Colorado Registration Fee Calculator

Colorado auto registration fee calculator: Instantly estimate your vehicle registration costs in Colorado. Get an accurate breakdown of all fees and taxes today.

How Are Colorado Registration Fees Calculated?

Colorado registration fees are determined by several factors that make each vehicle’s cost unique. The total amount you pay includes the ownership tax, license fees based on weight, and various state and county charges.

The ownership tax forms the largest portion of your registration cost and decreases each year your vehicle ages. For passenger vehicles, the taxable value is 85% of the MSRP, while light trucks are assessed at 75% of the original sticker price. This depreciation schedule means newer vehicles cost significantly more to register than older ones.

Understanding Colorado Vehicle Registration Fee Structure

Year-by-Year Ownership Tax Breakdown

The ownership tax portion of your Colorado registration follows a decreasing percentage scale:

• First year: 2.1% of taxable value
  
• Second year: 1.5% of taxable value
  
• Third year: 1.2% of taxable value
  
• Fourth year: 0.9% of taxable value
  
• Fifth through ninth year: 0.45% of taxable value
  
• Tenth year and older: Minimum of $3.00 per year
  

After the tenth year, your vehicle reaches the minimum registration fee, making older vehicles much more affordable to register annually.

Weight-Based License Fees

Beyond the ownership tax, Colorado charges license fees based on your vehicle’s empty weight. These standardized fees apply to all vehicles statewide:

• Vehicles 2,000 lbs or less: $4.30
  
• Vehicles 2,001 – 5,000 lbs: $7.80
  
• Vehicles 5,001 – 10,000 lbs: $10.30
  

Passenger vehicles typically average $25 in weight-based fees, while light trucks average around $90 due to their heavier weight classification.

Additional Required Fees

Several mandatory fees are collected with every registration transaction in Colorado:

Standard Fees:

• Clerk Hire Fee: $4.00 per transaction
  
• County Road and Bridge: $0.94 for vehicles over 2,000 lbs
  
• TABOR Refund: $2.25
  
• POST Board Fee: $1.00
  
• Material Fees: Year tab ($0.48), month tab ($0.45)
  
• License Plates: Embossed set ($7.38) or digital set ($11.27) on issuance
  
• MIIDB Fee: $0.10 for most vehicles
  

These fees are distributed to various state programs including road maintenance, county clerk offices, and law enforcement training through the POST Board.

Electric Vehicle Registration Fees

Colorado implements additional annual fees for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to compensate for lost fuel tax revenue. These fees increase annually through a phase-in schedule:

Plug-In Electric Vehicle Fees:

• FY 2023-24: $54.47
  
• FY 2024-25: $57.19
  
• FY 2025-26: $60.05
  

Battery Electric Vehicle Annual Fees:
The fees escalate from $4 in 2023 to $96 by 2032 for fully electric vehicles, with plug-in hybrids facing lower but similarly increasing charges.

Keep Colorado Wild Pass

Starting January 2023, Colorado residents are automatically charged $29 for a Keep Colorado Wild Pass during annual vehicle registration. This pass provides access to Colorado State Parks, though residents can opt-out or decline the pass when registering passenger vehicles, light trucks, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles.

Sales Tax on Vehicle Purchases

When registering a newly purchased vehicle, you must pay Colorado sales tax based on the purchase price. The tax rates vary by location but typically include:

• Colorado State sales tax: 2.9%
  
• Regional Transportation District (RTD) tax: 1.1% (where applicable)
  
• City and county sales taxes: Varies by jurisdiction
  

These taxes are collected only on initial registration of a newly purchased vehicle, not on annual renewals.

How to Use the Colorado Auto Registration Fee Calculator

Our calculator requires just a few pieces of information to provide an accurate estimate:

1. Enter your vehicle’s original MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price)
   
2. Select your vehicle type (passenger vehicle or light truck)
   
3. Input the vehicle’s model year
   
4. Provide the vehicle’s weight
   
5. Indicate your county of residence for applicable local fees
   

The calculator automatically applies Colorado’s depreciation schedule and computes all applicable fees, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of your total registration cost. You can even estimate fees for the next 5 years to plan your vehicle ownership costs.

Where Do Colorado Tag Fees Go?

The registration fees you pay serve important purposes throughout the state. License fees based on weight go into the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) for constructing and repairing roads. County road and bridge fees support local infrastructure maintenance, while clerk fees fund county administrative operations.

Registration Renewal vs. First-Time Registration

First-time registration in Colorado requires payment of all ownership taxes, licensing fees, sales taxes (for new purchases), title fees ($7.20), and plate issuance costs. Annual renewals are significantly less expensive, as you only pay the depreciated ownership tax, license fees, and recurring administrative charges without sales tax or title fees.

Late Fees and Penalties

Colorado assesses late fees when vehicle registration expires without renewal. For vehicles 2,000 lbs or less, the late fee is $8.00, while vehicles between 2,001-5,000 lbs face $11.50 in late charges. Newly purchased vehicles may be exempt from late fees during the initial registration period if proper temporary permits are obtained.

Getting Accurate Registration Estimates

While online calculators provide reliable estimates, final registration costs may vary based on specialty plate selections, fuel source (electric, hybrid, gasoline), exact renewal date, and county-specific fees. Always verify final amounts with your county clerk’s motor vehicle office before completing registration.

The Colorado DMV’s official fee estimator and our Colorado Auto Registration Fee Calculator help you budget for these costs accurately, ensuring you’re prepared when it’s time to register or renew your vehicle registration.

Payment Options

Most Colorado county clerk offices accept multiple payment methods including cash and checks at no additional cost. Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) are accepted with a portal fee of $0.75 per transaction plus 2.25% of the total amount.

Frequently Asked Questions