Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Colorado

In Colorado, vehicle registration and title records are administered by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within the Department of Revenue, though day-to-day issuance happens through each county. Registration information may need to be updated after a change of address, a legal name change, an error on a registration card or title, a vehicle purchase, a move into Colorado, or the loss of a document or plate. Depending on the transaction, the filing can be completed online at myDMV, in person at a county motor vehicle office, or by mail.

Colorado Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

A registration update becomes necessary in several recurring situations:

A physical or mailing address changes, requiring the vehicle address to be updated with the DMV.
A legal name changes, which affects both the title record and the registration record.
An owner is added to or removed from the registration or title.
A vehicle is purchased, and the buyer must title and register it within 60 days of the purchase date.
A vehicle is sold, and the seller reports the release of liability within 5 days.
A person becomes a Colorado resident, which starts the 90-day registration requirement.
A title, registration card, or license plate is lost, stolen, or destroyed, requiring a duplicate or replacement.
A vehicle plate is replaced or transferred between vehicles owned by the same person.

Where to File a Colorado Vehicle Registration Change

Colorado divides title and registration work between the state and the counties. The county motor vehicle offices operate independently under each county's elected clerk and recorder, and they handle most title and registration transactions for personal vehicles, including first-time registrations, renewals, replacement tags, duplicate registration cards, dealer title services, and lien filings. Counties also set their own hours and local taxes and fees, which is why costs vary from county to county.

The state DMV provides the supporting infrastructure and handles the transactions that counties do not. Online services at myDMV cover duplicate titles, duplicate registrations, registration renewal, address changes, replacement plates and tabs, title status checks, and fee estimates, and many of the same services are available through myColorado and participating MV Express Kiosks. Transactions outside county authority, such as dealer titles, commercial International Registration Plan accounts, and certain limited-title services, are completed at the state's Westgate office in Lakewood by appointment.

Colorado Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

An address update for a vehicle registration can be completed online through a myDMV portal account, which verifies identity before the change is recorded; the same service is available at a county motor vehicle office or a participating kiosk. County offices also list vehicle address changes as a standard registration service.

Separately, the address on a driver's license or identification card must be changed with the DMV within 30 days of moving, either online or at a driver's license office. The two records are not automatically linked, so an owner who moves should update the registration address and, if applicable, the driver credential address as distinct steps.

Colorado Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A name change that affects a vehicle title or registration is processed at the county motor vehicle office for the county of residence. The owner presents documentation of the change, such as a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, together with a secure and verifiable ID. The name on the Social Security record must be updated first, and roughly 24–48 hours should be allowed for that processing. When the title carries a current lien, the owner must work through the lienholder to change the name.

The registration record cannot diverge from the title record, because the owner's name shown on both must agree. Adding or removing an owner is likewise handled as a title transaction at the county office rather than as a registration-only change.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Colorado Registration Record

Duplicate and replacement documents follow separate procedures depending on the record involved.

A duplicate registration card or duplicate title is requested through the "Vehicle Services" tab at myDMV, directly with the county motor vehicle office, by appointment at the Westgate state office, or by mail using Form DR 2539A. A duplicate title costs $8.20. When a name has changed since the vehicle was titled, the applicant adds documentation of the name change and a secure, verifiable ID to the duplicate title request.

Stolen or lost license plates are reported to local law enforcement and replaced by submitting the DR 2283 Affidavit to the county motor vehicle office; fees depend on the plate type and whether renewal is due. A title that is improperly endorsed or carries an incorrect odometer disclosure cannot support a transfer, and a new title must be obtained from the seller to complete the transaction accurately.

Colorado Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

A vehicle purchased within Colorado must be titled and registered within 60 days of purchase or transfer under CRS 42-3-103(1)(a).
A new resident must register a vehicle within 90 days of establishing residency under CRS 42-3-103(4)(a); the deadline is also reflected in the new resident guidance.
A salvage vehicle must be titled in the buyer's name within 60 days of purchase unless the transaction is tax-exempt.
Registration or renewal filed late incurs $25 per month (or any part of a month), up to a maximum of $100; trailers are charged $10.
A seller should report the release of liability within 5 days of sale, online or at the county office, as described in the buying and selling guidance.
An address change on a driver license or ID card must be reported within 30 days of moving.
A name change requires the owner to renew the credential in the new name within 30 days of the change.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Colorado?

Colorado vehicle title and registration records are administered by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within the Department of Revenue, which sets the statewide title fees, though most transactions are processed through county Clerk & Recorder offices. The current amounts for the most common changes are listed in the table below.

Registration Change or Service	Fee
Change of address on registration	— (Vehicle Registration page)
Title transfer fee	$7.20 (Vehicle Title page)
Name change on title	$7.20, processed as a title transfer with name-change documentation (Vehicle Title page)
Adding or removing an owner on title	$7.20, processed as a title transfer (Vehicle Title page)
Duplicate title	$8.20 (Form DR 2539A)
Lien release title	$7.20 (Form DR 2539A)
Lien filing	$40, plus the $7.20 title fee (Vehicle Title page)
Late registration fee	$25 per month or a portion of a month ($10 for trailers), up to $100 (Vehicle Registration page)

Contact Information

Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
1351 5th Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80204
Phone: (303) 205-5600
Official Website: Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles