A Colorado Vehicle Bill of Sale: Everything You Need To Know
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Getting a vehicle in Colorado can be a little more complicated than buying one in other states. That’s because a Colorado vehicle bill of sale can be a little more complicated than others and needs to have a little more information.
The good news is that making a good bill of sale isn’t much harder in Colorado than in other states; you just need to check a little more information.
Here’s what you need to know about vehicle bills of sale and what makes the Colorado bill of sale a little different.
Are Colorado Bills Of Sale Important?
Your Colorado bill of sale is one of the more important documents when you buy a vehicle. In fact, your bill of sale is one of the only things you can use to prove ownership of a vehicle that hasn’t been licensed and registered after a sale, so you need to have one at least until you can register your new vehicle.
However, Colorado doesn’t actually require a bill of sale.
It’s still a good idea to have one. For one thing, the bill of sale protects both the buyer and the seller and helps make sure you aren’t accidentally buying a stolen vehicle or being given a vehicle other than the one you agreed to buy.
Lastly, the bill of sale provides some important information about the vehicle you’re buying. Your bill of sale can help with proof of ownership if there are any problems with the title on your vehicle and can also provide a date of sale for registration deadlines and other state requirements.
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Colorado Bill Of Sale Requirements
While bills of sale aren’t required in Colorado, there are some requirements for a document you’ve signed to count as a vehicle bill of sale. If your document is missing any of this information, it might not be considered a valid bill of sale.
Contact Information
One of the most important parts of a Colorado bill of sale is the contact information for the buyer and seller.
Seller Information
In Colorado, the seller needs to provide their name and phone number. In the case of a dealership, they can provide the name of the dealership instead of a personal name.
The seller is also required to sign and date the bill of sale, attesting that everything on the bill of sale is accurate.
Buyer Information
The buyer is responsible for a little more contact information in Colorado. They need to provide their name, the date, and their signature, but also need to provide their address. This is to help track ownership of the vehicle and provide another way to contact the buyer if there are any problems.
It’s also another way to verify your identity if you need to use your bill of sale as proof of ownership in Colorado.
Vehicle Information
Your bill of sale needs to have some important vehicle information to be valid. In Colorado, it’s important to make sure your bill of sale includes the make/model/color and any other identifying features about the vehicle you’re buying.
In addition to some basic identification information, you also need to provide:
VIN Number
The Vehicle Identification Number is one of the more important pieces of information on your bill of sale. This is the unique identifier given to your vehicle, and it’s printed on the vehicle in several places. This unique identifier is a way to tell your car apart from other cars of the same make, model, and color and is one of the main ways you can identify your car if it’s been stolen or to make sure you’re getting the right vehicle from a dealership.
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License Plate Number
Your license plate number may not apply in all cases since vehicles are often sold without a license plate by private sellers. However, if you buy your vehicle from a dealership, they’ll usually provide a temporary license plate, and that number should be included on your bill of sale.
Registration Number
Your registration number works a little like the license number. If you buy from a dealership, you may have a temporary registration card with the vehicle, and that number should be on your bill of sale. However, if you buy from a private seller, the old registration number is used instead. That’s one reason to make sure the seller’s information is also included on the bill of sale and that it matches the registration number.
Until you get your vehicle registered in your name, your bill of sale can be used to show that you’re inside the grace period to register a new vehicle in your name.
Sale Information
The last thing you need to make sure you include is the information about the sale. This includes the price of the sale, the value of the vehicle, and the date of the sale. This is all used to help determine your registration costs, sales and property taxes, and other additional fees that come with owning a vehicle.
Colorado also requires that the bill of sale include the time of the sale since not all transactions happen immediately. That way, you know exactly when a vehicle is legally yours.
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How Many Copies Of A Colorado Bill Of Sale Do You Need
When you get a bill of sale in Colorado, it’s usually a good idea to make at least two copies of the form. That way, you have one for the seller and one for the buyer. You can also make a third copy to file with the state, a lawyer, or an attorney. Spares can also be useful to protect against the loss of your original bill of sale over time.
Additional Requirements
When you get a new vehicle, most people know that you need to get it licensed and registered within a few days. However, there are some additional requirements when you buy or sell a vehicle to get it registered, primarily emissions testing in Colorado.
Almost all vehicles in Colorado need emissions testing and need to pass relatively strict standards to be registered in the state. However, if your vehicle doesn’t pass emissions and needs repair, you can apply for a temporary extension on your registration to get the vehicle repaired and ready to pass emissions.
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