Colorado law states that, upon establishment of residency, you have 90 days in which to register your vehicle.
Requirements for Colorado Residency:
- Gainful employment in Colorado
- Own or operate a business in Colorado
- Reside in Colorado for 90 consecutive days.
Exceptions:
- College students, temporarily residing in Colorado and claiming another state as their residence, may retain valid out-of-state plates.
- Military personnel, on active duty in Colorado and claiming another state as their home state of residence, may retain valid out-of-state plates.
- Non-residents employed in Colorado who commute daily from their residence to their place of employment within Colorado may retain valid out-of-state plates. This is restricted to only those states entering into a reciprocal agreement with Colorado (Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska)
Required Documents:
- An out-of-state title or current registration (if your title is being held by a lien holder/lender).
- If your vehicle has a lien on the title, the lien holder's name and address must be provided if not shown on the out-of-state title or registration.
- Insurance - All vehicles under 16,000 lbs. (empty weight) are required to show current proof of insurance prior to registration.
- VIN Verification - Out-of-state vehicles must be inspected by the sheriff's office or town police. Form DR 2698 (PDF) is required to complete the inspection. There may be a charge for this service.
Form DR 2504 Colorado Residency Established can be found on the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles website.