At a county motor vehicle office in the county where you reside

To obtain this information go to the United States Postal Service website. Click on Find a Zipcode, enter your address and click on Mailing Industry Information.  In most cases, this will provide you the county name for your address.

Fees to title and register vehicles in the State of Colorado are based on the age of the vehicle, weight, taxable value, purchase date, and type of plate requested.  Estimates for registration fees are not provided over the phone. 

Some counties provide information on their website and can be accessed by going to Colorado Counties Inc. and selecting the appropriate county. Once you have accessed the appropriate county, click on Motor Vehicle and then click on fees. Counties use this equation to estimate your registration fees. Otherwise, you will need to go to your local county motor vehicle office to obtain this information.

Due to the many factors that make up the fees and that the fees are date sensitive, quotes are not provided over the phone. 

No, both you and the vehicle have to be in Colorado in order to register the vehicle.  Once you have established residency in your county take the out-of-state title or registration for the vehicle that is not more than 6 months expired, driver's license, proof of Colorado insurance, and VIN verification.  If your county requires a current Colorado emissions test, Proof of Emissions test must be included also. 

Please note that some states require you to return the vehicles license plates.  Please contact the State Motor Vehicle Department where your vehicle was previously registered and plated in order to determine their requirements.

It is recommended for the buyer and seller to have a bill of sale or a letter of gift with the date and time of the transaction.  The State Division of Motor Vehicles does not require a standard form.

Once you have established residency in your county take the out-of-state title or registration for the vehicle that is not more than 6 months expired, driver's license, proof of Colorado insurance, and VIN verification.  If your county requires a current Colorado emissions test, Proof of Emissions test must be included also. 

Please note that some states require you to return the vehicles license plates.  Please contact the State Motor Vehicle Department where your vehicle was previously registered and plated in order to determine their requirements.

County websites can be accessed by going to Colorado Counties Inc. and select the appropriate county.

The address and phone numbers are located in the blue Government pages of your phone book under your city or county name.

Go to County Motor Vehicle Address and Phone List

Any licensed Colorado auto dealer or any of the Air Care Colorado Emission stations can provide you with a VIN inspection,

Verification of Vehicle Identification Number

Check the box most appropriate to your specific situation.

Requestor Release and Affidavit of Intended Use

If you cannot get a title from the previous owner, you will need to apply for title by following the 

Title or Salvage Title Established by Surety Bond

Change of ownership requires a new passing emission certificate supplied by the seller at the time of the sale.  Additional information and requirements may be obtained from the Emissions webpage.

To determine if your vehicle requires an emission test call 303 205-5603 or go to Emissions.

For gas powered vehicles call 303-456-7090 and enter your zip code to find the closest location, or go to www.aircarecolorado.com for more information.

Diesel Powered Vehicles

Envirotest Stations DO NOT conduct diesel emissions tests.  You may get information and diesel testing facility locations from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.

• New Titles
• Duplicate Titles
• New Registrations
• New Temporary Registration Permits
• New Placards

Effective July 1, 2009 SB 09-040 Regulation of Manufactured Homes requires that certain documents related to an application for a certificate of title for a Manufactured Home be filed and recorded by the County Clerk and Recorder. The following new Manufactured Home certificates are also required to be filed and recorded by the County Clerk and Recorder:

• A Certificate of Permanent Location, which is used when the Manufactured Home is permanently affixed to the ground. Proof of ownership must be surrendered.  Future transfers of ownership will be completed by deed.

• A Certificate of Removal, which is used when the Manufactured Home is removed from its permanent location.

• A Certificate of Destruction, which is used when a Manufactured Home is destroyed, dismantled, or sold or otherwise disposed of as salvage.

• An Affidavit of Real Property, which is used to acknowledge a Manufactured Home is permanently affixed prior to July 1, 2008. It must include a statement from the County Assessor that the Manufactured Home has been valued with the land, a statement from the County Treasurer that all taxes have been paid, and a record search completed to verify that there is no active title on State records. This form is completed when no title is available for a Manufactured Home that is permanently affixed.

• A Manufactured Home Transfer of Declaration, contains information to assist the Assessor in determining the value of real property and the Manufactured Home. This form is completed by buyers/sellers concerning the sale of the Manufactured Home.

• A Certificate of Permanent Location for Manufactured Home Subject to a Long-Term Land Lease, which is used when a Manufactured Home is permanently affixed to real property subject to a long-term lease that has an express term of at least ten years.

• An In Lieu of Bond for Manufactured Home 25 Years Old or Older, which is used when an applicant applying for title is unable to provide a certificate of title or other acceptable ownership documents and the Manufactured Home is 25 years old or older.  

• An Assignment of Manufactured Home I.D. Number, which is used when there is no identifying number on the Manufactured Home, or if the identification number has been destroyed, obliterated, or mutilated.

• These forms are available at http://dola.colorado.gov/dpt/forms/index.htm

The State of Colorado titles and registers ALL trailers. Title applications for trailers have the same requirements as applications for other vehicles. 

Trailer MSOs that are not on secure paper are not acceptable with the following two exceptions:

1.  Trailer MSOs from any person who only manufactures trailers that weigh less than two thousand pounds and does not manufacture any other type of motor vehicle.

and/or

2.  Trailer MSOs from any person, other than a manufacturer operating a dealership (or as a dealer) pursuant to section 12-6-120.5, who is a licensed dealer selling motor vehicles that such person has manufactured.

Currently the counties of Alamosa, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Chaffee, Delta, Douglas, Gilpin, Grand, Huerfano, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Otero, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Saguache, Teller, Washington, Weld and Yuma accept Master Card, Visa and American Express as a payment option when titling and registering a vehicle.  Additional counties may be added at later dates.  Please contact your County Motor Vehicle office for updated information.   

A separate lien release may be used or the lien can be signed off by the lien holder on the front of the title.  The lien release must be on the lien holder's letterhead  (letterhead is not required if lien holder is an individual) signed under penalty of perjury in the second degree as defined in C.R.S. 18-8-503, and must include the vehicle year, make, VIN, title owner's name(s), agent's signature and date of the lien release.  

Yes, if more than one lien is to be omitted from a duplicate title submit a duplicate title application to your local county motor vehicle office, including an approved separate lien release for each lien filed, signed under penalty of perjury. Upon approval of the duplicate title application, the title will be mailed to you.