Selling a car in Colorado: the paperwork
| Colorado seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | Report Release of Liability, within 5 days, online |
| Duplicate title | DR 2539A (Duplicate Title/Lien Request and Receipt); $8.20 |
| Bill of sale | Recommended |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Colorado
We buy cars in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins and Pueblo, and in every other town in Colorado a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
Front Range hailstorms total a lot of otherwise healthy cars, and we buy hail-damaged vehicles across Colorado without asking for repairs.
How it works in Colorado
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Colorado, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Colorado
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Colorado too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Colorado car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Colorado?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Colorado title, apply to the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles with DR 2539A (Duplicate Title/Lien Request and Receipt). The fee is $8.20.
Can I junk a car without a title in Colorado?
Sometimes. A recycler can take a vehicle from the titled owner, from a seller with a completed state-form bill of sale, or otherwise after a 7-business-day hold and a VIN check (CRS 42-4-2202). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Colorado title, apply to the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles with DR 2539A (Duplicate Title/Lien Request and Receipt). The fee is $8.20.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Colorado?
In Colorado, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Plates belong to the owner. Personalized plates can move to your next vehicle; return or recycle regular plates.
How do I tell the Colorado DMV that I sold my car?
File the Report Release of Liability with the state within 5 days of the sale, and you can file it online. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Colorado?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Colorado a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Colorado DMV: Private Sale, Buying or Selling a Vehicle
- Colorado DMV: Vehicle Title General Information
- Colorado DMV: Vehicle Taxes and Fees
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 42, section 42-4-2202 Transfer for recycling (Colorado General Assembly, PDF)
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.