Real Colorado deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Denver area: new SUV with a trade-in
A buyer pays $42,000 for a new SUV with a $12,000 trade-in. Sales tax is on $30,000; specific ownership tax is on 85% of the $42,000 price.
| Vehicle price | $42,000.00 |
| Sales tax (2.9% state + 4% local) on $30,000.00 | $2,070.00 |
| Specific ownership tax | $749.70 |
| Title fee | $7.20 |
| Registration surcharges | $66.87 |
| Out-the-door | $44,893.77 |
| Due after the $12,000 trade-in | $32,893.77 |
2Three-year-old car, third year of service
A buyer pays $24,000 for a car that stickered at $33,000. Specific ownership tax uses the original MSRP at the third-year rate of 1.2%.
| Vehicle price | $24,000.00 |
| Sales tax (2.9% state + 4% local) on $24,000.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Specific ownership tax | $336.60 |
| Title fee | $7.20 |
| Registration surcharges | $66.87 |
| Out-the-door | $26,066.67 |
Sales tax depends on where you live
The state rate is only 2.9%, but local rates often add more than the state does. The tax follows the address where the car is registered, so the calculator starts with a typical 4% local rate; your county clerk or the DMV can give your exact combined rate.
Colorado car tax at common prices
What a new gas car bought from a dealer comes to at four prices, using a 4% local rate. The trade-in column shows how much a $10,000 trade-in changes the tax under Colorado's rules.
| Price | Tax | Tax with $10,000 trade-in | Taxes + fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $1,035.00 | $345.00 | $1,376.82 |
| $25,000 | $1,725.00 | $1,035.00 | $2,245.32 |
| $35,000 | $2,415.00 | $1,725.00 | $3,113.82 |
| $50,000 | $3,450.00 | $2,760.00 | $4,416.57 |
Specific ownership tax
Specific ownership tax replaces a property tax on the car. For a passenger vehicle the taxable value is 85% of the original MSRP, and the rate drops with each year of service: 2.1% in the first year, 1.5% in the second, 1.2% in the third, 0.9% in the fourth and 0.45% from the fifth to ninth. From the tenth year it's a flat $3.
On a car that stickered at $35,000, first-year specific ownership tax is about $625, which is often more than the registration fees themselves.
Registration and EV fees
Registration is a weight-based license fee plus a long list of surcharges for road safety, bridges, emergency medical services and more. For a 2,001 to 5,000 lb car under seven years old with new plates, the listed surcharges come to $66.87 before the license fee. Electric cars pay a $63.05 plug-in electric vehicle fee and a road usage fee of $26 for July 2026 to June 2027; plug-in hybrids pay a $13 road usage fee.
Colorado taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (denver area: new suv with a trade-in) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (2.9% state + 4% local) | Estimate | $2,070.00 |
| Specific ownership tax (yearly) | Estimate | $749.70 |
| Title fee | Official | $7.20 |
| Registration surcharges (yearly) | Estimate | $66.87 |
| Total taxes and fees | $2,893.77 |
Colorado car tax FAQ
What is the car sales tax rate in Colorado?
2.9% state plus county, city, RTD and district rates where you live.
What is specific ownership tax in Colorado?
A yearly tax on 85% of the original MSRP, at 2.1% in the first year and less each year after.
Does a trade-in lower Colorado sales tax?
Yes, tax is on the price after your trade-in.
How much is the Colorado EV fee?
$63.05 for plug-in electric vehicles plus a $26 road usage fee for July 2026 to June 2027.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.