EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 33-85224, No. 333-22283, No. 333-43323, No. 333-64539, No. 333-73255, No. 333-49276, No. 333-92258, No. 333-98743, No. 333-103966 and No. 333-119172) of CIT Group Inc. of our report dated March 4, 2005 relating to the consolidated financial statements, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP New York, New York March 7, 2005