Buying & Selling a Vehicle

• Title must be properly endorsed.
• Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship – If you plan to co-own the vehicle, be sure to apply for JTWRS.
• Title branded as Rebuilt from Salvage
  • This means that the vehicle has undergone major repairs. After the repairs, the vehicle was inspected by the Colorado State Patrol and deemed road worthy.
  • Along with the title, the seller must give you a completed Branded Title Disclosure Statement (Form DR2710).
• Salvage Title – WARNING: This means that the vehicle is currently not road worthy. You will not be able to register and plate a salvaged vehicle until it is repaired and inspected by the State Patrol. Click here for more info.

• The seller must provide you with a Bill of Sale.
• The bill of sale must be signed by the seller. Getting it notarized is optional.

• A new emissions inspection is required when a vehicle changes ownership.
• If you are buying a vehicle that requires emissions testing, the seller must provide you with a new passing emissions certificate at the time of sale.
• You will need a new certificate even if the old one has time remaining on it.

You must register your new vehicle within 60 days of purchase by visiting one of our three DMV branch locations. In order to legally drive your vehicle, you must register it as soon as possible.

• The seller’s license plates are not transferable to the buyer.
• If you purchased the vehicle at a time when our offices are closed (on a weekend, legal holiday, or between 5pm and 8am), you may legally drive the vehicle from the seller’s place to your home (or wherever you intend to store your vehicle). You must carry the Bill of Sale and Proof of Insurance in the vehicle.
• Visit a Motor Vehicle Division office on the next business day to register the vehicle.
• If you need more time before registering your vehicle, you may apply for a temporary permit.

Please see our Vehicle Registration page for additional items required to register your vehicle.

• Be careful to properly endorse the title. The title must be filled out correctly to be valid.
• Please review these instructions for how to transfer a title to a new owner.
• If you make a mistake on the title or have lost/damaged your title, you must apply immediately for a Duplicate Title.

• Complete TWO Bills of Sale – one for the buyer and one for your records.
• The bills of sale must be signed by the seller. Getting it notarized is optional.

• A new emissions inspection is required when a vehicle changes ownership.
• When you sell a vehicle that requires emissions testing, you must provide the buyer with a new passing emissions certificate at the time of sale.
• You need to provide a new certificate even if the old one has time remaining on it.

• You must remove your license plates when you sell your vehicle (in Colorado, the plates belong to the seller, not the vehicle).
• The buyer can legally drive without plates (within 36 hours of the sale) to the local motor vehicle office or to their residence (if after-hours or on the weekend). They must carry the Bill of Sale and Proof of Insurance and register the vehicle as soon as possible.
• You cannot reuse your plates when you register a new vehicle. The license plates are yours to keep. You can turn them into our office for recycling, use them for art or decoration around your home. If you are disposing of your license plates, it’s best to destroy them so they cannot be used fraudulently.
• If the plates aren’t expired, you can receive credit for the remaining time on the tabs when registering a new vehicle or renewing a vehicle you already own.

• The vehicle will continue to show you as the owner until the new buyer goes into their local Motor Vehicle office to change the title.
• To remove your liability for the buyer’s actions involving the vehicle after the sale is complete, you may voluntarily report a transfer of ownership online within five days of sale ((C.R.S. 42-6-109(3)).