What Do I Need To Register My Car In Colorado

How To Get A Colorado License At The Dmv

If you are applying for a Colorado license at your nearest DMV branch, you will need to gather:

• Your valid out-of-state license and, if that license does not spell out your middle name, a birth certificate or passport
• Your parent or guardian, if you are under 18 They will need to sign an Affidavit of Liability in front of a DMV employee
• Your social security card or, if you dont have that, a pay stub or tax form that has your social security number on it
• Two items that offer proof of your Colorado-address These can be bills, bank statements, mortgage or rental documents, or a transcript from a local university

Check out the complete checklist of documents youll need.

Certified Original State Or County

You will need to present your certified, original state or county-issued birth certificate in order to establish lawful presence in the U.S. If your name has changed, be advised that you will also need to provide a valid name change document, such as a marriage or divorce certificate. You are allowed to present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport to show your full, current legal name.

If you are under the age of 21, you will need an Affidavit of Identity to be signed by your parent or legal guardian in front of a Colorado drivers license employee or notary if you do not have any identification documents. An Affidavit of Liability or Guardianship is also required if you are transferring your drivers license. You will also need to present:

• Your social security card or other proof of your social security number

• Two proofs of current physical CO address documentation

• Payment for all applicable CO fees

How To Register A Car In Colorado As A New Resident

If you are wondering how to register a vehicle in Colorado as a new state resident, note that you will be required to follow all of the steps outlined in previous sections. Furthermore, when applying for a DMV registration for an out-of-state vehicle, you will need to complete additional steps, such as submitting your car to a physical examination of its working status and VIN.

Then, you will have to make a visit to a motor vehicle office in your residential country to fill out the corresponding application form, surrender your out-of-state paperwork and pay the applicable fees.

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Completing And Submitting The Application Form

Effective January 1 2022

Colorado law will no longer allow most vehicle owners to transfer license plates to another vehicle, or keep their current license plate sequence on newly purchased vehicles without paying an additional fee. The License Plate Expiration On Change Of Ownership Act will improve safety for first responders and motorists by ensuring that drivers have reflective and legible license plates.

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How To Register A Car In Colorado

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Whether you’ve lived in Colorado all your life or you recently moved there from a different location, you must register all of your vehicles with the government. Once you’re a legal resident of Colorado, you have 90 days to register your car. Gather all of the necessary documents in advance so you can turn your application in on time. Depending on your preference, you can fill out the application at the DMV or through a third-party company for a small fee.

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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Registering A Vehicle In Colorado

If you are wondering how to register a car in Colorado, note that you will be required to submit your request in person through a CO DMV office in your residential county. Note that you will complete the vehicle registration process simultaneously with the titling procedure, in most cases. Depending on your circumstances, however, you may have to follow slightly different steps. For example, when purchasing a new vehicle from a dealership, you may not be required to submit the registration request to the state DMV.

Vehicles Purchased Or Transferred From A Private Party

To register a vehicle purchased or gifted from an individual other than a dealer, visit your county’s local Division of Motor Vehiclesregistration office with:

• Vehicle identification number verification , if your vehicle was titled in another state.
• This must be completed by a law enforcement officer, a licensed car dealer, or a licensed CO emissions testing station agent.

Colorado registration certificates are valid for 12 months.

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What Will I Need To Bring With Me To Register A Vehicle In Colorado

When you go to register a car in Colorado, youll need to be prepared ahead of time. Make note of the following forms and documents youll have to bring with you. If you are in the process of moving, setting these documents aside rather than packing them might make sense, depending on what your situation is.

Although you have 90 days from becoming a resident to register your vehicle, in the process of a move, that time can go quickly! So, if theres any chance that you wont be completely unpacked and settled in within that time period, keeping those documents with you or packing them in a soon to be opened box will probably save you some time and frustration of digging through your belongings haphazardly.

Here is what you will need to bring with you to the DMV office:

How To Register Your Car In Colorado

If your car is titled in another state, you will need to move your registration to Colorado within a month of establishing residency. First, you will need to convert your title to a Colorado title. To do that, you need a Verification of Vehicle Identification Number form completed by either a police officer, a licensed Colorado car dealership, or a licensed Colorado emissions testing station.

When you arrive at your countys motor vehicle office, you will need proof of emissions testing , youll need your converted-to-Colorado title, youll need proof of car insurance, and youll need a credit card or cash to pay the title and registration fee. If there are no liens against your car, youll receive your title in the mail in 4-6 weeks. If there are liens, the title will be mailed to the lienholder.

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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.

