A Guide to Your Colorado Car Title

Your Colorado car title is a crucial document. Simply put, it’s proof that you own your car, and you’ll need to have it in your possession if your ownership status is to change – if you decide to sell, donate, or simply give the vehicle to another owner, even a family member

How to Apply for a Colorado Title

To apply for a title, you’ll need to bring the following documents to your local Colorado DMV office:

• Proof of insurance.
• Secure and verifiable identification.
• The current title or documents from the dealer properly endorsed by the previous owner.
• Proof of a Colorado vehicle emissions test if applicable.
• A complete odometer disclosure.
• A bill of sale (for sales tax purposes).
• If a lien is to be recorded, an acceptable mortgage document (security agreement) must be provided.   
• The mortgage document needs to be an original, carbon copy, or a certified copy and must contain vehicle description – year, make, vehicle identification number or VIN, lienholder’s name and address, lien amount, and owner’s signature.

Vehicles titled for the first time in Colorado must be accompanied by one of the following documents to certify the weight:

• Manufacturer’s statement of origin
• Valid registration or title which specifies the weight
• A certified weight slip 

The Colorado DMV will mail your title to you when there are no liens filed against your vehicle. (Typically, having a lien filed against your vehicle means that you’ve financed the car and are still making loan payments.) If you do have a lien, the title will be mailed to the lienholder (the bank that issued the car loan).

I Lost My Colorado Vehicle Title – What Do I Do?

If you’ve lost your Colorado title, you can get a duplicate from the DMV. You’ll need to bring the following to your local DMV office:

• A completed copy of the Duplicate Title Request and Receipt Form (Form DR 2539A)
• Secure and verifiable identification
• Your vehicle identification number (VIN) and/or Colorado title number, if you have it
• The duplicate title fee

Selling Your Colorado Vehicle – What to Do with the Title

If you’re selling your car, there’s a few things you’ll need to do to transfer the title to its new owner.

• Enter the car’s mileage in the designated area.
• Add the buyer’s full name and address to the title.
• Give the buyer a current Emissions Inspection Certificate if he or she lives in an emissions area.
• Sign and date a bill of sale, including your name, the buyer’s name, the purchase price, the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the year and make of the vehicle.
• Remove the license plates.
• Give the above paperwork to the buyer. He or she will need to go to the DMV to complete the transfer of ownership.

Buying a Colorado Vehicle – What You Need to Do

When buying a Colorado vehicle from a private owner (not a dealership), you’ll need to handle the paperwork yourself, including the title transfer. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Have the seller date and sign the title over to you. Confirm that the proper mileage was entered in the designated area.
• If you live in an emissions area, have the seller give you the current emissions inspection certificate.
• Get a signed and dated bill of sale from the seller. It will need to include your name, the purchase price, the VIN, and the year and make of the vehicle.
• You’ll then need to take these documents, proper identification and proof of insurance to your local DMV office. Be prepared to pay fees, which vary by county and vehicle.
• Transferring the title will also update the name on the registration. If the vehicle is titled in another state, the DMV will need to do a VIN inspection.

Additional Information About Colorado Vehicle Titles

If you have additional questions about vehicle titling in Colorado, be sure to visit the Titling and Registration section of the Colorado DMV webpage.