Car Insurance Requirements For Registering A Car In Colorado
Colorado car registration applicants must obtain the mandatory vehicle insurance coverage before registering their cars. Overall, failing to purchase and maintain the necessary coverage will lead to certain fines and penalties. With that in mind, you can choose one of the following types of policies prior to registering your vehicle:
- A vehicle-only coverage with terms that are specific for the type of motor vehicle owned by a resident.
- A self-insurance package with a certificate issued by the state Commissioner of Insurance to owners of more than 24 vehicles.
- A blanket-operator policy that covers the motorist regardless of the vehicle he or she is operating.
- An owner-operator form, which is a policy that covers the full fleet of vehicles owned by an individual or a company.
A DMV agent will only process your CO auto registration request if you provide a document such as an insurance card, a copy of the insurance policy or a letter signed by the insurer. Thus, after obtaining one of the types of insurance coverages listed above, you must secure the corresponding paperwork that identifies and details your policy.
How To Renew Your Car Registration In Colorado
Valerie Johnston
In order for residents of Colorado to drive their cars legally on the roadways, they will need to be registered with the DMV. Every year, this registration will have to be renewed in order for the car to remain legal to drive. There are a number of ways that you can renew your registration in Colorado. Usually, the first notice that you will have when this registration renewal is due is the reminder that the DMV will send out. Here is what will be on the renewal notice sent out by the Colorado DMV.
- The fees that you have to pay to renew the registration
- The mailing address of the local county clerk
- The insurance requirements to renew the registration
- The emissions requirements to renew the registration
What Do You Need To Register A Car In Colorado
Lien documents, if applicable. An odometer statement. Usually recorded either on the title or bill of sale. Payment for the required fees. Visit our Car Registration in Colorado page for a complete outline on registering your newly-purchased car with the DMV. Request a duplicate OR corrected Colorado vehicle title.
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Where To Register A Vehicle
You must register your vehicle in the county where you reside. If you do not reside in Arapahoe County, see DMV locations in other counties. If you do not know what county you live in, please use our Address Lookup.
Initial registrations must be done in-person at a county motor vehicle office. At least one named owner is required to be present to register a vehicle. If the owner is not available, then someone else may register the vehicle on their behalf with a signed and notarized Power of Attorney form.
Annual renewals may be done in-person, by mail, online or using our drop-off boxes at any branch. A named owner does not need to be present to renew. We send a courtesy renewal notice in the mail to customers however, timely renewal of your registration is your responsibility.
How To Change Your Address On Your Colorado Car Registration Online
Changing your car registration address online in Colorado is the best way to provide your new address information to your county title and registration office. However, the availability of the option to update an auto registration address online varies depending on whether or not your county offers this specific service.
If you live in a county that processes CO address update on vehicle registration requests via the internet, you will generally be required to complete the following steps:
- Access the change of address service through your county website.
- Input your personal information, such as full name, email address and phone number.
- Enter your new physical and/or mailing address and your previous address.
- Provide your vehicle information, such as vehicle type, make, year and identification number.
- Enter your license plate type and number.
Note: County motor vehicle offices allow you to change your car registration address on up to three vehicles with the same online request.
After applying for an online address change on car registration in CO, your county will update your vehicle records within several days. Depending on your county of residence, you may or may not receive a new registration card displaying your new address. For example, if you update your auto registration address in Broomfield, Colorado, you will be sent a new registration card.
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Temporary Tags Or Permit
If you purchase a vehicle from a licensed dealer, they can issue you temporary tags so that you can drive until you get your CO license plates.
The tag can be extended if your plate is delayed.
During a private sale, you can possibly get a temporary permit, depending on the circumstances of the sale.
You will need:
- The title certificate or a bill of sale .
- Any other documents the seller gave you, such as an odometer disclosure.
- Proof of your car insurance.
- A form of identification, such as your CO driver’s license or and legal U.S Identification.
- Payment.
Contact the Gunnison County Motor Vehicle Office at 970-641-1602 for more information.
Note: This information is county specific. If you have any questions please check with your appropriate county.