When To Register A Vehicle

All residents must register their vehicles within 60 days of purchase, and/or within 90 days after becoming a resident of Colorado.

If you have financed a vehicle through a lender/bank or dealership, please allow up to 60 days after purchase before coming in to register the vehicle. This time is required for the dealer and the County to process your title documents. We will send a courtesy Title Complete postcard when your vehicle can be registered. Please contact us at 303-795-4500 if you have not received the Title Complete Card within 55 days.

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Your Car Is Registered Now What Lower Your Payments

Now that you feel the stress and confusion of vehicle registration vanishing, its time to take a look on how to improve another aspect of your car-ownership experience: your loan. This is whereWithClutch.com comes into play.

More than likely, if you received your vehicle loan from a dealership, you are drastically overpaying on your loan. We live in a time of greedy car dealerships which has caused the car loan market to be inefficient. This market inefficiency is due to the fact that most vehicle owners pay more for their loan than they were qualified for.

Most people can save money by refinancing their loan from the comfort of their home. Most people maybe you, which is why you shouldnt waste any more time or money andfollow these simple steps.

Vehicle Inspection/smog Inspection/vin Inspection Requirements In Colorado

When registering your vehicle in Colorado, you may be required to submit it to certain types of inspections. For example, if you need to apply for a car registration for an out-of-state motor vehicle, your vehicle will first have to pass a VIN inspection conducted by a law enforcement official, emissions station or a vehicle dealer. In such cases, your vehicle will be physically inspected to check whether or not it displays a valid VIN and whether or not it meets the state safety standards.

Prior to issuing a new vehicle registration in CO, the state DMV may also require you to submit your car to an emissions inspection. Note that these requirements may vary depending on the type and age of the vehicle you are registering, as well as your county of residence. For instance, gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles older than seven model years will most likely require an emissions inspection on a biennial basis.

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I Just Moved To Colorado How Do I Transfer My Driver’s License And Vehicle Registration

Welcome to the Centennial state! As a new resident of Colorado, there are a few tasks you are responsible for completing, such as transferring your out-of-state drivers license and out-of-state vehicle registration. Here are the steps you need to take to get your out-of-state documents transferred correctly.

Smog And Emission Testing

Emissions Tests

Emission tests, also known as smog tests, were put in place to improve air quality throughout Colorado. AIR Care Colorado was implemented to help preserve the natural beauty of the state and reduce high air levels for health-related issues. One inspection every two years is the standard for vehicles older than seven model years, as well as those from 1982 or newer. Annual inspections are required for vehicles from model year 1981 and older. Each time the vehicle ownership changes, the state requires an emissions inspection.

Vehicles that are exempt from emissions testing

• Those less than 7 years old

• Collector vehicles from 1975 or older

• Farm vehicle, horseless carriage, street rod, kit car, or motorcycle

If an emissions test is required for your car, you can find locations for inspection facilities on theAir Care Colorado site, with real-time estimates for expected waits. Due to COVID-19, all open stations are currently very busy, masks are required, and only one person is allowed to be in the vehicle during the inspection. When headed to your inspection, all you need to bring is your vehicle and registration renewal card.

Hours of operation:

Monday thru Friday 8 – 5:30PM

Saturday 8 – 1PM

Those currently open as of July 24, 2020:

Inspection Fees:

• VIN Verification: $20

If your vehicle passes the inspection the information will be updated in the system.

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How To Calculate And Understand Fees And Taxes For Car Registration In Colorado

Curious about what the fee will be for your first-time vehicle registration? In order to find the registration fee estimator, go to the Colorado DMV site and click the Vehicle Services button. Once clicked, it should populate a new page where you will find a link labeled Estimate registration fees under the Registration section. Using information based on your vehicle type, class, year, weight, and date of purchase, it will calculate what the registration fee should be.

For a breakdown of the motor vehicle registration fees, the Colorado DMV put together a sheet with the fee amounts and where the money goes. Extra fees may arise based on individual situations, for example, an additional $50 is required if you have a specialty plate.

A portion of the registration fee is something called the Specific Ownership Tax . SOTs are based on where the vehicle was manufactured and the original taxable value. This value is determined when the vehicle is new and will not change over the lifespan of the vehicle. You can see what your SOT is on the back of your registration receipt.

Another fee is the Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation Economic Recovery in which money is collected one out of every five years of registration for the Road Safety, as well as, the Bridge Safety bills. For example, the Road Safety Surcharge is $16 and the Bridge Safety Surcharge is $13.00. The fee changes depending on the vehicle type and the surcharge associated with it.

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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.