C.R.S.
Section 42-3-306
Registration fees
- passenger and passenger-mile taxes
- fee schedule
- repeal
(1)
This section shall apply in any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2010.(2)
Fees required for the annual registration of passenger-carrying motor vehicles are as follows:(a)
Motorcycles and autocycles, three dollars;(b)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(I)
Passenger cars, station wagons, taxicabs, ambulances, motor homes, and hearses:(A)
Weighing two thousand pounds or less, six dollars;(B)
Weighing forty-five hundred pounds or less, six dollars plus twenty cents per one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, of weight over two thousand pounds;(C)
Weighing more than forty-five hundred pounds, twelve dollars and fifty cents plus sixty cents per one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, of weight over forty-five hundred pounds; except that, for motor homes weighing more than sixty-five hundred pounds, such fees shall be twenty-four dollars and fifty cents plus thirty cents per one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, of weight over sixty-five hundred pounds.(II)
In addition to the registration fees imposed by subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, an additional registration fee is imposed on the motor vehicles described in the introductory portion to subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, based on the age of the motor vehicle. The department shall set the fees as follows:(A)
For motor vehicles less than seven years old, twelve dollars;(B)
For motor vehicles seven years old but less than ten years old, ten dollars;(C)
For motor vehicles ten years old or older, seven dollars.(III)
The department shall transmit one dollar out of the additional fees collected in accordance with subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the licensing services cash fund created in section 42-2-114.5. The department shall use the one dollar that is credited to the licensing services cash fund to offset the cost to the department to implement sections 42-3-103 (4)(a)(II) and 42-3-112 (1)(a)(II). The department shall transmit the remaining amount to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund to be allocated pursuant to section 43-4-205 (6)(b).(IV)
If a regional transportation plan is implemented within the regional transportation district, residents of the E-470 highway authority area shall be exempt from the first ten dollars of any motor vehicle registration fee increase in such plan.(V)
Notwithstanding subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section and in addition to the registration fees imposed in subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, an additional registration fee is imposed on the motor vehicles described in the introductory portion to subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, based on the age of the motor vehicle. The department shall set the fees as follows:(A)
For motor vehicles less than seven years old, nine dollars;(B)
For motor vehicles at least seven years old but less than ten years old, seven dollars; and(C)
For motor vehicles ten years old or older, five dollars.(VI)
The department shall adjust the fees imposed and set in subsection (2)(b)(V) of this section to compensate for increases in or decreases in revenue credited to the highway users tax fund under sections 42-3-103 (4)(a)(II) and 42-3-112 (1)(a)(II) and revenue increases or decreases due to the repeal of section 42-3-112 (1.5)(a)(III); except that a fee shall not be set at less than one dollar, which is retained by the department. In adjusting these fees, the department shall not set the fees at amounts that exceed:(A)
For motor vehicles less than seven years old, twelve dollars;(B)
For motor vehicles at least seven years old but less than ten years old, ten dollars; and(C)
For motor vehicles ten years old or older, seven dollars.(VII)
This subsection (2)(b)(VII) and subsections (2)(b)(V) and (2)(b)(VI) of this section are repealed, effective July 1, 2026.(c)
Passenger buses:(I)
All such vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for compensation having a seating capacity of fourteen or less passengers, twenty-five dollars plus one dollar and seventy cents for each seat capacity; and all such vehicles having a seating capacity of more than fourteen passengers, twenty-five dollars plus one dollar and twenty-five cents for each seat capacity in excess of fourteen;(II)
All such vehicles owned by a private owner and used for the transportation of school pupils having a juvenile seating capacity (meaning fourteen lineal inches of seat space) of twenty-five or less, fifteen dollars; and for all such vehicles having a juvenile seating capacity of more than twenty-five, fifteen dollars plus fifty cents for each juvenile seat capacity in excess of twenty-five.(3)
Fees for the annual registration of the following vehicles shall be:(a)
Trailer coaches, three dollars;(b)
Trailers, utility trailers, and camper trailers having an empty weight of two thousand pounds or less, three dollars;(c)
Trailers, utility trailers, and camper trailers having an empty weight exceeding two thousand pounds, seven dollars and fifty cents;(d)
Semitrailers, seven dollars and fifty cents.(4)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
