In Colorado when you buy or sell a vehicle, you need a Bill of Sale. The Bill of Sale 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.
The following information should appear on the Colorado Bill of Sale Form:
- Name of the seller.
- Complete address of the seller.
- Name of the buyer.
- Complete address of the buyer.
- Complete vehicle description, including Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, year.
- Vehicle odometer reading at the time of sale.
- The price paid.
- Date of sale.
- Signature of both the seller and the buyer.
Colorado Bill of Sale Forms
Click here to download and print a generic – Colorado Bill of Sale Form
Click here to download and print a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale for Purged Colorado Record
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 should 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.
How to complete the generic Colorado Bill of Sale Form
This generic Colorado Bill of Sale is composed of three sections and below you’ll see you how to fill out this form:
Section 1
The Section 1 contains the vehicle information. Here you’ll need to fill out the Make, Model, Year, Style (Body type), Color, VIN or Vehicle Identification Number. Also the Odometer Reading at the time of transfer (use only digits, no tenths), seller registration number, and to answer if you previously filed an application for title of this vehicle:
Section 1 of the Colorado Bill of Sale
Section 2
In the Section 2 you will have to fill out first the Seller information. Start with the full PRINTED name of the seller. This means to use only Capital Letters to write SELLER’S NAME. Then seller’s street address, seller’s city and state. Further you will need to fill out the Buyer information. 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. Additionally fill out buyer’s street address, buyer’s city and state. After these details you will have to write the sum of the transfer price of the vehicle, to indicate if this vehicle was a gift and to indicate the relationship with the buyer (e.g. parent, spouse, friend):
Section 2 of the Colorado Bill of Sale
Section 3
The third section represents the seller’s statement about the details contained in this Bill of Sale. Lastly, seller’s signature and date:
Section 3 of the Colorado Bill of Sale
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 are filling out 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
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 1 of the Colorado Form DR 2116
Section 2
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 2 of the Colorado Form DR 2116
Section 3
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:
Section 3 of the Colorado Form DR 2116
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.
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.
