Free Colorado Used Car Bill of Sale

Used-car deals between private parties in Colorado are common — and Colorado's 60-day transfer window means buyers can shop deliberately rather than rushing to a county office on day three. But that flexibility doesn't change the math: 2.9% state sales tax plus local add-ons, Specific Ownership Tax, emissions testing in the Front Range, and a county clerk visit all stand between buyer and license plates. A clean bill of sale protects both parties, and the county clerk requires one whenever the sale price is not listed on the title.

Free PDF includes a light diagonal watermark. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.

Selling a used car as-is? Our private sale checklist walks you through price research, safely screening buyers, and the exact paperwork steps — so nothing slips through and you stay protected from post-sale disputes. Read: Private Car Sale Checklist →

Colorado Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form

DR 2173

Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale — sold by DMV-approved vendors, not a free download; a written bill of sale with the same details also works

Agency

Colorado DMV

Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles

Primary ID Field

VIN

Sales Tax

2.9%

Title Required

Yes

Seller assigns the Colorado title to the buyer with odometer disclosure (required on vehicles of model year 2011 or newer). Buyer presents the assigned title, the bill of sale (secure DR 2173 or a written equivalent; required if the sale price is not on the title), and the DR 2395 application at a county clerk and recorder's office within 60 days.

Inspection

Not required

Sales Tax Details

Used-car sales tax in Colorado uses the same 2.9% state rate plus county, city, and special district add-ons applicable at the buyer's address. The combined rate ranges from about 4% in rural areas to 8.81% in Denver. Tax is collected by the county clerk at titling, not by the private seller. Specific Ownership Tax is also assessed at registration based on taxable value.

Exemption: Family transfers, gifts, and inherited vehicles may be taxed differently from a sale — confirm with the county motor vehicle office before the transfer. SOT continues to apply each year regardless.

Inspection Requirements

No statewide safety inspection. Emissions testing required in nine Front Range counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and urbanized Larimer and Weld) for gasoline vehicles 7 model years and older. VIN verification (DR2698) required for any vehicle previously titled out of state.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by County Clerk and Recorder — not the same agency that handles cars in Colorado. Plan for separate filings.

Colorado Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

Decode and verify the VIN at vincheck.nhtsa.gov for recall, theft, and salvage flags
Pull a Carfax or AutoCheck history report — Colorado mountain vehicles can hide hail and flood damage
Test drive on highway and at altitude if buying near the Front Range or mountains
Inspect for rust on undercarriage — common on vehicles driven on Colorado mag chloride winter roads
Have a pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic
Confirm seller's name on the title matches their photo ID exactly
Complete a bill of sale (the secure DR 2173 from an approved vendor, or a written equivalent) with full VIN, odometer reading, sale price, and signatures
Seller signs title over with odometer disclosure (vehicles of model year 2011 or newer)
Buyer schedules emissions test if registering in one of the nine emissions counties
File the DR 2395 application and pay tax, SOT, and fees at county clerk within 60 days

Common Pitfalls

Buying from someone who is not the titled owner — Colorado does not honor "open titles," and the county clerk will reject the transfer
Skipping the Carfax — Colorado vehicles see hail damage, mountain wear, and salt-corrosion that can be cosmetically hidden
Forgetting that mag chloride (Colorado's preferred road de-icer) corrodes brake lines and frames — inspect carefully on Front Range vehicles
Underreporting the sale price on the bill of sale — write the price actually paid; a false figure misstates the sale the county taxes
Not budgeting for SOT — newer used vehicles can owe several hundred dollars in annual Specific Ownership Tax on top of registration
Buying a non-emissions-county vehicle and trying to register it on the Front Range without testing first
Assuming a 60-day window means you can wait — emissions appointments and county clerk slots fill up, especially in Denver and Jefferson counties
Taking delivery before the title is properly signed over (an older Colorado title with a notary block also needs a notary or form DR 2445) — recover-the-title cases drag on for months

Pro Tip

Colorado used-car deals are buyer-friendly thanks to the 60-day window, but Front Range emissions, the combined local sales tax, and SOT mean budgeting and planning matter. Document everything on the bill of sale, file the DR 2395 application promptly, and never close on a vehicle whose title isn't physically in the seller's hand.

Colorado Used Car Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do I need a notary for a Colorado used-car bill of sale?

A notary is not required for the bill of sale itself, and current Colorado titles do not require notarization of the assignment. The exception is an older Colorado title that has a notary block: it must either be notarized or be accompanied by form DR 2445 (Statement of Transfer, signed in lieu of notarization). All sellers still sign the title itself.

How does Colorado handle a sold "as-is" vehicle?

Colorado permits private sellers to sell vehicles "as-is" with no implied warranty, and stating "AS-IS, NO WARRANTY" on the bill of sale is standard practice. Dealers, however, are governed by the Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Board and federal Used Car Rule (Buyers Guide). Even with as-is, sellers cannot misrepresent material facts — odometer fraud, hidden salvage history, or known frame damage can be the basis for fraud claims regardless of the as-is clause.

What if the seller lost the Colorado title?

The seller must apply for a duplicate title using form DR2539A at the county clerk's office before transferring ownership. Colorado will not let the buyer apply for the duplicate — the titled owner has to do it. The duplicate typically arrives within 4-6 weeks. Do not pay for a vehicle without seeing the actual title or a duplicate in the seller's name; "title coming in the mail" is one of the most common Craigslist scams in the Denver metro.

Will Colorado challenge a low sale price on the bill of sale?

We have not found an official Colorado source describing how county clerks review a low price, so don't plan around any particular outcome — write the price actually paid. What the state does say: when a private seller doesn't collect sales tax, the buyer pays the applicable state and local sales taxes to the county clerk at registration, and the clerk cannot title or register the vehicle until they are paid. For a genuine gift or family transfer, ask the county office how to document it.

What documents do I need at the county clerk for a used-car title transfer?

You'll need the assigned Colorado title with odometer disclosure, a completed bill of sale (secure DR 2173 or a written equivalent; required if the sale price is not on the title, and good practice otherwise), completed DR 2395 title and registration application, secure and verifiable ID, proof of Colorado insurance, emissions certificate (if in one of the nine counties), and VIN verification DR2698 if the vehicle was previously titled out of state. Bring payment for sales tax (state plus local), Specific Ownership Tax, title fee ($7.20), and registration fees. Most county clerks accept appointments — book ahead in Denver, Jefferson, and Arapahoe counties.

Other Colorado Templates

Vehicle Bill of Sale Car Bill of Sale Motorcycle Bill of Sale Boat Bill of Sale Trailer Bill of Sale Horse Bill of Sale ATV Bill of Sale Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale RV Bill of Sale General Bill of Sale Free Printable Bill of Sale Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale As-Is Bill of Sale Gift Bill of Sale

Used Car in Other States

Texas Florida Georgia Missouri Utah Oregon Alabama Connecticut Arkansas New York

How to Fill Out

Step-by-step guide for Colorado

View Fill-Out Guide →

🇲🇽 En Español

¿Prefiere el formulario en español?

Ver en Español →

Go Pro

Clean, watermark-free PDFs.

View Pricing