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Residency Requirements

All motor vehicles and trailers owned or operated by a Colorado resident must be registered. A Colorado address is mandatory as the legal address. A Post Office Box is not acceptable as a legal address, but may be used for the mailing address. CRS 42-3-103 & 42-6-140

A named owner's secure and verifiable identification information is required to be presented for all new registration transactions. A named owner will provide a non-secure power of attorney to their agent to include the grantor's (named owner's) secure and verifiable identification information. The agents secure and verifiable identification information is required to be presented for all new registration transactions to someone other than a named owner.

Colorado requirements for residency are whichever of the following occurs first:

  • Own or operate a business in Colorado
  • Are gainfully employed in Colorado
  • Reside in Colorado for 90 consecutive days

Note: CRS 42-3-103 (4)(a) motor vehicle registration must be completed within 90 days after becoming a resident of Colorado.

Criteria used to establish residency in the county is: (CRS 42-6-139)

  • Primary place of residence; used when registering a personal vehicle; utilizes the same laws and regulations that apply to voter registration.
  • Business address; used when registering a business vehicle that is in the business name and where the vehicle is primarily operated and maintained.
  • When the place of residence or business address does not apply, the address where the vehicle is primarily domiciled and maintained may be used.

Military personnel on active duty in Colorado and who claim another state as their home state of residence shall register their vehicle(s) in Colorado. To obtain exemption from paying Specific Ownership Tax, the active duty military personnel must be owner or co-owner of the vehicle and complete the DR 2667 – Affidavit of Non-residence and Military Exemption from Specific Ownership Tax. This DR 2667 must be completed each year at time of renewal or with the application for registration of a newly purchased vehicle. These individuals are in Colorado because they are required to be here by their branch of service.  Please see C.R.S. 42-3-103 for complete details.

An out of state student is one who does not claim Colorado as their state of residence and is residing temporarily in Colorado for the primary purpose of attending a college, university, another accredited school or educational institution, or training in a hospital. Colorado has reciprocity with all states regarding the validity of out of state plates for students. Their primary purpose to be in Colorado is to further his/her education, therefore, they will not be required to register their vehicle in Colorado.