Free Colorado Vehicle Bill of Sale Form (CDOR Form DR 2116 PDF)

Q: Is a bill of sale required to register a car in Colorado?

Yes, while an assigned Colorado Certificate of Title is the primary legal transfer document, County Motor Vehicle Offices (County Clerk & Recorder) strongly require or recommend a signed Bill of Sale (CDOR Form DR 2116 standard) to establish legal proof of purchase price for sales and use tax assessment, release seller civil liability, and verify odometer disclosure.

Q: What is Colorado Form DR 2116?

Form DR 2116 ('Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale') is the official statutory template published by the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It records the complete vehicle description, purchase price, date of transfer, buyer/seller information, and required federal truth-in-mileage odometer disclosures under C.R.S. § 42-6-109.

Q: Do license plates stay with the car in Colorado?

No. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-3-115, license plates belong to the vehicle owner, not the vehicle. The seller MUST remove and keep their Colorado license plates immediately upon selling the vehicle. The seller may transfer those plates to another vehicle or return them to their County Motor Vehicle Office.

Q: Can you drive a newly bought car home without plates in Colorado?

Yes. Under C.R.S. § 42-3-115(2)(b), a buyer is granted a 36-hour grace period immediately following a private sale to drive the vehicle directly to their residence or to a County Motor Vehicle Office without plates, provided they carry this executed bill of sale and valid proof of motor vehicle insurance in the vehicle.

Q: How long do you have to register a car in Colorado after buying it?

Under C.R.S. § 42-6-110, the buyer has exactly 60 calendar days from the date of purchase to title and register the vehicle at their local County Motor Vehicle Office. Operating the vehicle beyond the 36-hour grace period requires purchasing a temporary permit from the county clerk.

FORM SBF-CO-DR2116 Statutory Year: 2026

C.R.S. §§ 42-6-109, 42-6-202 & 42-3-115

STATE OF COLORADO STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale & Federal Odometer Disclosure Statement

Compliant with Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) & Form DR 2116 Standards

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned Seller, for and in consideration of the total sales price set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, transfer, and deliver unto the undersigned Buyer all legal rights, title, equity, and interest in and to the motor vehicle described below, to have and to hold forever.

Section A: Jurisdiction & Location of Sale

State:

Colorado County *:

Section B: Complete Motor Vehicle Description

Year *

Make *

Model *

Body Style

Color

CO Plate # (Prior)

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN - 17 Characters) *:

Section C: Identification of Parties (Transferor & Transferee)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information) Physical Address Only

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

CO Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information) For County Clerk Registration

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

Section D: Financial Consideration & Federal / Colorado Odometer Disclosure

Total Price (USD) *:

Date of Sale *:

Paid by: Cash Cashier's Check Wire Trade

Federal & Colorado Odometer Disclosure Statement (49 U.S.C. § 32705 & C.R.S. § 42-6-202) Federal law requires odometer disclosure. False statements incur statutory civil liability or imprisonment.

Odometer Reading:

Miles

1. Actual Mileage: Reflects actual vehicle mileage to best of knowledge. 2. Exceeds Mechanical Limits: Mileage exceeds 5-digit mechanical limits (rollover). 3. Warning — Not Actual Mileage: Odometer reading is NOT the actual mileage (discrepancy).

STATUTORY NOTICE • MANDATORY PLATE REMOVAL & 36-HOUR DRIVING RULE (C.R.S. § 42-3-115): In the State of Colorado, license plates DO NOT stay with the vehicle. The Seller must retain all license plates. Under C.R.S. § 42-3-115(2)(b), the Buyer is legally permitted to operate the vehicle without plates for up to thirty-six (36) hours from the time of purchase directly to their residence or County Clerk's office, provided this executed Bill of Sale and proof of insurance are in the vehicle. STATUTORY "AS-IS" DISCLAIMER (C.R.S. § 4-2-316): This vehicle is sold strictly in its present "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, whether known or unknown. Seller disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Colorado law that Seller is lawful owner with clear legal title free of liens.

Section E: Authorized Signatures & Ownership Affidavit

Seller (Transferor) Signature Must Match Colorado Title

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature For County Clerk Registration

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

Section F: State of Colorado Notary Public Acknowledgment

STATE OF COLORADO COUNTY OF:

Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day of ________________, 2026, by the Seller and/or Buyer named above, who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory government photo identification to be the person(s) who executed the within instrument.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here CDOR DR 2116 Approved

FORM SBF-CO-DR2116 (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com C.R.S. §§ 42-6-109, 42-6-202 & 42-3-115 • CDOR Form DR 2116 Compliant PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Colorado CDOR 3-Step Private Vehicle Title & Registration Guide

Follow Colorado statutory procedures to legally transfer motor vehicle title, protect the seller from post-sale toll and accident liabilities, and take advantage of the 36-hour plate grace period.

Execute Title & Bill of Sale

The seller signs over the original Colorado Certificate of Title, completing the seller's signature, date, certified odometer reading, and selling price. Both parties execute this Form SBF-CO-DR2116 Bill of Sale.

Plates Removed & 36-Hr Rule

Under C.R.S. § 42-3-115, the seller must remove and keep all license plates. The buyer may legally drive the vehicle without plates for up to 36 hours with this signed bill of sale and insurance in the car.

Register at County Clerk (60 Days)

Within 60 calendar days (C.R.S. § 42-6-110), the buyer visits their County Motor Vehicle Office with the title, bill of sale, emissions certificate (if in Front Range counties), and pays sales tax to receive new plates.

Statutory Summary

Colorado Vehicle Sale Legal Requirements Summary

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Colorado Certificate of Title	C.R.S. § 42-6-109	Mandatory	Primary legal document of ownership; transfer section executed on reverse.
Form SBF-CO-DR2116 Bill of Sale	CDOR Form DR 2116	Essential	Contract proving purchase price for county sales/use tax and 36-hr transit rights.
Mandatory Plate Retention	C.R.S. § 42-3-115	Mandatory Seller	Plates stay with seller; never transferred with the vehicle in Colorado.
36-Hour Driving Grace Period	C.R.S. § 42-3-115(2)(b)	Statutory Right	Permits buyer to legally drive unplated car directly home or to DMV with bill of sale.
Emissions Inspection (AIR Program)	C.R.S. § 42-4-304	County Specific	Mandatory in Denver, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, Jefferson, and parts of Adams/Arapahoe/Larimer/Weld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Colorado Vehicle Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Is a bill of sale required to register a car in Colorado?

What is Colorado Form DR 2116?

Do license plates stay with the car in Colorado?

Can you drive a newly bought car home without plates in Colorado?

How long do you have to register a car in Colorado after buying it?

Free Colorado Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form

STATE OF COLORADO STATUTORY BILL OF SALE