In the state of Colorado when you sell or transfer a vehicle, you need a Bill of Sale. The Bill of Sale form serves as a legal receipt from the buyer to the seller documenting both the change in ownership and the purchase price.
The State of Colorado has some legal specific requirements about what a Bill of Sale must contain. You can find all the details about this form below in this page.
The following information should appear on the Colorado Bill of Sale Form:
- Vehicle details with Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Odometer reading statement
- The purchase price or vehicle value
- Seller’s full name and address
- Buyer’s full name and address
- Signature of the seller
- Date of sale
- Signature of the buyer
Colorado Bill of Sale Forms
Click here to download and print a generic Colorado Bill of Sale Form for any vehicle sale or transfer.
Click here to download and print a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record
How to complete the generic Colorado Bill of Sale Form
The generic Colorado Bill of Sale form for vehicles is composed of three sections and below you’ll learn how to fill out this form:
Section 1 of the Colorado Bill of Sale Form
The first section contains the vehicle information. Here you need to fill out the Make, Model, Year, Body type or Style, Color, and VIN or Vehicle Identification Number. Next fill out the Odometer Reading at the time of transfer. Also use here only digits, no tenths. Then check if it is the Actual Mileage. Or check if the Odometer is in excess of its mechanical limits. Or you may check if the odometer reading is not the actual mileage:
Section 2 of the Colorado Bill of Sale Form
In Section 2 you have to fill out first the Seller information. Fill first the full PRINTED name of the seller. This means to use only Capital Letters to write SELLER’S NAME. Then fill seller’s street address, seller’s city and state. Further you need to fill out the Buyer details. Complete the full name of the buyer. The buyer’s name must be PRINTED. This means to use only Capital Letters to write BUYER’S NAME. Then fill out buyer’s street address, buyer’s city and state. After these details you have to write the sum of the transfer price of the vehicle (or the word GIFT). Or you may record that this vehicle was a gift. If this is the case please indicate the relationship with the buyer (e.g. parent, spouse, friend) and the value of the vehicle:
Section 3 of the Colorado Bill of Sale Form
The third section represents the seller’s statement about the details contained in this Bill of Sale and buyer’s acknowledgement. Lastly fill the seller’s signature, the transfer date and buyer’s signature:
Please note that you can fill out this Bill of Sale form by hand. However don’t forget to use a pen and not a pencil. If you fill this form on your device (phone, tablet, computer) this form is a fillable PDF that works best with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
How to complete the Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record Form
The form Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record – Form DR 2116 is composed of three sections and below you’ll learn how to fill out correctly this form:
Section 1 of the Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record Form
In the first section you need to check first if you plan to sell the vehicle or if you plan to re-establish the ownership document. The example below is completed in the case you sell the vehicle. Further you’ll need to fill out the VIN or Vehicle Identification Number, Year, Make, Body Style or Type. Also you’ll need to fill out the date of sale, Amount of sale, and Title Number (if known):
Section 2 of the Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record Form
In the second section you have to fill out the current Owner information or buyer’s information. The buyer’s name must be PRINTED – this means to use only Capital Letters to write BUYER’S NAME. Additionally fill out buyer’s street address, buyer’s city, state, and ZIP code:
Section 3 of the Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record Form
In the third section you have to fill out the Seller information. This section is also a certification under penalty of perjury in the second degree, that the information in this form is true and accurate. So complete first seller’s signature. After that fill out the full name of the seller (the name must be PRINTED – this means to use only Capital Letters to write SELLER’S NAME). Then fill out the date, seller’s street address, seller’s city, state and ZIP code:
Please note that you can fill out this Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record form by hand also. However don’t forget to use a pen and not a pencil. If you are filling out this form on your device (phone, tablet, computer) this form is a fillable PDF that works best with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
More details about a vehicle transfer in Colorado
As a seller you should provide the following items to the buyer: the Colorado Certificate of Title, if there is more than one owner named on the front of the Certificate of Title, all owners must print and sign their name as seller and enter purchase price and date. The Seller keeps license plates. These should be removed from the vehicle after the sale.
The seller must complete an odometer disclosure reading and indicator information on the Certificate of Title. Additionally it may be disclosed on the DR2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale form which can be purchased through Colorado Auto Dealers Association, Colorado Independent Automobile Dealers Association, A-B-C Enterprises and Colorado Automobile/Powersports Support Services. You can download a sample form Colorado Bill of Sale Motor Vehicle DR 2173 here: DR 2173.
Furthermore, an emissions inspection certificate is required if the buyer lives in an emissions area.
If the title has been branded “Rebuilt from Salvage”, the seller must complete the Rebuilt from Salvage Disclosure. If reason for Salvage is unknown, a vehicle record search must be completed to determine the reason the vehicle was salvaged.
Tips for buying a vehicle in Colorado
As a buyer you should check Motor Vehicle Verification System to confirm that the vehicle has not been reported stolen. Check also the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (please note there is a fee for this service) to research a vehicle history. Finally check the National Insurance Crime Bureau to confirm that the vehicle has not been declared a total loss.
After that the buyer should go to the county motor vehicle office, in the county in which buyer lives. Here the buyer will obtain a temporary permit. The buyer must present documents received from the seller, proof of insurance, as well as secure and verifiable identification to the clerk to obtain the temporary permit.
For After Hours Purchase C.R.S. 42-3-115(2)(b), C.R.S. 42-6-113 a buyer of a vehicle may operate a vehicle on the highway prior to registering the vehicle. This applies when the buyer has purchased the motor vehicle within the last 36 hours from a person who is not a licensed motor vehicle dealer. Also it applies if the vehicle was purchased either on a Saturday, on a Sunday, on a legal holiday, or between 5p.m. and 8 a.m.. Additionally it applies if the vehicle is being driven from the place where the seller stored the vehicle to the place where the buyer intends to store the vehicle.
The buyer must carry in the vehicle a Colorado Bill of Sale that identifies the vehicle by year, make and VIN. Furthermore this shows the time and date of sale. It must be signed by both the buyer and the seller and you need proof of insurance.
Find out more about the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
For more information go to Colorado Department of Revenue – Division of Motor Vehicles
Colorado Department of Revenue – Division of Motor Vehicles its mission is to provide excellent identification, driver, and motor vehicle services to help make Colorado a safe place to live, work, and play.