The annual registration fee for trucks and truck tractors owned by a farmer or rancher that are operated over the public highways and are only commercially used to transport to market or place of storage raw agricultural products actually produced or livestock actually raised by such farmer or rancher or to transport commodities and livestock purchased by such farmer or rancher for personal use and used in such person’s farming or ranching operations, shall be as follows:(I)
Each such vehicle having an empty weight of five thousand pounds or less, an amount computed to the nearest pound of the empty weight of such vehicle, according to the following schedule:(Pounds)
Range(II)
Each such vehicle having an empty weight of ten thousand pounds or less but more than five thousand pounds, fifteen dollars and fifty cents plus forty-five cents per one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, of empty weight over five thousand pounds;(III)
Each such vehicle having an empty weight of more than ten thousand pounds but not more than sixteen thousand pounds, thirty-eight dollars plus one dollar and twenty cents per one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, of empty weight exceeding ten thousand pounds;(IV)
Each such vehicle having an empty weight of more than sixteen thousand pounds, one hundred ten dollars, plus one dollar and fifty cents per one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, of empty weight exceeding sixteen thousand pounds.(b)
Nothing in this subsection (4) shall be construed to prevent a farmer or rancher from occasionally exchanging transportation with another farmer or rancher, but only if the sole consideration involved is the exchange of personal services or the use of equipment.(c)
A person applying for registration under this subsection (4) shall certify to the licensing authority on forms furnished by the department that the vehicle will be used in conformity with paragraph (a) of this subsection (4).(d)
No vehicle carrying mounted equipment other than a camper or other purely recreational equipment shall be registered under this subsection (4), and a vehicle registered under this subsection (4) shall be reregistered under the proper classification whenever equipment designed for commercial use is mounted upon such vehicle.(e)
The department or its authorized agent shall not require a person registering a farm truck or truck tractor under this subsection (4) to demonstrate that the owner’s primary business or source of income is agriculture if the farm truck or truck tractor is used primarily for agricultural production on a farm or ranch owned or leased by the owner of the truck or truck tractor, and the land on which it is used is classified as agricultural land for the purposes of levying and collecting property tax under section 39-1-103, C.R.S.(5)
The annual registration fee for those trucks and truck tractors operated over the public highways of this state, except trucks that are registered under subsections (4) and (13) of this section and section 42-12-401 (1)(c), is as follows:(a)
For each such vehicle having an empty weight of up to and including sixteen thousand pounds, such registration fee shall be based upon the empty weight of such vehicle, computed to the nearest pound, according to the following schedule:(Pounds)
Range(b)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(I)
Except as provided in subparagraphs (II) and (III) of this paragraph (b), for each vehicle registered under this subsection (5) having an empty weight exceeding sixteen thousand pounds, the registration fee shall be based upon the declared gross vehicle weight of the vehicle registered, according to the following schedule:(II)
For each vehicle registered under this subsection (5) that has an empty weight exceeding sixteen thousand pounds and that is used in the operations of a common or contract carrier for hire, such registration fee shall be based upon the declared gross vehicle weight of the vehicle registered, according to the following schedule:(III)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(A)
For each vehicle registered under this subsection (5) that has an empty weight exceeding sixteen thousand pounds and that is operated less than ten thousand miles in all jurisdictions during each year, such registration fee shall be based upon the declared gross vehicle weight of the vehicle registered, according to the following schedule:(B)
If a vehicle qualifies for both a registration fee provided in this subparagraph (III) and a registration fee provided in subparagraph (I) or (II) of this paragraph (b), the lesser registration fee shall apply.(C)
If a person replaces a registered vehicle with another vehicle, the mileage history of the vehicle being replaced may be used to qualify the new vehicle for the fees assessed under this subparagraph (III).(D)
If a person purchases an established business that is located in this state and the purchase of the business includes the purchase of vehicles, the mileage history of a vehicle so purchased may be used to qualify for the fees assessed under this subparagraph (III) if the business operations remain the same after the purchase and if, during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of purchase, the vehicle has been registered in Colorado and has been in operation in the business. A person purchasing a business shall present a copy of the current vehicle registration of the previous owner for each vehicle to be registered pursuant to this sub-subparagraph (D).(E)
