Colorado requires titling and registration for all trailers. You will need to secure a trailer bill of sale in Colorado to help you with both processes and ensure that your trailer is legal to use on Colorado roadways.
Registering a Trailer in Colorado
You have 60 days to register your trailer in Colorado. You will pay late fees for registering after that time. You can register through the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles online portal at myDMV, at a kiosk in your county, or in person at a motor vehicle office.
The state treats trailer registration in the same manner as it does motor vehicle registration. You will need to bring your Colorado bill of sale for the trailer as proof of ownership when you begin the process.
What Paperwork Is Required To Register a Trailer in Colorado?
To register the trailer, you must have the following documents:
- Colorado title
- Purchase paperwork, including the Colorado trailer bill of sale
You also need a form of secure and verifiable identification for the person listed as the owner on the title. Acceptable IDs include:
- Driver’s license
- State identification card
- Driver’s permit with photo
- Passport
- Immigration documents: I-94 with L1 or R1 status, I551, I688, I688B, I766 with photo
- Military ID
- Tribal ID
- Certificate of Naturalization with photo
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship with photo
Trailer Registration Fees
Registration fees depend on the county in which you live. The only accurate estimate of how much you will pay will come from your local motor vehicle office. Flat fee rates are not available due to the variations. The basic charge is an assessment based on the following factors of the trailer:
- Age
- Weight
- Taxable value
- Purchase date
- Type of plate
You may also wish to bring the bill of sale for the trailer in Colorado to show ownership and provide the required details.
Title for Trailer
Colorado handles trailer titles in the same manner as motor vehicle tiling. You must secure a Colorado title to register it in the state. If you do not have one, you must go to the title office to transfer an out-of-state title.
You will need the following documents and information:
- Identification
- Current title or ownership document
- Colorado bill of sale for trailer
If the trailer has an out-of-state title, you will also need to get a Verification of Vehicle Identification Number form, which you can get from law enforcement, a motor vehicle dealer, or a license emissions testing station.
If you are titling for the first time, you also will need the following:
- Manufacturer’s statement of origin
- Weight slip
Insurance
You do not need insurance on your trailer in Colorado, but you must have it on your motor vehicle towing the trailer. That policy usually covers the trailer, but you may wish to add collision and comprehensive coverage. You may wish to provide your insurer with documents, such as the title and a copy of the Colorado trailer bill of sale pdf, to help them draw up a quote for the extra coverage.
Exemptions
The state offers some exemptions for registration late fees. You may waive fees if you are an active military member who is not in Colorado at the time of the registration deadline, but until you register, nobody can use the trailer on public roads.
If it is a commercial use trailer you have not used for an entire registration period, you do not owe late fees. The last exemption is if someone stole your trailer and registration lapsed before you got it back.
Colorado Trailer Bill of Sale Sample
Download a Colorado trailer bill of sale template below in PDF or Word format:
