Colorado car sales tax calculator
The sales tax in Colorado is the state’s 2.90% plus a local rate that depends on the place, of the taxable amount.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 11, 2026 · Page changed Oct 12, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Denver, Denver County, Colorado
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Colorado. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $605.14a month | $41,308.45so far | |
| $544.01a month | $44,168.47so far | |
| $594.89a month | $40,693.44so far |
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Your numbers stay in this browser.
$605.14 a month · 60 payments
All-in $41,308.45 so far
$544.01 a month · 72 payments
All-in $44,168.47 so far
$594.89 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,693.44 so far
Out-the-door $36,376.66 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,998.46 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,976.99 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Fuel
Gas car. Plug-in electric cars pay a yearly fee and a road usage fee
Curb weight
The research’s test car, the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD: 3,494 lb. The fee goes by the weight the manufacturer publishes
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s MSRP without the $1,400 destination
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Fuel
Gas car. Plug-in electric cars pay a yearly fee and a road usage fee
Curb weight
The research’s test car, the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD: 3,494 lb. The fee goes by the weight the manufacturer publishes
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s MSRP without the $1,400 destination
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Fuel
Gas car. Plug-in electric cars pay a yearly fee and a road usage fee
Curb weight
The research’s test car, the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD: 3,494 lb. The fee goes by the weight the manufacturer publishes
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s MSRP without the $1,400 destination
Colorado law sets no figure for this fee.
Colorado calls it a documentation fee.
sos.state.co.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
Colorado law sets no figure for this fee.
Colorado calls it a documentation fee.
sos.state.co.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
Colorado law sets no figure for this fee.
Colorado calls it a documentation fee.
sos.state.co.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
Assumes a self-collecting home-rule city such as Denver rounds its own line to the cent, half up, like the state’s lines. CDOR’s rounding guidance doesn’t cover those cities. At most 1¢.
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 12, 2026
- No emissions test on a gas car in its first seven model years.
dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
- No cap and no minimum on the sales tax, state or local.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No emissions test on a gas car in its first seven model years.
dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
- No cap and no minimum on the sales tax, state or local.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No emissions test on a gas car in its first seven model years.
dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
- No cap and no minimum on the sales tax, state or local.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,676.66 in tax and fees first; $1,323.34 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,603.46 in tax and fees first; $1,396.54 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,726.99 in tax and fees first; $1,273.01 goes toward the price.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
60 payments, last $605.19
72 payments, last $543.76
60 payments, last $594.93
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
3 charges this total leaves out
3 charges this total leaves out
3 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Colorado
Colorado calls it the sales tax.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Colorado’s law sets no figure for the documentation fee.
sos.state.co.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
The local part of the tax follows where you live and register the car, not where the dealer is. A dealer should not collect a city, county or district tax for a place the buyer does not live in and will not register in.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Worked examples
Each line below is worked by the same engine as the calculator, on the day this page was built (Nov 11, 2026).
A new car with a trade-in and negative equity
A new car at $32,700.00, with a trade-in allowed at $10,000.00 and $13,000.00 still owed, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Colorado’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $32,700.00 |
| Trade-in allowance | $10,000.00 |
| Still owed on the trade-in | $13,000.00 |
| Equity (negative if you owe more than it is worth) | −$3,000.00 |
| Taxable amount tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Colorado sales tax olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $658.30 |
| City sales tax denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,169.05 |
| Regional Transportation District (RTD) sales tax denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $227.00 |
| Scientific and Cultural Facilities District sales tax denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22.70 |
| Title fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $7.20 |
| Lien filing (county recording fee) olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $40.00 |
| Specific ownership tax olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $559.00 |
| License fee (by weight) olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $9.00 |
| Vehicle age fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $12.00 |
| Road safety surcharge olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $19.30 |
| Bridge safety surcharge olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $18.00 |
| Emergency medical services fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $2.00 |
| Peace officer training fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.00 |
| AIR account fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $0.50 |
| County road fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| County clerk fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $4.00 |
| Insurance fee dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.50 |
| Motorist insurance database fee dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.10 |
| Emissions program area fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| County emissions fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $0.70 |
| License plates dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $7.38 |
| Month and year tabs dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $0.93 |
| Out-the-door price | $35,461.66 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $33,461.66 |
| Monthly payment | $645.35 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,259.53 |
| Total paid, interest included | $43,721.19 |
A used car from a dealer
A used car, model year 2022, at $21,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Colorado’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Colorado sales tax olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $623.50 |
| City sales tax denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,107.25 |
| Regional Transportation District (RTD) sales tax denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $215.00 |
| Scientific and Cultural Facilities District sales tax denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21.50 |
| Title fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $7.20 |
| Lien filing (county recording fee) olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $40.00 |
| License fee (by weight) olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $9.00 |
| Vehicle age fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $12.00 |
| Road safety surcharge olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $19.30 |
| Bridge safety surcharge olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $18.00 |
| Emergency medical services fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $2.00 |
| Peace officer training fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.00 |
| AIR account fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $0.50 |
| County road fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| County clerk fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $4.00 |
| Insurance fee dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.50 |
| Motorist insurance database fee dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.10 |
| Emissions program area fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| County emissions fee olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $0.70 |
