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Colorado Vehicle Bill of Sale

Colorado's Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173) is required when the sale price is not on the title.

Introduction

A Colorado vehicle bill of sale is the signed record of a private car sale showing the price, the vehicle, and the parties. Colorado publishes an official named form, the Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173), through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles. A bill of sale is recommended in Colorado, but it is required when the sale price is not listed on the title. The date of sale and the purchase price must be written on the back of the title unless a separate bill of sale is included, so the DR 2173 fills that gap. Colorado does not require the bill of sale to be notarized. Title transfer normally needs no notary, and older Colorado titles that carry a notary block can instead be cleared with the Statement of Transfer (DR 2445), signed under penalty of perjury under CRS 42-6-125 in lieu of notarization. For vehicles beginning with model year 2011, an odometer disclosure is required on every transfer for the first 20 years of the vehicle's life, and the secure DR 2173 can carry that disclosure. You title and register at your county motor vehicle office, not a central state DMV counter, within 60 days of purchase, and you pay sales and use tax there at titling. DocDraft drafts a Colorado vehicle bill of sale from your facts, with attorney review available.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    Colorado publishes an official named form, the Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173), through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles. The secure DR 2173 is useful because it can carry the federally required odometer disclosure along with the sale details.

  2. 2

    Notarization is not required for the bill of sale. Title transfer normally needs no notary. Older Colorado titles that carry a notary block can instead be cleared by filing the Statement of Transfer (DR 2445), signed under penalty of perjury in the second degree under CRS 42-6-125 in lieu of notarization. The DR 2445 exempts the notarization requirement only, and all sellers must still sign the Colorado title.

  3. 3

    An odometer disclosure is required on every transfer of ownership for the first 20 years of the vehicle's life, beginning with model year 2011 vehicles. The secure DR 2173 can be used to make this disclosure. Vehicles 20 years old or more, vehicles over 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and trailers are exempt.

  4. 4

    Sales and use tax is paid at the county motor vehicle office at the time of titling, with the stated purchase price driving the tax base. Confirm the current rate and tax base with your county motor vehicle office, because the local rate varies by county and the statutory base for private-party sales should be verified there.

  5. 5

    You title and register at your county motor vehicle office, not a central state DMV counter, within 60 days of the date of purchase. You bring the signed title, the bill of sale, your ID, and proof of insurance to your local county office to pay sales tax and get plates.

  6. 6

    A bill of sale is recommended but not universally required, with one exception: it is required when the sale price is not listed on the title. The date of sale and the purchase price must be written on the back of the title unless a separate bill of sale is also included.

  7. 7

    Colorado's distinctive feature is the price-on-title-or-bill-of-sale rule paired with an official secure form. Because the date of sale and purchase price must appear on the back of the title unless a separate bill of sale is included, the DR 2173 is the document that satisfies that requirement when the title does not carry the price.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Bill of Sale in Colorado, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Bill of Sale guide walks through them.

Open the Bill of Sale guide

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COLORADO VEHICLE BILL OF SALE (DR 2173)

This Bill of Sale records the sale of the motor vehicle described below. Colorado publishes an official Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173) through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles. A bill of sale is required when the sale price is not listed on the title; the date of sale and purchase price must otherwise be written on the back of the Colorado title.

DATE OF SALE: [DATE OF SALE]

SELLER Name: [SELLER NAME] Address: [SELLER ADDRESS]

BUYER Name: [BUYER NAME] Address: [BUYER ADDRESS]

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION Year: [YEAR] Make: [MAKE] Model: [MODEL] Body Type: [BODY TYPE] Color: [COLOR] Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): [VIN]

PURCHASE PRICE The Buyer agrees to pay and the Seller agrees to accept the total purchase price of $[PURCHASE PRICE] for the vehicle described above. Payment status: [PAID IN FULL / INSTALLMENTS / LIEN].

ODOMETER DISCLOSURE The Seller certifies the actual odometer reading to be [ODOMETER READING] miles. An odometer disclosure is required on every transfer for the first 20 years of the vehicle's life beginning with model year 2011 vehicles; the secure DR 2173 can carry this disclosure. [Check one if applicable: the mileage stated is in excess of its mechanical limits; the odometer reading is not the actual mileage.] Vehicles 20 years old or more, vehicles over 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and trailers are exempt.

AS-IS SALE Unless otherwise stated in writing, the vehicle is sold AS-IS, without any warranty as to condition, with the Buyer accepting the vehicle in its present condition.

