Colorado is a title issuing state; therefore, a title is required to transfer ownership on all motor vehicles, including motorcycles and trailers. When a vehicle is purchased from a private party who has a Colorado title, the following is required from the seller:

• The title that has been properly signed by all selling parties with notarization of the signatures, is required. New Colorado titles do not require a notary. Older titles may require a notary; however, statement of transfer (DR2445) will be accepted in lieu of notarization. This form is only acceptable with Colorado titles.
• A Bill of Sale is required to verify the purchase price. It must be notarized or contain a perjury statement. (Also acceptable is the "purchase price" area of the title to be completed.)
• If the vehicle is less that 10 years old and weighs 10,000 pounds or less, an odometer statement must be completed on the title or on a 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale.
• Collection of sales tax is a prerequisite to titling and is based on the purchase price of the vehicle. A bill of sale may be required, depending on your situation, and must either be notarized or include a perjury clause.
• Vehicle Identification Verification is required on out of state title documents surrendered. Form DR2395 must be completed by a Colorado Dealer, Emission Station or a Law Enforcement Officer.

If you are purchasing a new or used vehicle from a Colorado dealer, the dealer will provide the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin or Title, a DR2395, Application for Title and a DR24, Sales Tax Receipt. If the vehicle you purchased has an out of state title, dealers are required to complete and provide a DR2395, VIN verification form and a dealers affidavit. Please bring in all paper work received from the dealer and proof of insurance. (See insurance requirements.)

The Colorado title should be presented to the County Clerk of the county in which you reside for transfer to your name within 30 days of purchase. There is no penalty to title only, after 30 days. The processing of the title may take approximately four to six weeks when processed through the state. If an application is error free, consideration may be given to print the title for the customer at the county level WITH proper proof of identification and fees.

Date of purchase determines the amount of ownership tax to be collected. This may be an additional amount if the vehicle is purchased in one month and licensed in another month.

If you have purchased a vehicle that has an out of state title from an out of state dealer, the following is required:

1. An out of state title or manufacturer's statement of origin, properly executed, with seller and buyer signatures, odometer reading and notarized, if applicable.
2. Bill of Sale or Purchase Agreement, proving purchase price and trade in, if any. The amount of sales tax paid. Sales tax receipt, provided by dealership or motor vehicle department, showing the amount of sales tax paid and collected.
3. VIN inspection completed by a Colorado law enforcement agency.
4. Odometer reading (vehicle less than 10 years old) completed on conforming title, may have to submit separate secure odometer statement.
5. Proof of insurance.
6. A weight slip may be requested if the empty weight of your vehicle is questionable or does not appear on your documentation or cannot be located on our computer system or in a blue book.
7. If the vehicle you purchased is encumbered by a lien, a DR2395, Application for a Colorado Title (available by request) must be completed. A Lien Agreement must be surrendered, an original, carbon copy or certified copy are acceptable for filing (please refer to Titling a vehicle and Filling a Lien for application fees). Lien form may be obtained from this office for $0.25.

If you purchase a vehicle from an individual, with an out of state title, the following is required:

1. Title, properly executed.
2. Bill of Sale, Proving Purchase Price.
3. Sales tax receipt, if paid to motor vehicle agency.
4. VIN inspection.
5. Odometer Statement, if title is non-compliant.
6. Proof of Insurance.
7. Weight Slip (If weight is questionable), see 7 above.
8. If Lien is to be filed, see 8 above.

If vehicle is located out of state and you are declaring part-time residency, the following exceptions may apply:

1. The Colorado VIN Inspection Form (DR2395) can be completed by an out of state law enforcement agency or military police.
2. A part-time resident form must be completed declaring that you are either a part-time resident, in the military or a student in another state (forms are available upon request and can be sent or faxed). Originals must be submitted with title application.

Circumstances can vary in the purchase of a vehicle from out of state: therefore, it is advisable to call if you have additional questions concerning the titling and registration of your vehicle.

