Colorado DMV Fee Calculator

Colorado assesses registration on vehicle VALUE, so an older or cheaper car costs materially less to register.

Colorado registration fee estimator

Colorado assesses registration on vehicle VALUE, so an older or cheaper car costs materially less to register.

First-year total —

Annual registration —

Colorado purchase tax —

Base fee —

Colorado at a glance

Figure	Colorado	Source
Fee model	Value-based (ad valorem) state	[2]
State sales tax on vehicles	2.90%	[2]
Max local sales tax add-on	8.30%	[2]
Typical annual renewal	$883	[2]

[2] Sources

State vehicle sales tax — all 50 states

Colorado highlighted. Same data as the table below, shown as a distribution so the comparison is visible at a glance.

Highlighted: Colorado, ranked 45 of 50. Median 6.00%.

Colorado registration by vehicle and model year

Estimated annual registration under Colorado's fee model.

Model year	$8,000 vehicle	$12,000 vehicle	$18,000 vehicle	$25,000 vehicle	$32,000 vehicle	$40,000 vehicle	$50,000 vehicle	$65,000 vehicle	$85,000 vehicle
2026	$373	$537	$783	$1,070	$1,357	$1,685	$2,095	$2,710	$3,530
2025	$359	$515	$751	$1,025	$1,299	$1,613	$2,005	$2,593	$3,377
2024	$346	$497	$723	$987	$1,250	$1,552	$1,929	$2,494	$3,247
2023	$336	$481	$700	$954	$1,209	$1,500	$1,863	$2,409	$3,136
2022	$327	$468	$680	$927	$1,173	$1,456	$1,808	$2,337	$3,042
2021	$320	$457	$663	$903	$1,143	$1,418	$1,761	$2,276	$2,963
2020	$313	$447	$648	$883	$1,118	$1,386	$1,721	$2,224	$2,895
2019	$308	$439	$636	$866	$1,096	$1,359	$1,687	$2,180	$2,837
2018	$303	$432	$626	$852	$1,078	$1,336	$1,658	$2,143	$2,788
2017	$299	$426	$617	$839	$1,062	$1,316	$1,634	$2,111	$2,746
2016	$297	$421	$610	$829	$1,049	$1,299	$1,613	$2,084	$2,711
2015	$297	$417	$603	$820	$1,037	$1,285	$1,595	$2,061	$2,681
2014	$297	$413	$598	$813	$1,028	$1,273	$1,580	$2,041	$2,655
2012	$297	$413	$589	$801	$1,012	$1,254	$1,557	$2,010	$2,615
2010	$297	$413	$587	$792	$1,002	$1,241	$1,540	$1,988	$2,586

Worked figures for Colorado

Colorado values:

Year	Age	Annual Fees	Purchase Tax	First Year
2026	0 yr	$405	$870	$1,275
2025	1 yr	$351	$870	$1,221
2024	2 yr	$305	$870	$1,175
2023	3 yr	$266	$870	$1,136
2022	4 yr	$233	$870	$1,103
2020	6 yr	$181	$870	$1,051
2018	8 yr	$143	$870	$1,013
2016	10 yr	$116	$870	$986
2014	12 yr	$96	$870	$966
2010	16 yr	$72	$870	$942

How Colorado compares nationally

On state vehicle sales tax, Colorado ranks #45 of 50 at 2.90% — 52% below the median of 6.00%. The national range runs from 0.00% (Oregon) to 7.25% (California).

Rank	State	State vehicle sales tax
#43	New York	4.00%
#44	Wyoming	4.00%
#45	Colorado	2.90%
#46	Alaska	0.00%
#47	Delaware	0.00%

Value-based (ad valorem) states, ranked

Same rule structure as Colorado:

State	State vehicle sales tax	vs Colorado
California	7.25%	+150.0%
Minnesota	6.88%	+137.1%
Washington	6.50%	+124.1%
Iowa	6.00%	+106.9%
Arizona	5.60%	+93.1%
Virginia	5.30%	+82.8%
Oklahoma	4.50%	+55.2%
Wyoming	4.00%	+37.9%
Colorado	2.90%	—

Colorado questions, answered with Colorado numbers

How does Colorado calculate registration fees?▾

Colorado assesses on vehicle VALUE, so the fee falls as the car depreciates. A newer vehicle costs materially more to register than an older one of the same type.

What does registration cost in Colorado for a typical car?▾

Around $1,175 for a 2024 vehicle, versus about $966 for a 2014 one. The $209 gap is depreciation flowing through Colorado's value-based formula.

What sales tax applies to vehicles in Colorado?▾

Colorado's state rate is 2.90%, and local add-ons can reach 8.30%. On a $30,000 purchase the state portion alone is about $870.

Other value-based (ad valorem) states

Arizona California Iowa Minnesota Oklahoma Virginia Washington Wyoming

Last reviewed 2026-08-26. Colorado figures only — verify with the relevant Colorado agency before acting. How this is calculated.