Colorado Vehicle Registration Fees

[DrMoneyTails]

Hello all,

I recently relocated to Denver 4 weeks ago and yesterday my wife and I went to the DMV to register our cars in Colorado.
I am astounded by how steep the price was.

For the 2014 vehicle, we paid 260 dollars for one year
For the 2017 vehicle we paid 526 dollars

I am researching online to see whether there was some type of mistake but haven't found anything.

Anyone familiar with this subject?? Is this normal?

[Mtngrl]

Yes.

[Lulee]

Seems similar to what we have in NH if I recall the cost when my car was newer.

[kenaces]

I move to FL and was told it was $450 to change my registration!  I didn't pay yet and planned to do a little googling to see if I could find some workaround and make sure I wasn't getting scammed by 3rd party fees.

anyone have advice on this?

[Tick-Tock]

It's expensive to have a new (or even newish) car here in CO.  Even my 20-year-old Jeep is $100 (registration fee plus required emissions test).

[EarthSurfer]

Colorado vehicle registration includes "OWN TAX" (ownership tax) on the value of the vehicle.  If you itemize deductions, this portion is deducible.

The passenger vehicle & light truck tax is based on the original sales price of the vehicle, and starts at 2.1% for the first year, declining to 0.45% for years 6 - 9. For years 10 and beyond the OWN TAX is $3/yr.

Additionally, there are flat fees, currently totally about $100.

There will also be biannual emissions test for about $25. When registering a vehicle for the first time in Colorado, you may also need a VIN Verification Certificate for about $20.

As background, Colorado finances road construction through license/registration fees, gas tax, and some general tax funds. The TABOR law (TAxpayer's Bill Of Rights) has limited the ability of government to raise taxes rates (and net tax collections), such as the tax on value of a vehicle, but road & bridge fees (assessed regardless of value) were found by the courts not to be taxes. The fees increased substantially about 5 years ago.

Just remember Colorado is a fairly low tax state. My property taxes in Denver city limits are about 0.52% of market value of my home. Most people on the coasts will love our property tax rates.

[aperture]

I just paid $84 for my 2003 Honda Civic. You might consider switching to low cost cars.

[the_fixer]

sucks but sounds correct.

I have to renew the wifes rav4 this month :(

[chaskavitch]

I just paid $78 for my 2001 VW Golf, plus $25 every other year for an emissions test.  I think DH's 2011 Outback is around $250/yr, no emissions required for the first 6 (?) years of the vehicle's life.  It is one of those fancy schmancy partial zero-emissions vehicles, so the emissions tests are waived for some number of years. 

[DrMoneyTails]

thank you all for the replies!
i feel better knowing i was not individually ripped off and it is just the way things are.
i absolutely agree that things even out in the end - low property taxes and low state taxes compared to some other places. plus, it is a pretty awesome state :)

[eostache]

We have two very old vehicles: a 2001 Subaru and a 1996 Toyota truck. Both are about $75/yr each for registration. We live 250 miles away the Denver area (it's a big state!) so there are no emissions tests or fees around here.

[slappy]

If it makes you feel better, my BIL just bought a 2017 Chevy truck and he's looking at a grand just to register it. That's on top of the $50k he paid for it! (We live in NH)

[nawhite]

Like many people have said, it's pretty cheap to register old cars as long as they can meet efficiency standards. That said, my 1989 motor home with a bad catalytic converter passed emissions so if you're vehicle can't, what are you doing wrong? We pay about $125 each for a 1989 motorhome and a 2006 Pontiac vibe.

[Drifterrider]

Some states have income taxes; some don't.  Some have personal property taxes; some don't.  ALL require taxes for revenue in order to function.  They are all going to get it, it is just a matter of "in larger chunks" or "smaller bites".

On the plus side, if it is listed as a tax it is usually deductible on your federal return.  If it is listed as a fee, it isn't.

[Roboturner]

Colorado vehicle registration includes "OWN TAX" (ownership tax) on the value of the vehicle.  If you itemize deductions, this portion is deducible.

this

[patchyfacialhair]

When I bought a brand new Subaru in 09, my CO fees were nearly $500, but went down ~$100 each year. Quite steep.

I now drive an old Camry, and it's around $75.

[Reynold]

When we were in northern VA about 20 years ago, the registration plus personal property tax on a car was over $500, not sure what it is now.  And police cars cruised parking lots in apartment and condo complexes looking for cars that hadn't been re-registered, so many people come to DC area for just a year or two that they try to get away without changing registration. 

Also, Florida had, and may still have, an unusually high fee for "transferring your vehicle to their state".  They have no income tax, but I think they get good money from all the people who move there with cars.