How To Cancel Vehicle Registration Online in Colorado in 2026
Colorado residents may report vehicle ownership transfer through the myDMV Colorado portal or at their respective county motor vehicle office. The Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees motor vehicle registration statewide, with processing handled at the county level by locally elected clerks and recorders.
When you sell, trade, or transfer your vehicle, reporting the ownership change online protects you from liability and initiates the registration cancellation process in the state's records.
When Registration Cancellation May Be Needed
Several circumstances require motorists to cancel vehicle registration in Colorado:
- Transferring ownership through sale to a private party
- Trading your vehicle at a licensed dealership
- Gifting the vehicle to a family member or another individual
- Establishing permanent residency in a different state
- Surrendering the vehicle to a junkyard or recycling facility
- Total loss determination by your insurance company
- Theft without recovery by law enforcement
- Extended storage without operational use
- Ending insurance coverage with no intention to drive the vehicle
Online and In-Person Registration Cancellation
Colorado allows vehicle owners to report ownership transfer electronically through the state's online services platform or in person at county motor vehicle offices.
Reporting Ownership Transfer Online
Access myDMV Colorado to report your vehicle sale or transfer. Submitting this notification protects you from future liability and documents the cancellation of your registration responsibilities.
Required Actions:
- Navigate to myDMV Colorado and log into your account or create a new account
- Select vehicle services and locate the “Report Release of Liability” option
- Enter your vehicle information, including license plate number and vehicle identification number
- Provide new owner details, including name and contact information
- Enter the date of sale or transfer
- Submit the completed notification electronically
- Save the confirmation for your records
Important Note: Reporting the ownership transfer through myDMV documents the transaction and releases you from responsibility for the vehicle. This notification helps protect you if the vehicle receives citations, incurs toll charges, or becomes involved in incidents after you no longer own it.
License Plate Handling
Colorado law does not permit vehicle owners to retain license plates after selling or transferring a vehicle, unless they are personalized or horseless carriage plates. Regular plates should be returned to the nearest county motor vehicle office or recycled with a recycling service that accepts metal.
Registration Credit Transfer
Colorado does not provide cash refunds for vehicles sold during its annual registration period. However, transferring any remaining prorated amount of your registration to a new vehicle (or another person) is authorized and may be done at the county office.
Credit Eligibility
The county motor vehicle offices administer the registration credit program under specific statutory conditions:
- Owner must have paid current-year taxes and fees on the vehicle being sold or transferred
- Credit applies only to registration fees and taxes paid for the current registration period
- Owner may apply credit toward registration of another vehicle during the same registration period
- Credit cannot be issued as cash
- Each owner receives only one credit per registration period
Credit Application Process
Step 1: Complete Vehicle Sale or Transfer
Finalize your vehicle sale or transfer of ownership transaction. Report the transfer through myDMV Colorado or at your county motor vehicle office. Retain documentation proving the transfer date and new owner information.
Step 2: Visit Your County Motor Vehicle Office
The registration credit transfer process cannot be completed online through myDMV. You must visit your county motor vehicle office in person to apply your credit toward registration of your replacement vehicle.
Step 3: Present Required Materials
Bring documentation of your vehicle sale or transfer, your previous registration receipt showing taxes and fees paid, and information for the vehicle you wish to register. County staff will calculate the credit amount based on the unused portion of your registration period.
Step 4: Apply Credit to New Registration
The county motor vehicle office will apply your credit toward the taxes and fees for registering your replacement vehicle. The credit covers only the proportional amount of registration fees and taxes for the complete unused months remaining in your registration period.
Processing Note: Credits apply only when registering another vehicle in Colorado during the same registration period. If you relocate to another state or do not register a replacement vehicle, no credit or refund is available. According to Colorado DMV Registration FAQs, county motor vehicle offices do not offer refunds if you sell your vehicle during its annual registration period, but you can transfer any remaining prorated amount to a new vehicle at your county office.
Governing Laws and Regulations
Colorado vehicle registration cancellation and credit procedures are established through state statutes in the Colorado Revised Statutes:
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-3-121 establishes violations related to registration, including requirements for surrendering registration certificates and license plates upon demand by the department
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-3-112 addresses late registration fees and exemptions, including provisions for vehicles that are stolen, stored, or affected by other qualifying circumstances
Government Agencies
Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles
Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles
1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80214
Phone: (303) 205-5600
Official Website: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
Online Services:
myDMV Colorado
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
County Motor Vehicle Offices
Colorado processes vehicle registration services through county motor vehicle offices operated by locally elected clerks and recorders. The following offices serve Colorado's major population centers:
Denver County Motor Vehicle - Main Office
2855 Tremont Street, Denver, CO 80205
Phone: (720) 865-4600
Official Website: Denver Motor Vehicle
El Paso County Motor Vehicle - Citizens Service Center
1675 West Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Phone: (719) 520-6240
Official Website: El Paso County Motor Vehicle
Arapahoe County Motor Vehicle
5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: (303) 795-4500
Official Website: Arapahoe County Motor Vehicle
Larimer County Motor Vehicle - Fort Collins Office
200 West Oak Street, Suite 1100, Fort Collins, CO 80522
Phone: (970) 498-7878
Official Website: Larimer County Vehicle Licensing
Jefferson County Motor Vehicle - Lakewood Office
2099 Wadsworth Boulevard, Suite K, Lakewood, CO 80214
Phone: (303) 271-8100
Official Website: Jefferson County Motor Vehicle
Boulder County Motor Vehicle - Boulder Office
1750 33rd St., Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: (303) 413-7710
Official Website: Boulder County Motor Vehicle
Adams County Motor Vehicle - Brighton Office
4430 South Adams County Parkway, Suite C3000, Brighton, CO 80601
Phone: (720) 523-6010
Official Website: Adams County Motor Vehicle
Douglas County Motor Vehicle - Castle Rock Office
301 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: (303) 660-7440
Official Website: Douglas County Motor Vehicle
Pueblo County Motor Vehicle Office
215 West 10th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone: (719) 583-6507
Official Website: Pueblo County Motor Vehicle
Weld County Motor Vehicle - Greeley Office
1250 H St., Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-6520
Official Website: Weld County Motor Vehicle