SIGNATURES Seller Signature: ______________________ Date: [DATE] Printed Name: [SELLER NAME]

Buyer Signature: ______________________ Date: [DATE] Printed Name: [BUYER NAME]

Note: Title and register at your county motor vehicle office (not a central state DMV counter) within 60 days of the date of purchase. Bring the signed title, this bill of sale, your ID, and proof of insurance to pay sales and use tax and get plates. Notarization is not required for the bill of sale; an older title carrying a notary block can instead be cleared with the Statement of Transfer (DR 2445) signed under penalty of perjury under CRS 42-6-125.

Colorado Requirements for Bill of Sale

Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173)

Colorado publishes an official named form, the Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173), through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles. It is recommended rather than universally required, but it becomes required when the sale price is not listed on the title. The secure DR 2173 can also carry the federally required odometer disclosure.

Notarization Not Required; DR 2445 Substitute

Colorado does not require the bill of sale to be notarized, and title transfer normally needs no notary. Older Colorado titles that carry a notary block can instead be cleared with the Statement of Transfer (DR 2445), signed under penalty of perjury in the second degree under CRS 42-6-125 in lieu of notarization. The DR 2445 exempts the notarization requirement only, and all sellers must still sign the Colorado title.

Odometer Disclosure on Transfer

An odometer disclosure is required on every transfer of ownership for the first 20 years of the vehicle's life, beginning with model year 2011 vehicles, and the secure DR 2173 can carry it. Vehicles 20 years old or more, vehicles over 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and trailers are exempt.

Required Bill-of-Sale Fields

A Colorado bill of sale should include the seller and buyer names, the vehicle's year, make, model, and vehicle identification number, the purchase price, the date of sale, and the odometer reading, signed by both parties. These details also satisfy the date-of-sale and purchase-price record when they are not written on the back of the title.

Sales and Use Tax at the County Office

Sales and use tax is paid at the county motor vehicle office at the time of titling, with the stated purchase price driving the tax base. The total rate combines state and local county and city components, so confirm the current rate and the tax base for private-party sales with your county motor vehicle office.

Price Must Appear on Title or Bill of Sale

The date of sale and the purchase price must be written on the back of the title unless a separate bill of sale is also included. This is why a bill of sale is required when the sale price is not listed on the title, and why the DR 2173 substantiates the price for titling and tax.

Title at Your County Motor Vehicle Office Within 60 Days

Title and register at your county motor vehicle office, not a central state DMV counter. Buyers have 60 days from the date of purchase to title and register the vehicle. Bring the signed title, the bill of sale, your ID, and proof of insurance to pay sales tax and get temporary or permanent plates.

Bill of Sale Recommended, Required When Price Is Not on Title

A bill of sale is recommended but not universally required in Colorado, with one exception: it is required when the sale price is not listed on the title. Colorado administers titles through county motor vehicle offices under C.R.S. Title 42, Article 6, with CRS 42-6-125 governing signing under penalty of perjury in lieu of notarization.

Frequently Asked Questions

A bill of sale is recommended in Colorado, but it is required when the sale price is not listed on the title. The date of sale and the purchase price must be written on the back of the title unless a separate bill of sale is also included. Colorado publishes an official named form for this, the Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173), through the Division of Motor Vehicles.

No. Colorado does not require the bill of sale to be notarized, and title transfer normally needs no notary. Older Colorado titles that carry a notary block can instead be cleared with the Statement of Transfer (DR 2445), signed under penalty of perjury in the second degree under CRS 42-6-125 in lieu of notarization. The DR 2445 exempts the notarization requirement only, and all sellers must still sign the Colorado title.

Yes. Colorado publishes an official named form, the Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173), through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles. It is recommended rather than universally required, but it becomes required when the sale price is not listed on the title. The secure DR 2173 is useful because it can also carry the federally required odometer disclosure.

Colorado sales and use tax on a vehicle is paid at the county motor vehicle office at the time of titling, with the stated purchase price driving the tax base. The total rate combines state and local county and city components, so it varies by where you register. Confirm the current rate and the tax base for private-party sales with your county motor vehicle office.

You title and register at your county motor vehicle office, not a central state DMV counter. Buyers have 60 days from the date of purchase to title and register the vehicle. You bring the signed title, the bill of sale, your ID, and proof of insurance to your local county office to pay sales tax and get temporary or permanent plates.

A Colorado vehicle bill of sale should include the seller and buyer names, the vehicle's year, make, model, and vehicle identification number, the purchase price, the date of sale, the odometer reading, and the signatures of both parties. The official Secure Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (DR 2173) captures these and can carry the odometer disclosure, which is required for the first 20 years of a vehicle's life beginning with model year 2011.