Late Fees and Refund Requests
General Rule
A vehicle registration is considered late if the payment for renewal is not received by the end of the one-month grace period following the expiration date.
Note: Temporary permits do not receive a grace period.
Late Fee Amount
A $25 late fee is charged for each month (or partial month for temporary permits) that the registration is late, up to a maximum of $100.
Newly Purchased Vehicles
If a newly purchased vehicle is not registered within 61 days of the purchase date, late fees will apply based on the same $25/month rule above.
Trailers and Other Vehicles Without Motive Power
Effective July 1, 2010, vehicles without motive power (like trailers or special mobile machinery) that weigh 16,000 pounds or less and are subject to taxation will incur a $10 flat late fee, rather than $25, if not registered when required. Vehicles fitting this description that expired prior to July 1, 2010 are subject to $25 per month late fees, up to $100.
Reference: C.R.S. 42-3-112(1.7)
Late Fee Waivers
There are instances when the registration late fees may be waived.
If the owner of a vehicle who is active in the military serving outside Colorado when the registration grace period expires and the vehicle has not been operated on any public highway in Colorado between the time the registration period expired, including the grace period and the time the vehicle is registered.
If a vehicle is used to operate a commercial business as part of the normal operation of the business is exempt late fees if the vehicle has not been operated on any public highway in Colorado for one full registration period.
If a vehicle was reported as stolen and then recovered.
The $10 late fee is not eligible for the late fee waiver or reduction authorized pursuant to HB10-1212, except for commercial vehicle trailers and farm vehicle trailers. See commercial definitions, example below and C.R.S. 42-3-112(1,5)(b) for additional details.
C.R.S. 42-1-102(17.5) “Commercial Vehicle” means a vehicle used to transport cargo or passengers for profit, hire, or otherwise to further the purposes of a business or commercial enterprise.
Example: Transaction date is July 20, 2010. Registration of a commercial trailer expired February 2010 with a one-month grace of March 2010. The late fee due is $85. This includes $25 each month for the months of April, May and June and $10 for the month of July.
The $10 late fee may be reduced or waived on this commercial trailer.
Refund Late Fees (already paid)
If you feel you were charged late fees in error you can submit a Late Fee Review and Refund Request.
If a vehicle is subject to taxation under this article is not registered when required by law, the vehicle owner shall pay a late fee of twenty-five dollars for each month or portion of a month following the expiration of the registration period, or, if applicable, the expiration of the grace period described in C.R.S. 42-3-114 for which the vehicle is unregistered; except that the amount of the late fee shall not exceed one hundred dollars. The late fee is due when the vehicle is registered. When a late fee exemption is denied at the county, kiosk or online, the customer must pay the late fee and may submit a request for further review to the Executive Director of the Department of Revenue within 30 days from the payment date of the late fee.
Incorrect late fee charges paid after July 1, 2020 (related to Governor’s orders)
Late fees were waived from March through June 2020 due to Governor’s Orders for vehicle registrations affected by office or emissions testing stations closures. It was determined that some registrations processed on or after July 1, 2020 may have been charged incorrect late fees. The counties and the Department of Revenue are working to identify incorrect charges and generate refunds as applicable. If you were charged a late fee in error, there is no need to request the refund; overpayments will be automatically mailed in the month of September.