| License plates dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $7.38 |
| Month and year tabs dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $0.93 |
| Specific ownership tax: needs the car’s sticker price (MSRP), which this example doesn’t give | Not included |
| Out-the-door price | $23,592.86 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $18,592.86 |
| Monthly payment | $358.59 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,922.37 |
| Total paid, interest included | $26,515.23 |
The rules in Colorado
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | sales tax tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Colorado sales tax | 2.90% of the taxable amount olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| County sales tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| City sales tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Regional Transportation District (RTD) sales tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Scientific and Cultural Facilities District sales tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Special district sales tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, the doc fee, other dealer fees on the order, accessories fitted before delivery and loose items sold with the car. Not taxed: protection packages, service contracts, prepaid maintenance, GAP and government fees. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate does not lower the amount taxed. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets no figure for the documentation fee. sos.state.co.us · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Title fee | $7.20 olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| License fee (by weight) | worked from the rule a year. A detail of that point is not confirmed. olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Vehicle age fee | worked from the rule a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Road safety surcharge | worked from the rule a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Bridge safety surcharge | worked from the rule a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Emergency medical services fee | $2.00 a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Peace officer training fee | $1.00 a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| AIR account fee | $0.50 a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| County road fee | $1.50 a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| County clerk fee | $4.00 a year olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Insurance fee | $0.50 a year dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Motorist insurance database fee | $0.10 a year dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The state 2.9% plus RTD, the Cultural District and the buyer’s city and county use tax, paid by the buyer to the county clerk at registration. Denver use tax is paid to Denver Motor Vehicle, with no trade-in deduction. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | Credit for sales or use tax legally imposed by the other state, not by a foreign country. Denver may charge more if the tax paid elsewhere was less than Denver’s. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | No state use tax on a vehicle bought before moving in. Denver may charge city use tax if less tax was paid elsewhere. Register within 90 days of becoming a resident. tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric vehicle fees | A plug-in electric vehicle pays a registration fee of $63.05 (fiscal year 2026-27) plus a road usage fee: $26 for a battery-electric vehicle, $13 for a plug-in hybrid. A gasoline car pays $0. No fee was found for hybrids without a plug. dmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Finance rate ceiling | On a dealer’s consumer credit sale the ceiling works out to 21% a year on car loans. olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Register within 60 days of the purchase. The late fee is $25 per month, up to $100. olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· Fees: a new version takes effect.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
· Watching: Lower registration fees from 2027 if a transportation-funding initiative passes (the passenger license fee’s $6 base to $3.72, the age fee $12 to $5.58), and a new EV fee section, Only if voters approve the initiative on 2026-11-03: from the governor’s declaration or January 1, 2027, whichever is later, to June 30, 2030.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
Which Colorado sales tax rate applies, mine or the dealer's?
Yours. The state’s part is 2.90% everywhere. The local part follows where you live and will register the car, not where the dealer is. A dealer should not collect sales tax for any city, county or special district unless the buyer lives in that place and will register the vehicle there. If you live and register somewhere else, the dealer’s local tax is not charged and the use tax for your own city, county and district is paid to the county clerk. The state publishes its local rates in a file that changes only on January 1 and July 1, and has an address lookup.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
What is Colorado's specific ownership tax?
It is a yearly tax on the vehicle, paid to the county every time you register. The state compares it to a property tax on your car. For a passenger car or SUV, the taxable value is 85% of the maker’s suggested retail price, not counting federal excise tax, shipping or destination, or preparation and delivery costs. That value never changes. The rate falls with age: 2.10% in year 1, 1.50% in year 2, 1.20% in year 3, 0.90% in year 4, 0.45% in years 5 to 9, and $3 from year 10. The current model year counts as the first year of service, whatever the purchase date. The state’s fee estimator shows the tax rounded to the whole dollar. It is paid in full at first registration, which is due within 60 days of the purchase.
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
mydmv.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Does Colorado give a trade-in tax credit?
Yes. The fair market value of a vehicle you trade in as part of buying another one is left out of the taxable price, on new and used purchases, with no dollar cap. Denver’s city tax uses the amount the dealer allows for the trade-in, and only on sales by a licensed dealer. On a private sale there is no trade-in deduction for Denver tax.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is the Colorado dealer doc fee capped, and is it taxed?
We found no cap. Colorado’s dealer rules, consumer-credit law and consumer-protection law set no amount for the fee, so no cap is our finding from the absence of a rule. Advertising a price without including all costs to the buyer at delivery is deemed misleading, except sales tax, finance charges, the cost of an emissions test, other government fees or taxes, and transportation costs. Since January 1, 2026, any advertised amount must also show the total price including mandatory fees, leaving out government charges. We found no required wording for the doc fee line on the buyer’s order. The fee is taxed: documentation fees, processing fees, and dealer preparation and closing fees are mandatory dealer fees included in the taxable price. We read Denver’s city tax the same way, but no Denver document names doc fees.
sos.state.co.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
What does Denver add to Colorado's car sales tax?
For a buyer who lives in Denver, three pieces sit on top of the state’s 2.90%: Denver city tax of 5.15%, RTD tax of 1.00% and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District tax of 0.10%. That is 6.25% together and 9.15% in all. Denver is a city and county, so there is no separate county tax. The city tax is figured on the net purchase price: the total price less the dealer’s trade-in allowance. A Denver-licensed dealer collects it when the buyer lives in Denver. If the seller is not licensed with Denver, the buyer pays the use tax directly to the Denver Motor Vehicle Division. The city collects its own tax; the state does not run it.
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
olls.info · checked Oct 3, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
denvergov.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
I bought a car out of state. What do I pay in Colorado?
A buyer who purchases a car outside Colorado and registers it in Colorado pays Colorado use tax and any local use tax at registration. If you paid sales, use or similar tax legally imposed by the state where the sale took place, you get a credit against the use tax due. Foreign countries do not count. Denver may still charge use tax when the tax paid elsewhere was less than Denver’s. If you moved to Colorado and became a resident, no use tax applies to a car you acquired outside the state and brought in. Register within 90 days of becoming a resident.
tax.colorado.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026