Where to Register a Vehicle

You must register your vehicle in the county where you reside. If you do not reside in Arapahoe County, see DMV locations in other counties. If you do not know what county you live in, please use our Address Lookup.

Initial registrations must be done in-person at a county motor vehicle office. At least one named owner is required to be present to register a vehicle. If the owner is not available, then someone else may register the vehicle on their behalf with a signed and notarized Power of Attorney form.

Annual renewals may be done in-person, by mail, online or using our drop-off boxes at any branch. A named owner does not need to be present to renew. We send a courtesy renewal notice in the mail to customers; however, timely renewal of your registration is your responsibility.

What to Bring

Every transaction to register a vehicle varies. Please call us at 303-795-4500 or visit www.colorado.gov/dmv to learn what you will need to bring. In general, you may need:

• Secure and Verifiable Identification
• Proof of Colorado Auto Insurance on vehicle to be registered
• Vehicle Title or "Title Complete Card" for a new registration
• Proof of Emissions, if applicable
• VIN Verification, if applicable
• Form of Payment: Credit Card, Debit Card, Cash, Check or Money Order
• Signed and notarized Power of Attorney Form if the vehicle will be registered by someone who is not a named owner

Taxes and Fees

The cost to register vehicles in the State of Colorado is based on age of the vehicle, weight, taxable value, purchase date, and type of license plate requested.

• Use our Registration Fee Estimate Calculator to estimate license fees and ownership taxes fees for a newly purchased vehicle (not for renewals)
• See a list of applicable Motor Vehicle Taxes and Fees
• Find your Sales Tax by Address
• See Payment Options in Arapahoe County