Deal with a vehicle in Colorado

You need to continue making regular car payments, maintain vehicle registration, and then transfer the car's ownership. You cannot drive the car unless you have proper registration, and penalties will be charged if this is not done on time.

1) Gather:

• The title signed by the correct representative. Write the “deceased’s name by executor’s name (with signature) as PR”

  • When a single person is listed on the title, bring the title in the deceased person’s name, signed by the executor in the Seller's Signature area of the title

  • When two owners names appear on the title and Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship does not appear on the title, the title must be signed by the executor and the other surviving owner in the Seller's Signature area of the title

  • When two owners names are listed on the title and appear with Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship, the title must be signed by the surviving owner only in the Seller's Signature area of the title

  • Write “Gifted” to avoid sales tax

• A copy of the letters of testamentary or letters of administration

• A copy of the death certificate

• The person’s ID

• A fee of $7.20

2) Decide if you want to drive the car or sell it right away:

• If you want to drive it, you will need to register it with:

  1. Proof of insurance

  2. If the car is older than 2012 and is in the Denver area, it will need to pass an emissions test

• If you want to sell it, you can just do the title as specified above

3) You must go into the county DMV with the above documentation. You can find your DMV here:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/county-motor-vehicle-offices

Additionally, if you have driver’s licenses, license plates, or disabled person placards to deal with, please click here.