Taxes and Fees

If a vehicle is subject to taxation and is not registered when required by law, the vehicle owner shall pay a late fee of $25 for each month ($10 for trailers), or portion of a month, that it was not registered. 
CRS 42-3-112 

Statutorily allowable exemptions for late fees:

1. Acts of God: means an unforeseen and uncontrollable natural event that is outside of human control, including but not limited to hurricane, lightning fire, flood, tornado, typhoon, and earthquake, that prevents an individual from utilizing available methods provided for the titling, registration, temporary registration permit, or renewal of vehicle registrations. 

2. Weather-related delays: means the postponement of service availability that prevents the motor vehicle office from completing the titling, registration, temporary registration permit, or renewal of vehicle registrations as determined by the Executive Director of the Department or a county commissioner. 

3. Office Closures: means a closure of a motor vehicle office during normal business hours. 

4. Furloughs: means a mandated closure of a government office in the state, county, or city in which the registrant resides. 

5. Medical Hardships: means certification by a medical professional of medical care, treatment, service and/or medical incapacitation that prevented a person from utilizing available methods provided for completing the titling, registration, temporary registration permit, or renewal of vehicle registrations within statutory time requirements for a vehicle for which the person is a named owner. Use the DR 2538 as listed below.

6. Information Technology Failures: means any computer system or related software or hardware malfunction that prevents successfully completing a vehicle title, registration, Temporary Registration Permit issuance, or renewal transaction.

7. Active Duty Military: active military service of the United States where the owner has military orders or other proof that they were serving outside the state at the time the vehicle was required to be registered; an affidavit stating that the vehicle was not operated on any public highway in CO during the registration and grace period ended and the vehicle is re-registered is also required.

Late Fee Refund Requests

If you believe you should not have been assessed a late fee due to one of the above statutorily allowable reasons, please complete and submit the DR 2468 Late Fee Review and Refund Request form or the DR 2538 Medical Hardship Late Fee Exemption Affidavit.  

Please be advised that USPS delay, or non-receipt of a renewal card is not a statutorily allowable reason to waive/refund a late fee. Additionally, expiration of a temporary tag is no longer a statutorily allowable exemption per HB 22-1254 and expired temp tags will result in late fee assessment.

CRS 42-3-112, CCR 204-10 Rule 44, 42-3-314
 

Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation Economic Recovery (FASTER) fees (Road Safety and Bridge Safety) were created with Senate Bill 09-108.

FASTER Fees Road Safety Surcharge

FASTER Fees Bridge Safety Surcharge

In addition to other taxes and fees, these fees will be assessed starting  July 1, 2023, in accordance with the Sustainability Of The Transportation System Act (SB 21-260): 

Electric Motor Vehicle Road Usage fees are as follows. These rates are pre-determined by statute. Inflation will not begin until Fiscal Year (FY) 2032-33:

General information

• The Division of Motor Vehicles launched DRIVES for Title and Registration services on August 6, 2018.

• In an effort to provide better transparency into fees that are part of registering a vehicle, vehicle owners are now provided an itemized receipt containing all fees paid during a registration transaction.

• This fact sheet provides background on common fees that vehicle owners see on their registration cards.

Common motor vehicle fees

• Specific Ownership Taxes (SOT)

  • These taxes are based on the year of manufacture of the vehicle and the original taxable value, which is determined when the vehicle is new and does not change throughout the life of the vehicle. SOT is distributed into each county’s general fund with the exception of $0.50 that is distributed to the Colorado DRIVES Vehicle Services Account (formerly known as CSTARS fund) in the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-107(22).

  • SOT paid for each year is listed on the back of the registration card.

  • SOT is in lieu of personal property tax. Vehicles do not need to be operated in order to be assessed this tax.

  • The SOT rate is assessed on the original taxable value and year of service

  • For a breakdown of SOT, please see above.

• Age of Vehicle - Less than seven years old- $12, seven to nine years old- $10 and 10- years and older- $7.00, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(9), 42-3-304(10) and 42-3-306(2)(b)(II). This fee is distributed to the HUTF (C.R.S. 43-4-201)

• Clerk Hire Fee - $4 on all registration transactions, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-1-210. This fee is distributed to the County Clerk and Recorder.

• County Road and Bridge - $1.50 for all motor vehicles and trailers greater than 2,000 pounds and $2.50 for motorcycles, trailers less than 2,000 pounds, and trailer coaches, pursuant to 42-3-310. This fee is distributed to the County Road and Bridge Fund.

• Emissions-Area Air Account - This $1.50 fee is assessed to every item of Class A, B and C personal property required to be registered in the emissions program area, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(18)(b). This fee is distributed to the AIR Account and used for emissions program enforcement efforts and administration of the program by the Department of Public Health and Environment and the Department of Revenue.

• Emissions Program County Area -This $0.70 fee is assessed to every item of Class A, B and C personal property required to be registered, regardless of whether it is subject to emissions, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(18)(a). This fee is distributed to the County Clerk and Recorder.

• Emissions - Statewide Air Account - This $0.50 fee is assessed on every item of Class A, B and C personal property required to be registered, regardless of whether it is subject to emissions, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(18)(a). This fee is distributed to the AIR Account.

• Emergency Medical Services - $2 to all vehicles, except trailers and Low- Power Scooters, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(21). This fee is distributed to the Emergency Medical Services Account, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(21).

• Insurance Fee - This $0.50 fee is charged to vehicles that are not exempt from the Motorist Insurance Identification Database fee (vehicles which have qualified as self-insured), C.R.S. 42-3-304(1)(b). This fee is retained in the DRIVES Account.

• Peace Officer Standardized Training (POST) Fee - $1 for all Tax Class A, B and C vehicles, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(24). $0.95 of this fee is distributed to the POST Board and $0.05 is retained by the County Clerk and Recorder, pursuant to 42-3-304(24).

• Material Fees - Year tab ($0.22), month tab ($0.15) and license plates (on issuance- embossed set $4.36, digital set $4.69), pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-301. This fee is retained in the License Plate Cash Fund and covers the cost of manufacturing and distributing these materials.

• Motorist Insurance Information Database (MIIDB) - $0.10 on Class A, B, and C vehicles and low power scooters, pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-304(1) and 42-3-304(18)(d)(I). This fee is distributed to the DRIVES Vehicle Services Account.

• Registration Base Fee - Is based on the weight of a vehicle. Fees for passenger vehicles are pursuant to C.R.S. 42-3-306(2)(b)(I). This fee is distributed to HUTF.

• Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation Economic Recovery (FASTER) fees (Listed as Road Safety and Bridge Safety) - were created with Senate Bill 09-108. For more information regarding FASTER fees please visit above. These fees are distributed to the Bridge Special Fund and the HUTF.

• Additional fees may be assessed based on vehicle type, license plate type selected, and fuel type.