If a truck or truck tractor having an empty weight exceeding sixteen thousand pounds is purchased by a person owning one or more other such vehicles and the other such vehicles owned by the purchaser all qualify for the fees assessed under this subparagraph (III), the purchased truck or truck tractor also qualifies for the fees assessed under this subparagraph (III). A person seeking to register a truck or truck tractor pursuant to this sub-subparagraph (E) shall present a copy of the current vehicle registration for each of the other trucks and truck tractors with empty weights exceeding sixteen thousand pounds that are owned by such person.(c)
For each vehicle registered under this subsection (5) that is exempt from the registration fees assessed under paragraph (b) of this subsection (5) under paragraph (d), (f), (g), or (h) of subsection (9) of this section and that weighs more than sixteen thousand pounds empty weight, the registration fee shall be one hundred seventy-five dollars plus one dollar and fifteen cents for each one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, in excess of sixteen thousand pounds.(d)
For each vehicle registered under this subsection (5) that is exempt from the registration fees assessed under paragraph (b) of this subsection (5) pursuant to paragraph (d), (f), or (g) of subsection (9) of this section and that weighs more than sixteen thousand pounds empty weight, the registration fee shall be two hundred thirty-three dollars plus one dollar and fifty cents for each one hundred pounds, or fraction thereof, in excess of sixteen thousand pounds.(e)
Each vehicle registered under this subsection (5) having an empty weight not in excess of sixteen thousand pounds that is operated in combination with a trailer or semitrailer, which is commonly referred to as a tractor-trailer, shall be assessed according to paragraph (b) of this subsection (5).(6)
In lieu of the payment of registration fees specified in subsections (3) and (5) of this section, the owner of a truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer operating in interstate commerce may apply to the department for a special unladen weight registration. The registration shall be valid for a period of thirty days from issuance and shall authorize the operation of the vehicle only when empty. The fee for registration of a truck or truck tractor shall be five dollars. The fee for registration of a trailer or semitrailer shall be three dollars. The moneys from the fees shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund for allocation and expenditure as specified in section 43-4-205 (5.5)(c), C.R.S.(7)
In lieu of the payment of registration fees specified in subsections (3) and (5) of this section, the owner of a truck or truck tractor operating in interstate commerce shall apply to the department for a special laden weight registration. The registration shall be valid for seventy-two hours after issuance and shall authorize the operation of the vehicle when loaded. The moneys collected by the department from the fees shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund for allocation and expenditure as specified in section 43-4-205 (5.5)(c), C.R.S. The fee for the special registration of a truck or a truck tractor shall be based on the actual gross vehicle weight of the vehicle and its cargo, computed to the nearest pound, according to the following schedule:(8)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
The owner or operator of a motor vehicle that is exempt from the registration fees assessed under paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (9) of this section may apply to the department for a temporary commercial registration permit for such motor vehicle. Such temporary commercial registration permit shall authorize the operation of such motor vehicle in commerce so long as the motor vehicle is operated solely in agricultural harvest operations within Colorado.(b)
A temporary commercial registration permit issued pursuant to this subsection (8) shall be valid for a period not to exceed sixty days. A maximum of two such temporary commercial registration permits may be issued for a motor vehicle in a twelve-month period. The fee for issuance of a temporary commercial registration permit for a motor vehicle shall be based upon the configuration and number of axles of such motor vehicle according to the following schedule:(c)
The moneys collected by the department from the fees for temporary commercial registration permits shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund.(d)
This subsection (8) shall not be interpreted to affect the authority of a dealer in motor vehicles to use a dealer plate obtained under section 42-3-116 to demonstrate a truck or truck tractor by allowing a prospective buyer to operate such truck or truck tractor when loaded.(9)
The registration fees imposed by paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of this section shall not apply:(a)
To a motor vehicle operated by a manufacturer, dealer, or transporter issued plates pursuant to section 42-3-304 (6) and (7);(b)
