Emergency vehicle decals are provided to privately owned Colorado vehicles that will be used to preserve life and property. This designation must be confirmed by a certifying official (see requirements below). One decal is issued per vehicle, and the decal is valid for 2 years.
Vehicles that do NOT require an Emergency Vehicle Decal
- Emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles) that are publicly owned and operated by or for a governmental agency to protect and preserve life and property
- If a vehicle has a government plate, the decal is not needed and will not be provided
Vehicles that require an Emergency Vehicle Decal
Privately owned vehicles that are necessary to the preservation of life and property.
Decal Requirements
- The vehicle must be currently registered in Colorado in the applicant’s name.
- The vehicle owner on the registration must be the same as the vehicle applicant
- Expired registrations and temporary registrations are not accepted; only current annual registrations
- A completed DR 2490 Emergency Vehicle Equipment Authorization Application (located on the Forms page here) which includes the authorization from one of the following certifying officials:
- Sheriff
- Chief of Police
- Fire Chief
- Colorado State Patrol
- Ambulance Service Director
- A certifying official cannot be the same individual as the applicant; another certifying official would need to authorize the form in this case.
- Certifying officials must include their badge number, employee number, or PUC number on the form; a driver license may also be used (Badge Number section).
Application Submission
- Only certifying officials can submit the completed DR 2490 (located on the Forms page here) either:
By mail to:
Colorado Department of Revenue
Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 173350
Denver, CO 80127-3350- Or at the Westgate Vehicle Services Office (3265 S Wadsworth Blvd #3, Lakewood, CO) by:
- An appointment for "Other Non-County Title and Registration Services"
- Drop off/pick up service
- Once dropped off, applications are processed in the order they are received.
- The certifying official will be contacted for pick up once the application has been processed.
Decal Distribution
- Emergency Vehicle decals will only be supplied by Vehicle Services to the certifying official listed on the DR 2490; who will then provide it to the vehicle owner/applicant.
- The applicant is required to keep the approved DR2490 in the vehicle at all times.
- Emergency Vehicle decals will not be supplied to the owner of the vehicle by Vehicle Services.