Federal & State Regulations | Vehicle license or registration - Colorado

Colorado registration includes a registration fee, a specific ownership tax fee, a bridge safety surcharge, and a road safety surcharge.

Intrastate carriers must register with the appropriate county to obtain state plates and pay 100 percent ownership tax and license fees.

Interstate vehicle registration is staggered.

Colorado’s Fleet Registration Program (CFRP) is an optional program for fleet operators to register fleet vehicles in a common registration expiration month evidenced by the issuance of a “Fleet License Plate.” A minimum of 10 vehicles is required to participate. Plates will state “PERM” as the expiration, but must be renewed annually.

Colorado’s Standard Fleet Program is available to fleet operators that request a common registration expiration month for their fleet vehicles, without requiring Fleet License Plates. Under this program, the fleet operator is required to update the Colorado registration receipt and license plate month and year tabs on each fleet vehicle annually. The same registration expiration month applies for all vehicles in the fleet. A minimum of 10 vehicles is required to participate.

Fleet operators may apply to participate in one or both of the fleet vehicle programs, but the operator is required to meet and maintain the minimum requirement of 10 vehicles in each program.

Vehicles registered in the CFRP or CSFP programs must be titled in the fleet operator’s name to participate. International Registration Plan (IRP)-plated vehicles are not eligible for the CFRP or CSFP.

License plate display

Vehicles issued two license plates must display one on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle. The license plate issued to trailers, semitrailers, mobile machinery or self-propelled construction equipment is displayed on the rear. The rear license plate must be mounted at the approximate center of the vehicle measured horizontally and mounted on or within 18 inches of the rear bumper.

International Registration Plan

Colorado is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay all fees to a single jurisdiction.

Temporary permit: Contact the Colorado Department of Revenue for details.

Hunter's permit: An unladen weight permit is issued to an owner/operator who terminates a lease and has to surrender his/her apportioned license plate and cab card(s) to the carrier. The unladen weight permit is valid for vehicles operating at unladen weight only and is non-transferable. Permits are issued by the Commercial & Farm Truck Division.

Agency: Department of Revenue; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).

Intrastate carriers based in Denver County, apply to the Denver Motor Vehicle Department, 1865 W. Mississippi, Denver, Colorado 80223.

Fees

In the state of Colorado, registration consists of four fees: a registration fee, a specific ownership tax fee, a bridge safety surcharge, and a road safety surcharge.

Late registration fee: A late fee will be assessed when a Colorado-based registrant renews a registration following the current registration expiration date.

This fee is charged per vehicle per month.
The fee takes effect following the grace period (if any).
If the vehicle remains idle so not to operate on any public highway for at least one full registration period, exempt the vehicle from the late fee.

Colorado Fee: (Road Safety Surcharge + Bridge Safety Surcharge + Registration Fees + Ownership tax) X Jurisdiction %= Total Colorado Fees Due.

Owners of vehicles engaged in intrastate and/or interstate operations within Colorado must pay specific ownership tax on a prorate basis according to total mileage percentage operated.
Intrastate carriers must register with the appropriate county to obtain state plates.
The ownership tax is reduced proportionately on a monthly basis.
The year of use shall be determined by the year model of the motor vehicle as designated by the manufacturer.
The ownership tax is transferable from one vehicle to another for the remainder of the year.
The ownership tax is determined by an average list price chart detailing vehicle type, year and number of axles. Factory list price based on Truck Blue Book as to make, year, and (most important) the model number.

Colorado registration fees

For-hire Carriers (This includes rentals, household movers and exempt carriers)

For each vehicle that has an empty weight exceeding 16,000 pounds and that is used in the operations of a common or contract carrier for hire, the registration fee shall be based upon the declared gross vehicle weight of the vehicle registered.
Fee: For hire registration weight fee + ownership tax + bridge safety surcharges + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee 2 + age fee + additional registration fee + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fee.

Private Carriers having an empty weight exceeding 16,000 pounds.

The registration fee shall be based upon the declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) of vehicle registered. (A vehicle used by a person in his/her own operations or business and is not for hire).
Fee: Private registration weight fee + ownership tax + road safety surcharges + bridge safety surcharge + additional registration fee + age fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fees.