To a farm truck or truck tractor registered under subsection (4) of this section;(c)
To a farm tractor or to a farm tractor and trailer or wagon combination;(d)
To a vehicle specially constructed for towing, wrecking, and repairing that is not otherwise used for transporting cargo;(e)
To a vehicle owned by the state or any political or governmental subdivision thereof;(f)
To an operator-owned vehicle transporting racehorses to and from the stud or to and from a racing meet in Colorado;(g)
To a veterinary mobile truck unit;(h)
To a mobile mixing concrete truck or trash compacting truck or to trucks designated by the executive director of the department as special use trucks;(i)
To a noncommercial or recreational vehicle registered under subsection (13) of this section.(10)
The owner or operator of a truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer operating over the public highways of this state and rendering service pursuant to a temporary certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the public utilities commission shall pay for the issuance or renewal of such temporary certificate a fee of ten dollars.(11)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
The owner or operator of a passenger bus operating over the public highways of this state and rendering service pursuant to a temporary certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the public utilities commission shall pay for the issuance or renewal of such temporary certificate a fee of ten dollars, which fee shall be in lieu of the tax assessed under this subsection (11), shall be credited to the highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201, C.R.S., as required by section 43-4-203 (1)(c), C.R.S., and shall be allocated and expended as specified in section 43-4-205 (5.5)(d), C.R.S.(b)
The owner or operator of a passenger bus that is registered in another state and that is used to make an occasional trip into this state need not obtain a permit from the public utilities commission as provided in article 10.1 of title 40, C.R.S., but may instead apply to the department for the issuance of a trip permit and shall pay to the department for the issuance of such trip permit a fee of twenty-five dollars or the amount of passenger-mile tax becoming due and payable under paragraph (a) of this subsection (11) by reason of such trip, whichever amount is greater. The fee or passenger-mile tax shall be credited to the highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201, C.R.S., as required by section 43-4-203 (1)(c), C.R.S., and allocated and expended as specified in section 43-4-205 (5.5)(d), C.R.S.(12)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
In lieu of registration under section 42-3-304 (14), the owner or operator of special mobile machinery that the owner or operator desires to operate over the public highways of this state may elect to pay an annual fee computed at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents per ton of vehicle weight for operation not to exceed a distance of two thousand five hundred miles in any registration period.(b)
In lieu of registration under section 42-3-304 (14), a public utility, as defined by section 40-1-103, C.R.S., owning or operating a utility truck having an empty weight in excess of ten thousand pounds that it desires to operate over the public highways of this state may elect to pay an annual registration fee for such a vehicle computed at the rate of ten dollars per ton of vehicle weight.(13)
The annual registration fee for a noncommercial or recreational vehicle, except a motor home, operated on the public highways of this state with an empty weight of six thousand pounds or less is computed according to the schedule provided in subsection (5) of this section, and, for a noncommercial or recreational vehicle exceeding six thousand pounds, the fee is twenty-four dollars and fifty cents plus sixty cents for each one hundred pounds in excess of four thousand five hundred pounds.(14)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
In addition to any other fee required by this section, on and after July 1, 2011, each authorized agent shall collect a fee of:(I)
Fifty cents per paid registration of any motor vehicle that is not exempt from the motor insurance identification fee pursuant to section 42-3-304 (1)(b); or(II)
Ten cents per paid registration of any motor vehicle that is exempt from the motor insurance identification fee pursuant to section 42-3-304 (1)(b).(b)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(I)
Repealed.(II)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(A)
The fee required by subsection (14)(a) of this section is required for every registration of a motor vehicle that is designed primarily to be operated or drawn on any highway in the state and is required in addition to the annual registration fee for the vehicle; except that the fee does not apply to a vehicle that is exempt from payment of the registration fees imposed by this article 3. The department shall credit the fee to the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account in the highway users tax fund created in section 42-1-211 (2).(B)
Repealed.
Source:
Section 42-3-306 — Registration fees - passenger and passenger-mile taxes - fee schedule - repeal, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-42.pdf
(accessed Oct. 20, 2023).