CO Registration & Plates

There are various situations in which you will be required to transact with the DMV for your Colorado registration and plates.

  • First-time registration and plates for newly purchased vehicle.
  • First-time registration and plates as new Colorado resident.
  • Registration renewal (with updated plate stickers) for Colorado vehicles.
  • Applying for a personalized license plate.
Registration and plates in Colorado are dealt with by the same Division of Motor Vehicles that your driver’s license and other driver/resident services are provided; however, you may have to report to a designated title/registration office in order to receive your registration services.

However, today there are even registration and plating services offered online through the Colorado DMV, which can be found at Online Services.

  • The thing to remember is that most of your first-time services for your vehicles will require that you are in the DMV office in order to complete the process, while renewals, changes, and some replacements can be obtained online.
If you are looking for the right  Title and Registration Offices in Colorado, you can view contact information by county online.

  • This will allow you to easily locate the appropriate office before you are sent on a wild goose chase around town, which can often lead to a wrong turn, a new county, and an empty tank of gas, sometimes in a different order.

Register Colorado Vehicle

  1. Get appropriate auto insurance.
  2. Visit DMV registration and titling office.
  3. Show vehicle’s title certificate showing you as the owner.
  4. Submit a proof of clean bill in emissions exam.
  5. Submit a bill of sale to calculate sales tax.
  6. Show your ID card or driver’s license.
  7. Pay your registration fees, which vary on many factors including weight of the vehicle.
You will purchase your plates at the same time that you apply for registration, which means that the costs are combined. The type of plates you order will have an impact on the price you pay for registration. If you choose personalized license plates, you will find a higher overall cost. For more information about registering your Colorado vehicle or other registration matters, visit 4DMV.com’s vehicle registration pages.

Renew Colorado Registration

You have 3 options for registration renewal in Colorado: in-office, by mail, or online. Each method will have different requirements, but each will provide your registration renewal for the same cost. If you are interested in renewing your registration online, even if you aren’t quite sure if you are eligible, visitOnline Vehicle Registration Renewal

  • For registration renewal in person, you will be required to report to your county titling and registration office with the appropriate documents and fees. If you are renewing by mail, simply send the documents with a check or money order for your registration costs to the address supplied on your registration renewal notice you received initially in the mail. You will receive your new stickers and registration within 4 weeks, at which time you want to immediately affix your stickers. For more detailed information about registration renewals in Colorado, visit 4DMV.com’s registration renewal pages for Colorado.

License Plates & Placards

There are several types of license plates offered in Colorado:

  • Standard
  • Collector **NOT Antique plates
  • Specialized
  • Personalized
  • Disabled
  • Columbine memorial plates
  • Alumni
Getting your plates will be done while you are getting your vehicle registered, so you don’t have to make a special visit just to get your license plates. There are different fees associated to your license plates, depending on the type you choose. If you are receiving disabled plates, you can also receive a disability parking placard in Colorado if you meet the eligibility requirements. This placard will provide you with the proof of your disability giving you qualifications to utilize disability parking spaces in state lots.

Inspections, Smog & Emissions

Before you even get started with the paperwork to register your vehicle, make an appointment for your vehicle to be inspected if you haven’t received proof of a passing grade through a licensed Colorado inspection center. If you purchased a new model year vehicle at least 4 or younger, you will be able to skip the emissions testing until the vehicle has reached 4.

  • Air Care Colorado is a state agency that operates 14 Colorado vehicle testing centers for your enhanced emissions testing. For more information about the enhanced test or the services offered, visit  Air Care Colorado.
  • If you just need a basic inspection, you can visit a state qualified center in your locality, which could include a full service gas station or even a car dealership or other auto-related facility that has the appropriate equipment and has been licensed by the state to provide such testing.
  • If you aren’t sure which type of emissions testing in Colorado you need, look at your registration renewal notice as it will indicate which test to obtain. However, if this is the first time registration of the vehicle, you may want to contact a Colorado title and registration county office.