How to Sell a Car Privately in Colorado
Selling your car yourself in Colorado comes down to a signed title, the right paperwork, and a few steps people often miss. This guide summarizes what the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles and state law say, so you and the buyer can finish the transfer cleanly.
Transferring the title
- The seller prints and signs their name on the back of the original Colorado title, matching the name on the front exactly, and every listed owner must sign. dmv.colorado.gov
- The purchase price and date go on the title unless a separate bill of sale is included. dmv.colorado.gov
- Private sales are transferred at the buyer's county motor vehicle office, where the buyer brings the endorsed title, odometer disclosure and ID, and the title transfer fee is $7.20. dmv.colorado.gov
- The buyer must title and register within 60 days of purchase, with late fees of $25 per month or part of a month up to $100. dmv.colorado.gov
Bill of sale
- A bill of sale isn't needed if the title is complete, but it is best practice and is required if the price isn't on the title. dmv.colorado.gov
- A bill of sale uses form DR 2173 or a written equivalent with both parties' names and signatures, price, date, VIN, year, make and model. dmv.colorado.gov
Odometer disclosure
- An odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles for their first 20 years, with vehicles 20 or more years old, over 16,000 lbs gross weight, and non-self-propelled trailers exempt. dmv.colorado.gov
- The seller checks 'actual mileage', 'not actual mileage' or 'mileage in excess of mechanical limits', prints their name and signs. dmv.colorado.gov
- An improper odometer entry can block the transfer, and the seller may need to get a new title. dmv.colorado.gov
License plates
- Plates belong to the owner and not the vehicle, so the seller always removes their plates. dmv.colorado.gov
- Regular plates are returned to a county office or recycled, and personalized plates can be moved to the seller's next vehicle through the county office. dmv.colorado.gov
- A private-sale buyer may drive without plates for up to 36 hours from the seller's location to home or a registration office, carrying a signed bill of sale showing year, make, VIN, time and date of sale, and proof of insurance. dmv.colorado.gov
Inspections and emissions
- If the vehicle is more than 7 model years old and the buyer lives in an emissions-testing county, the seller must give the buyer a new passing emissions certificate. dmv.colorado.gov
- Designated emissions counties are Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer and Weld. dmv.colorado.gov
Telling the state you sold the car
- A seller can report the sale within 5 days through myDMV ('Report Release of Liability') or at a county office, which removes the seller from liability for the buyer's later actions. dmv.colorado.gov
- The report is voluntary, and the information is also accessible to law enforcement. dmv.colorado.gov
- The seller needs the plate number and the VIN or verification code from the registration card. dmv.colorado.gov
Taxes and fees the buyer pays
- In a private sale the buyer pays sales tax, title fees and registration fees at the county office. dmv.colorado.gov
- Registration cost includes Specific Ownership Tax based on the vehicle's original MSRP and age. dmv.colorado.gov
- Late fees are $25 per month or part of a month, up to $100, if the vehicle isn't titled and registered within 60 days of purchase. dmv.colorado.gov
Easy-to-miss rules in this state
- If the vehicle has any brand, both parties must complete the DR 2710 Branded Title Disclosure Statement. dmv.colorado.gov
- Vehicles labeled 'junk', 'parts only' or 'for crusher' are not eligible for a Colorado title. dmv.colorado.gov
- A name that doesn't match the title or the buyer's ID requires form DR 2421 (Statement of One and the Same). dmv.colorado.gov
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Colorado?
A bill of sale isn't needed if the title is complete, but it is best practice and is required if the price isn't on the title. A bill of sale uses form DR 2173 or a written equivalent with both parties' names and signatures, price, date, VIN, year, make and model.
Is an odometer disclosure required when selling a car in Colorado?
An odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles for their first 20 years, with vehicles 20 or more years old, over 16,000 lbs gross weight, and non-self-propelled trailers exempt. The seller checks 'actual mileage', 'not actual mileage' or 'mileage in excess of mechanical limits', prints their name and signs.
What happens to the license plates when I sell my car in Colorado?
Plates belong to the owner and not the vehicle, so the seller always removes their plates. Regular plates are returned to a county office or recycled, and personalized plates can be moved to the seller's next vehicle through the county office.
Do I have to tell the state I sold my car in Colorado?
A seller can report the sale within 5 days through myDMV ('Report Release of Liability') or at a county office, which removes the seller from liability for the buyer's later actions. The report is voluntary, and the information is also accessible to law enforcement.
Official Colorado resources
- Colorado DMV: Private sale, buying or selling a vehicle
- Colorado DMV: Vehicle title
- Colorado DMV: Vehicle registration
- Colorado DMV: Reporting vehicle ownership transfers
Next steps
Once you know the rules, create a free listing and print a QR code sign for the car window. For the general process, see our step-by-step private sale guide, the paperwork checklist, and how to get paid safely. Need paperwork? Use our free bill of sale generator.