Vehicles traveling less than 10,000 miles annually

For each vehicle registered under this section that has an empty weight exceeding 16,000 pounds in and that is operated less than 10,000 miles in all jurisdictions during each year, such registration fee shall be based upon the declared gross vehicle weight of the vehicle registered. Vehicles based off of odometer readings per single vehicle within the fleet that travels less than 10,000 miles nationally.
Fee: <10,000 Mile registration fee + ownership tax + road safety surcharge + bridge safety surcharge + additional registration fee + age fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge X apportioned % = Total Colorado fees.

Special Use Trucks (Mobile Mixing Concrete trucks; Trash Compacting Trucks; Concrete Pumping Trucks; Wreckers.)
Fee: Special use registration fee + ownership tax fee + age fee + road safety surcharge + bridge safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fees.

Public Utility Vehicles

Public utility vehicles, as defined in CRS 40-1-103, include the following: Pipeline corporations, gas corporations, electrical corporations, telephone corporations, telegraph corporations, and water corporations. Irrigation systems are not considered a public utility. Water and sanitation districts are not considered a public utility.
Fee: Public Utility Registration weight fee + ownership tax + age + bridge safety surcharge + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fees.

Light Trucks

For each vehicle having an empty weight of up to and including 16,000 lbs, such registration shall be based upon the empty weight of such vehicles. 1. Trucks with an unladen weight less than 10,000 lbs always light truck. 2. Trucks with an unladen weight between 10,000 and 16,000 not used in conjunction with a trailer.
Fee: Light truck registration fee + ownership tax fee + age fee + road safety surcharge + bridge safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fees.

Colorado Age Fee for All Power Units

Fee is based on the age of the motor vehicle. Fee: Registration weight fee (for hire, private, <10,000 miles, light trucks, public utility or special use) + ownership tax fee + age fee + road safety surcharges + bridge safety surcharge + additional registration fee + road and bridge fee + additional registration fee 2 X apportioned % = Total Colorado fees.

BRIDGE SAFETY SURCHARGE

The Bridge Safety Surcharge applies to all power units in conjunction with current Colorado registration and ownership fee tables and is based on the empty weight of the vehicle. This fee needs to be tracked separately from the Colorado registration fees and ownership tax. No credit given for delete transfers.

NOTE: This surcharge fee does not apply if power units are rental vehicles on which a daily vehicle rental fee is imposed.

Fee: Registration weight fee for (hire, private, <10,000 miles, light truck, public utility or special use) + Ownership tax + age + bridge safety surcharge + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fee.

ROAD SAFETY SURCHARGE

The Road Safety Surcharge applies to all power units in conjunction with current registration and ownership fee tables and is based on the empty weight of the vehicle. This fee needs to be tracked separately from other Colorado registration fees and ownership tax. No credit given for delete transfers.

NOTE: This surcharge fee does not apply if power units are rental vehicles on which a daily vehicle rental fee is imposed.

Fee: Registration weight fee (for hire, private, <10,000 miles, light truck, public utility or special use) + Ownership tax + age + bridge safety surcharge + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fee.

Road and bridge fee

This fee applies to every registration of a motor vehicle that is designed to primarily be operated or drawn on any Colorado highway. No credit given for delete transfers.

Fee: Registration weight fee (for hire, private, <10,000 miles, light truck, public utility or special use) + ownership tax + age + bridge safety surcharge + additional registration fee + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee) X apportioned % = Total Colorado fee.

Colorado additional registration fee

This fee applies to every registration of a motor vehicle that is designed to primarily to be operated or drawn on any Colorado highway. No credit given for delete transfers.

Fee: Registration weight fee (for hire, private, <10,000 miles, light truck, public utility or special use) + ownership tax + age + bridge safety surcharge + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fee.

Colorado additional registration fee 2

This fee shall apply to all added or renewed vehicle registrations, no credit given for delete transfers. This fee needs to have its own fee table.

Fee: Registration weight fee for (hire, private, <10,000 miles, light truck, public utility or special use) + ownership tax + age + bridge safety surcharge + road safety surcharge + additional registration fee + additional registration fee 2 + road and bridge fee X apportioned % = Total Colorado fee.

['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']

['Registration', 'Vehicle Registration Permits']

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Vehicle license or registration - Colorado