If you have purchased a vehicle which is being financed by either a dealer, financial institution or individual, please verify the correct address to be placed on the paperwork and the correct county for the paperwork to be filed in. When the title work is received by our office, and can be entered onto our computer system, a post card is generated and sent to the customer. Upon receiving the "title complete card," a quote of costs involved in licensing the vehicle can be given over the phone or in the office.

If an individual is financing your vehicle, the title must be properly executed, along with a DR2395, application for title completed with lien information. Also a chattel mortgage (copies available for $0.25 in our office) completed with all applicable areas and signature of borrowers.

If you plan to do your transaction in the Cañon City or Penrose office, bring the "title complete card," proof of insurance and secure and verifiable ID (see Secure and Verifiable Idenficiation section below for more information). If you are transferring plates, bring in your current registration and license plates from a previously owned vehicle to apply any credit that may be transferable.

If you cannot come in and purchase your license plates yourself, you may complete a DR2175 Power of Attorney to appoint someone else to purchase license plates for you.

Fees are based on the type of transaction being done for obtaining new plates, transferring plates, receiving credit from a different type of plate or receiving a specialized plate. (Fees can vary.)

In 1997, HB1209 was enacted. This required the State of Colorado to contract with a provider to develop and maintain a database of insured vehicles. Any insurance company that writes vehicle liability policies in Colorado is required to report new policyholders and cancelled policies at least monthly to the provider.

In 1998, HB1213 was enacted. This law, effective July 1999, requires the County Clerk and Recorder Offices to deny vehicle registrations for all passenger, motor home, bus and motorcycle vehicles that do not have proof of insurance when registering these vehicles.

These two laws were enacted to ensure that Colorado motorists comply with mandatory auto insurance laws. The intent of the law is to reduce the rising number of uninsured drivers and vehicles in Colorado. Accepted forms of proof of insurance are:

• A letter from your insurance agent or insurer on company letterhead verifying insurance coverage.
• The declaration page from the insurance policy.
• An insurance binder or policy.
• An insurance card for your vehicle.

Any of the above mentioned forms of proof of insurance must include:

• The effective dates of coverage.
• The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
• The make & year of the vehicle.
• The date of expiration.

Minimum coverage required for compliance is:

• $25,000 legal liability for bodily injury or death to any one person in any one accident.
• $25,000 legal liability coverage for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident.
• $15,000 property damage.
• $50,000 medical and $50,000 rehabilitation.

Valid insurance card on vehicle that was sold or traded in on new purchase to cover 30 day rider.

A Temporary Permit is a paper license plate that may be issued for one to 60 days. A Colorado auto dealer issues this permit when purchase of a new or used vehicle is made through the dealership. When the purchase of a vehicle is made from a private party, a permit may be issued depending on the situation and the status of the title. A Bill of Sale (notarized or perjury statement) and a copy of the sellers registration or title may be required. A permit may also be issued if the new purchaser is moving a vehicle to the county in which s/he resides. The title must be presented with proper sign off and assignment to new owner, with the out of county address.

A second permit may be issued when a problem is discovered in the paperwork necessary for transfer of title to the new owner. If the paperwork is being handled by a dealer or lending institution, a phone call from them may be required to understand the circumstances of their situation and for consideration for the length of the permit. A second permit is issued at our discretion and may only be issued for the length of time for title work to be filed.

A temporary permit may not be issued for a passenger car, motor home, bus or motorcycle without proof of insurance coverage.

Temporary permits are not issued to Special Mobile Machinery.

License plates in Colorado belong to the owner and purchaser of the plates. They do not transfer to a buyer upon the sale of a vehicle. License plates are purchased in the Cañon City or Penrose office during normal business hours.

When you purchase a vehicle, you have two choices for licensing. The first choice is to buy new plates. The second is to transfer Colorado plates that were on a vehicle that YOU owned and have sold, or are no longer driving.

If you choose to transfer plates from another vehicle, please bring the ownership tax receipt or registration from the vehicle you are transferring the plates from. In addition to the registration or ownership tax receipt, you should bring the license plates from the old vehicle when you are changing vehicle TYPES in your plate transfer. For example, if you are transferring plates from a car to a new pickup truck or trailer, you need to bring in the plates, as you will be issued a different type of license plate.

The State of Colorado maintains a database of insured vehicles, based upon information submitted by insurance agents. By law, the Clerk and Recorder's office is required to verify insurance coverage for any passenger car, motor home, bus or motorcycle at the time of registration before we can issue license plates to you. If your agent has not submitted your vehicle coverage information to the state database or submitted incorrect information, your record of insurance will not be on the database. You will need to show us proof of insurance for that specific vehicle if verification is not available through the database.

We will accept fax copies from the insurance company that insures your vehicle. When the fax copy is received, it is filed by your name and can easily be accessed to do your transaction.

When licensing a vehicle, fees are based on the following factors:

• Weight of vehicle
• Year of vehicle
• Date of purchase
• MSRP or taxable value
• Type of transaction
• Type of plate
• Material fee

Titling a vehicle:

• Regular title fee: $7.20
• Refinance title fee: $7.20
• Lease buy-out title fee: $7.20
• Remove lien only, title fee: $7.20
• Mobile home title fee: $7.20
• Mobile home refinance title fee: $7.20
• Duplicate title fee: $8.20

Filing a Lien: Security agreements must be originals, certified copies or carbon copies. The filing fees are as follow:

• $5.00 per page, on any document up to legal size and $5.00 per page on additional documents to be filed with security agreement, such as power of attorney, one/same affidavit or list of collateral.
• $10.00 per page, on any document over legal size and $10.00 per page on any additional documents, such as power of attorney, one/same affidavit or list of collateral.

Sales tax is based on the purchase price of a vehicle and the owner resident address that is used on the title assignment or title work done by the dealership.

Situations may vary in the collection of sales tax. Colorado dealers are required to collect state sales tax and provide a DR24, sales tax receipt to be filed with the title work. If a dealer chooses to collect local taxes, a check for payment of those taxes must be remitted with the title work at the time of application. If you purchase a vehicle from an out of state dealer, a paid receipt is required to credit any sales tax you may have paid. Also a bill of sale proving the purchase price before or after a trade and any discounts. Dealer rebates are taxable.

Leased vehicles from a lease company are required to provide a DR26, Sales Tax Receipt for Leased Vehicles, front and back of form. If lease is for more that 36 months, the leasing company collects State Tax through the lease agreement. If the leasing company has established city tax account, city tax may also be collected through the lease agreement. County tax must be collected up front at time of title application, along with applicable filing fees.

If you are purchasing a vehicle from a private individual or business, all applicable taxes are collected at the time of the title application, according to the legal address of the applicant. If you made payment of any sales tax in another county or state, a receipt must be provided in order to credit any tax previously paid.

• State tax is 2.9% of the purchase price.
• City tax:
  • City of Cañon City 2%
  • City of Florence 2.5%
• County sales tax/use tax is 1.5% of purchase price.

Effective July 1, 2006, Secure and Verifiable Identification is required for most motor vehicle transactions including the following:

• New Titles
• Duplicate Titles (Vehicles purchased on or after 7/1/06)
• New Registrations
• New Temporary Registrations
• New Placards

The following types of identification are secure and verifiable:

• Any Colorado driver license, Colorado driver permit or Colorado identification card expired one year or less. (Temporary paper license with invalid Colorado driver's license, Colorado driver's permit or Colorado identification card, expired one year or less, is acceptable.)
• Out of state issued photo driver's license, photo identification card or photo driver's permit expired one year or less.
• U.S. Passport expired less than ten years.
• Valid foreign passport with I-94 or valid processed for I551 stamps.
• Valid I551 Resident Alien/Permanent Resident Card. No border crosser or USA B1/B2 Visa/BCC cards.
• Valid I688 Temporary Resident, I688B and I766 Employment Authorization Card with intact photo.
• Valid U.S. Military I.D. (active duty, dependent, retired, Reserve and National Guard).
• Tribal Identification Card with intact photo (U.S. or Canadian).
• Certificate of Naturalization with intact photo.
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship with intact photo.