In Colorado, the cost to register a car varies based on several factors including the vehicle's year, weight, taxable value, and the month of registration. The registration fee consists of a license fee (based mainly on vehicle weight) plus an ownership tax (calculated based on the vehicle’s age and original value). Here are some key points about Colorado car registration fees as of 2025:
- The license fee is determined by the weight of the vehicle.
- The ownership tax is a percentage of the vehicle's taxable value, which declines the older the car is:
- 1st year: 2.1% of tax value
- 2nd year: 1.5%
- 3rd year: 1.2%
- 4th year: 0.9%
- 5th to 9th year: 0.45%
- 10th year and older: minimum $3 per year
- There is a flat $40 lien filing fee for applications received after July 1, 2025.
- A $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass fee is included unless opted out.
- Additional fees may apply based on county of residence and plate type.
- License plate fees range from a few dollars for embossed or specialty plates to additional fees for electric vehicles or collectors.
Since fees depend on specific details of the vehicle, Colorado offers online fee estimators to calculate exact amounts. Average registration fees in Colorado tend to be around the mid-hundreds of dollars annually but can vary widely depending on the vehicle specifics. For first-time registration, you will also need to pay a title fee of $7.20. In summary, car registration in Colorado costs a combination of the weight-based license fee, depreciating ownership tax based on the vehicle’s age and value, a $40 lien filing fee (if applicable), a $29 conservation pass fee (opt-out available), plus any plate or county fees.
