to the local DMV office. Only the buyer must sign this form. No notary is needed on this form.
Sales tax paid to the DMV is approximately 6.35%. Sales tax on the purchase price. Buyer customarily pays the sales tax and transfer fees.
Bring forms (Title, Bill of sale (optional), and Connecticut Registration and Title Application) to your local DMV office to transfer title. Only the buyer(s) must go to the DMV, however ideally buyer and seller go to the local DMV office to transfer title to help expedite any last-minute issues that arise at the local DMV office. All forms should already be signed. No notary is needed.
If you are the seller: It can be wise to go with the buyer to the local DMV office to make sure the ownership is transferred correctly so that taxes and liability are not in your name moving forward. Some buyers wait years to transfer title/ownership.
If for any reason a lien needs to be placed on the title, this will be done at the DMV office while talking with the clerk that is helping you. The clerk will want to know the name of the lienholder and their address. The new title will be sent to the lienholder’s address. The lienholders will then transfer the title to you once they are paid in full.
Taxes moving forward: The owner will receive a Registration bill/letter in the mail every 2 years, or you may go to the local tax collector to pay taxes.
If you are the buyer: Aim to transfer title ownership through the local DMV office soon after you purchase the mobile home to avoid a penalty and complications when you eventually do transfer ownership/title.
We hope that the information above has been helpful. If you notice any errors or improvements please contact us immediately at support@mobilehomeinvesting.net. As always, if you have any follow-up questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out or comment below any time. All the best.
Love what you do daily,
John Fedro