Registration For A Recently Purchased Vehicle
It is relatively easy to register your car or truck in Colorado. With Colorado vehicle registration being valid for one year, you will only have to do this every 12 months. The initial registration must be done in person at the DMV, but subsequent registrations can be done by mail or online. Colorados vehicle registration fees are decided on the weight, taxable value, and the purchase date. The sales and ownership taxes are based on the vehicles net purchase price and the vehicles taxable worth when it was new. The best way to tell how much your specific registration fee will be is to see if there is an estimator on your county website, or just go in person to the DMV and ask.
For a Colorado car registration appointment, you will need to bring with you:
- The vehicles title or current registration certificate
- Valid form of ID
- Verification of Vehicle Identification Number
- Proof of passing an emissions test
- Proof of minimum liability insurance for the vehicle
- Enough cash to cover your registration fees
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Instances Where You Must Change Your Name On Your Colorado Car Registration
To find out how and when to change your name on car registration in Colorado, you need to learn about the instances where you may be required to update your name.
In most cases, motorists perform a car registration name change after marriage, civil union or tribal court marriage. Likewise, vehicle owners may also perform a process of changing name on car registration after a divorce or separation.
To change your name due to court order is the final instance when you may be mandated to update your name. To learn why changing your name on car registration in Colorado may prove to be beneficial, continue reading to learn about the consequences of not completing the name correction.
Persons With Disability Placards
Permanent placards are valid for three years. Temporary placards are valid for 90 days. Those caught using a placard illegally can be issued a Class B traffic violation and fined double the penalty usually assessed for that violation.
To obtain a Persons with Disability placard, you must have your doctor sign an application, and provide Secure and Verifiable Identification. Most doctors have applications in their offices.
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Register My Car In Colorado
How Do I Register My Car in Colorado?
If you are new to the State, or if you are a resident who has recently purchased a new or used car, you must register your vehicle with the State of Colorado. If your vehicle is already registered in Colorado and you need to renew your registration you can do so at your county title and registration office, or you may be able to complete your renewal by mail or online. Details regarding registering new and used purchases, out-of-state registration, and registration renewal are provided below.
In Colorado, motor vehicle registration fees are administered by individual counties. The following links will take you to motor vehicle information websites for selected Colorado counties. If your county isnt listed, you can find its website by .
New or Used Car Purchase from a Dealer:
If you are a Colorado resident and have recently purchased a new or used car from a dealer, you must title and register your vehicle within 60 days following the purchase, C.R.S. §42-3-103 .
Generally, the car dealership will provide you with all of the documents you will need to complete the title and registration process. If you financed your purchase, the dealer should send the paperwork to the motor vehicle office in the county where you reside. If you paid for your vehicle in full, you may receive documents to take to your county motor vehicle office, or the dealer may forward the documents for you. You should always confirm the process with your dealer.
Renewing The Registration In Person Or By Mail
For some Colorado residents, either going in person on using the mail system to send in their renewal fees is ideal. You will need to get the address to the local DMV if you are using the mailing option. Here is what you will need when either mailing in or going in person to renew the registration on a vehicle in Colorado.
- The registration renewal notice you received in the mail
- Proof that the car has passed the emissions test if applicable
- A copy of the insurance policy that you have on the car
- Payment for the fees that you owe
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Colorado Dmv Name Change Fees
A payment for the DMV name change fees in Colorado may be required from vehicle owners as the final step of the name update procedure.
The DMV title name change fee and the registration name change fee may vary based on whether you want to obtain a duplicate credential. As an example, a duplicate registration credential costs $4 in Boulder County.
Motorists may be mandated to pay a certain DMV name change price when they want to obtain a replacement credential immediately after updating the DMV records.
Co Registration Renewal Notice
The Colorado DMV will send you a renewal notice before your vehicle registration expires.
Your notice will include:
- The mailing address of your local county clerk.
- Proof of insurance requirements, if applicable.
- Emissions testing requirements, if applicable.
If you never received your registration renewal notice, you should contact your local Colorado county registration office.
The CO DMV allows you to renew your vehicle registration up to 1 month after the expiration month. After that, you must pay a $25 late fee for every month or any portion of a month, your registration is expired. The late fee can be up to a total of $100.
