Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in Colorado in 2025

Colorado law requires all motor vehicle owners to maintain liability insurance coverage before registering or operating vehicles on public roadways. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-7-103, vehicle owners must demonstrate proof of financial responsibility through insurance policies, self-insurance certificates, or financial responsibility bonds. This requirement establishes mandatory financial responsibility standards that apply to vehicle registration, renewal transactions, and continuous operation throughout each registration period.

Legal Requirement for Insurance Coverage

Colorado prohibits the operation or registration of motor vehicles without adequate insurance coverage. The state mandates that all automobile owners carry liability insurance to cover bodily injury to another person or property damage to another's vehicle or property when the insured is at fault for an accident. Vehicle registration may be denied or delayed if the Colorado Motor Vehicle Registration file does not show insurance coverage for the vehicle.

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles administers the state's mandatory liability insurance program through county motor vehicle offices located in each of Colorado's 64 counties. The Division processes all vehicle registration applications, renewals, and compliance enforcement actions. Colorado implements electronic insurance verification protocols through the Motorist Insurance Identification Database (MIIDB) to confirm coverage during registration transactions and conduct ongoing monitoring to identify coverage lapses.

Vehicle owners must maintain uninterrupted insurance coverage throughout the entire registration period. Allowing coverage to lapse violates Colorado law and may result in registration suspension, monetary penalties, and enforcement actions. The MIIDB program verifies compliance continuously by matching DMV vehicle registration records against insurance company policy information.

Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80214
Phone: (303) 205-5600
Official Website: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles

Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements

Colorado establishes specific minimum liability insurance coverage amounts that all policies must meet or exceed.

Any individual who has over 25 vehicles registered may qualify as a self-insurer by applying for a certificate of self-insurance from the state Insurance Commissioner. The Insurance Commissioner must ensure that the individual will be able to pay the minimum coverages required by the state.

Colorado Division of Insurance
1560 Broadway, Suite 850, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-7499
Official Website: Colorado Division of Insurance

Proof of Insurance Documents

Colorado law requires every motor vehicle operator to carry evidence of insurance within the vehicle during operation. According to Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-7-103, evidence of insurance means proof given by the insured in person that the insured has a complying policy in full force and effect. Proof may be made through presentation of a copy of such complying policy or a card issued to the insured as evidence that a complying policy is in full force and effect.

Registration applicants must provide acceptable forms of proof to county motor vehicle offices before registering vehicles. Under 1 CCR 204-10 Rule 46, acceptable proof of insurance includes:

• Colorado Insurance Card: Standard card issued by the insurance carrier identifying the vehicle by VIN, year, and make, and specifying the term of coverage
• Copy of Colorado Insurance Policy: Full policy documentation showing coverage details
• Letter from Insurance Company: Official correspondence on company letterhead confirming coverage
• Computer Printout from Insurer: Electronic or printed documentation from the insurance provider
• Facsimile of Proof of Insurance: Faxed copies of insurance documentation
• Electronic Proof of Insurance: Insurer-provided electronic image or proof displayed on cellular phone, laptop, or other portable electronic device
• Web-Based Services: Department may use applicant's insurer-provided web-based services for proof of insurance when available
• Electronic Mail: Email correspondence sent from the applicant's insurer

A card issued as evidence that a complying policy is in full force and effect may be produced in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include display of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device.

Acceptable types of insurance policies include vehicle-specific policies identifying the vehicle by VIN, year, and make; commercial policies covering fleet vehicles and drivers; self-insurance certificates issued by the State Commissioner of Insurance; blanket/operator policies covering the insured driver for any vehicle driven; and owner/operator broad form policies insuring any or all vehicles owned by a person or business.

Exceptions to Insurance Requirements

Colorado law provides limited exceptions to mandatory liability insurance requirements for certain vehicle categories and circumstances. According to state regulations and Colorado Revised Statutes, specific exemptions apply under defined conditions:

• Farm Equipment: Non-registered vehicles, trailers, and towables used exclusively in agricultural operations qualify as exempt farm equipment under Colorado regulations
• Off-Highway Vehicles: Vehicles not designed primarily for highway use and operated exclusively off public roadways
• Temporarily Out-of-State Vehicles: Colorado residents temporarily residing out of state with valid out-of-state insurance may complete an Affidavit of Non-Use of Vehicle (DR 2303) and submit it to their county motor vehicle office
• Non-Use Vehicles: Vehicles that will not be operated for a period of time may qualify for non-use status through submission of proper documentation
• Self-Insured Entities: Individuals or organizations with 25 or more vehicles registered who obtain a certificate of self-insurance from the State Commissioner of Insurance
• Federal and State Government Vehicles: Vehicles owned and operated by governmental entities subject to specific liability provisions

Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Registration

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles verifies insurance coverage as a mandatory element of all vehicle registration transactions. Registration applicants must provide proof of Colorado vehicle insurance before completing registration applications. County motor vehicle offices confirm insurance information through the Motorist Insurance Identification Database before processing registration applications or renewals.

• Motor vehicles must be titled and registered within sixty days after purchase. New Colorado residents have ninety days after establishing residency to register vehicles in the state. Registration applications require VIN verification for vehicles previously titled in another state, current or out-of-state title, proof of Colorado vehicle emissions when applicable, and proof of Colorado insurance coverage.
• New residents relocating to Colorado must obtain Colorado-compliant insurance policies before registering vehicles. Out-of-state insurance is accepted for registration purposes only if it is compliant with Colorado insurance laws. The insurance policy must meet or exceed Colorado's minimum coverage requirements of $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 for liability coverage.
• Registration renewals require active insurance coverage verified through MIIDB. The system performs electronic insurance verification automatically during renewal processing. Vehicles with lapsed or unverifiable insurance coverage cannot complete renewal transactions until valid coverage is established and confirmed through the verification system. If state records indicate a vehicle is not insured in Colorado, vehicle owners must provide proof of insurance at the time of renewal.

County motor vehicle offices throughout Colorado process registration transactions and verify insurance compliance. Vehicle owners may renew registrations online, by mail, by telephone, or in person at county offices. Online and telephone renewals require that insurance information be current in the MIIDB system. In-person renewals allow submission of physical or electronic proof of insurance documentation when database records do not reflect current coverage.