Register a vehicle in Colorado

By · checked

Title and register a vehicle in Colorado at your county Clerk & Recorder motor vehicle office: what to bring for a dealer, private or out-of-state purchase or a move to Colorado, the 60- and 90-day deadlines and late fees.

Your situation

Which fits you?
Online or in person
Only after a Colorado dealer purchase · County motor vehicle officeFirst-time registration on myDMV is offered only for a Colorado dealer purchase with a Title Complete Notice. Most personal vehicle titles and registrations are handled by the Clerk & Recorder of the county you live in. Hours and appointments vary by county; the state cannot book them.
Cost
Varies by county and vehicleApplicable fees vary by county. Registration cost combines fees and taxes; the largest portion is the Specific Ownership Tax, based on the vehicle's original MSRP and age. The state DMV says it does not collect fees for titling or registering a vehicle.
You leave with
Plates and registration at the county officeStandard green and white passenger plates and registration documents are issued at the county office; other plates are printed on demand and mailed. The Colorado title is mailed to you (or your lienholder).

Your plan

  1. Gather your documents

  2. Find your county motor vehicle office

    Register in the county where you live; regular personal vehicle registrations are handled by your local Clerk & Recorder. Check the county's website first for hours and transaction options, which vary between counties.

    Find your county motor vehicle office ↗

  3. Go to the county office with your documents

    Bring the documents listed, plus payment for sales tax, title fees, registration fees and any other applicable taxes and fees (appointments may be required).

Common reasons people get turned away

  • You must register within 60 days of purchase or transfer (even if an out-of-state temporary tag lasts longer) and within 90 days of establishing Colorado residency; the late fee is $25 per month or portion of a month ($10 for trailers), up to a maximum of $100.
  • You cannot move your old regular green and white plates to a new vehicle; registration credit transfers can only be done directly with the county, not online.
  • You cannot register a vehicle without proof of active Colorado auto insurance.
  • You can get a second temporary tag from the dealer; the county can also issue an additional temporary tag if necessary.

Offices that register vehicles

In Colorado most personal motor vehicle titles and registrations are handled by the local county Clerk & Recorder for the county you reside in. The state vehicle services Westgate office (appointment required) also does registration; "No other state-run driver license offices can complete vehicle registrations." Agency source.

104 offices where you can register a vehicleSee them on a map, search by county or show the ones open now

Largest cities with them: Denver (5) · Aurora (2) · Fort Collins (1) · Lakewood (1) · Arvada (1) · Westminster (1) · Greeley (1) · Pueblo (1)

Results show offices where you can register a vehicle or may be able to, nearest first, each labelled.

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Sources · checked October 30, 2026

We wrote this plan ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMV Decoded is independent and not a government agency; we don't book appointments or take payments.