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How To Change Your Address On Your Colorado Car Registration By Phone
Finalizing the Colorado address update on vehicle registration process by phone is another convenient method of updating your vehicle records. However, the option to complete the procedure by phone is only available in a limited number of counties.
For example, if you are unable to update your vehicle registration address in Boulder County via the internet, you can call your local government representative and provide the necessary information by phone. To finalize the change by phone, you will be asked to provide several types of information, such as your name, license plate number and new and old address.
How To Register A New Car In Colorado
If you would like to know how to get a DMV registration in Colorado for a vehicle purchased from a dealership, note that the dealer will generally submit the necessary paperwork on your behalf. Before leaving the dealership, you will receive temporary tags, which will allow you to legally drive your newly-purchased vehicle until you receive your permanent paperwork. When shopping for a new motor vehicle, however, inquire whether or not this option is available from a particular auto dealership.
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How Do I Renew My Registration Online In Colorado
Online Services Governors Dashboard. https://dashboard.state.co.us/ Revenue Online . https://www. colorado .gov/revenueonline. MyBizColorado. https://mybiz. colorado .gov. Driver License and ID Card Renewal . https://mydmv. colorado .gov. Vehicle Registration Renewal . Transparency Online Project. Birth, death and other vital records.
Why Is My Vehicle Registration Fee So High Colorado
Those two fees were added by the state legislature in 2009 to fund road and bridge repair, and since then, vehicle registration fees have provided $1.3 billion in road and bridge funding. Theyre not paying more registration fees than theyre used to, said Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Matt Crane.
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Registering A Used Car In Colorado
In order to successfully register your vehicle in Colorado after purchasing it from a private party, you will have to submit the necessary items in person through a nearby motor vehicle licensing site. If you are wondering what you need to register a car, check the following list:
- A filled out Application for Title and/or Registration form
- The corresponding ownership document, such as a reassigned vehicle title or an out-of-state title and/or registration card
- An official state-issued identification document, such as a valid driving license
- Proof of vehicle insurance of an acceptable type of coverage
- Evidence of a passed emissions inspection
- A signed Verification of Vehicle Identification Number form
- An Affidavit of Non-Use of Vehicle form, if you are not planning on operating your vehicle for a longer time period
- Payment for the taxes, as well as the titling and registration fees
Your DMV agent will process your CO vehicle registration application once he or she verifies that your request is authentic and complete. Then, you will receive your registration documents in the mail. Your new title will be mailed to your recorded address within four to six weeks. Note that you will be required to complete the vehicle registration renewal process on a yearly basis.
Vehicle Registration For Military Members In Colorado
Registering a car in Colorado is not a mandatory step for military personnel who are serving temporarily in the state. Generally, active duty service members with established residency in another state can continue operating their vehicles with their out-of-state vehicle documents.
However, military members still have the option of applying for a new auto registration in CO if they wish to do so. Active duty personnel who obtain a DMV registration in Colorado will be exempted from paying the state-specific ownership tax after they submit the Nonresidence and Military Service Exemption From Specific Ownership Tax Affidavit form.
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Can I Drive A Car Without Plates If I Just Bought It Colorado
Yes, but only if you drive the vehicle directly to the first place of storage within three days of the sale. You must have the properly assigned title and proof of insurance with you. Do not use the sellers license plate on the vehicle while driving it home.
Preparing For Future Registrations
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Resident Colorado Military Personnel
If you are a Colorado resident currently serving in-state in the military, simply follow the same process outlined above for vehicle registration.
If you are stationed out of state and wish to register a purchased car in Colorado, the easiest way to do so is by calling the Colorado DMV. They will help walk you through specific steps to register your vehicle.
You may contact them at 205-5600.
Vehicle Registration For Military Members
If you are serving in the military and have been stationed in Colorado, you have two options for registering a car in Colorado. If you are only going to be here for a short period of time, you can leave your vehicle registered with your home state. If you decide to register your vehicle, simply bring a copy of your military ID, along with your current military stationing orders. You will also need to bring a copy of your current leave and earnings statement, and your VIN verification form. If you are stationed in and live in Colorado, simply follow the standard vehicle registration process.
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