Colorado Car Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
Estimated tax in Colorado
$870 – $3,360
Depends on where you live. Choose your city for an estimate at its listed rate.
- Taxable amount
- $30,000.00
- State tax
- $870.00
- Local tax
- $0 – $2,490
Colorado's sales and use tax is 2.9%. On a $30,000 car, tax comes to $870 to $3,360, depending on local tax. A $10,000 trade-in saves about $290.
By Matt Rum. Checked against state sources on .
What to know in Colorado
- Colorado's state sales tax rate is 2.9%, and county, city and special-district taxes can apply on top.
- Manufacturer rebates do not reduce the taxable price, while dealer discounts not reimbursed by a third party do.
- First-year Specific Ownership Tax for most passenger vehicles is 2.1% of a taxable value equal to 85% of original MSRP.
Colorado rates and rules
- Sales and use tax
- 2.9%
- Local tax
- 0% to 8.3%
- Trade-in
- Full credit: reduces the taxable price
- Manufacturer rebate
- Taxed: tax is figured before the rebate
What you would pay in Colorado: three examples
Figured with Colorado's rules for a buyer in Denver, at its 6.25% local rate.
- Used car, no trade-in$1,647
$18,000 price. Taxed on $18,000.
- New car with a trade-in$2,288
$35,000 price, $10,000 trade-in. Taxed on $25,000. The trade-in saves $915.
- New car with a trade-in and a rebate$2,745
$45,000 price, $15,000 trade-in, $2,000 rebate. Taxed on $30,000. The trade-in saves $1,373. The rebate does not lower the tax.
These examples treat the agreed price as the taxable price. Where a state uses a book value instead, the tax can differ.
Car sales tax by city in Colorado
On a $30,000 car, tax runs from $2,025 in Centennial to $2,759 in Boulder, a difference of $734 among the 16 cities we list.
| City | Local rate | Tax on $30,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | 6.25% | $2,745 |
| Colorado Springs | 5.3% | $2,460 |
| Aurora | 5.1% | $2,400 |
| Fort Collins | 5.4% | $2,490 |
| Lakewood | 4.6% | $2,250 |
| Thornton | 5.6% | $2,550 |
| Arvada | 5.06% | $2,388 |
| Westminster | 6.1% | $2,700 |
| Greeley | 4.11% | $2,103 |
| Pueblo | 4.7% | $2,280 |
6 more cities
| City | Local rate | Tax on $30,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Centennial | 3.85% | $2,025 |
| Boulder | 6.295% | $2,759 |
| Longmont | 5.965% | $2,660 |
| Castle Rock | 5.2% | $2,430 |
| Loveland | 4.05% | $2,085 |
| Broomfield | 5.25% | $2,445 |
Before trade-in, for a buyer living in each city. In some states the rate follows the dealer's location instead; see the rules above and our methodology. Rates from lookerstudio.google.com, checked Nov 6, 2026.
Special cases in Colorado
The calculator covers a car bought from a dealer. These rules apply to other ways of buying or bringing a car to Colorado.
- Buying from a private seller
- Colorado state and state-administered local sales taxes on a car are figured on the full purchase price. When a private seller is not required to collect sales tax, the buyer generally pays all applicable state and local sales taxes to the county clerk. (tax.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- A car received as a gift
- The recipient of a car given as a gift or prize owes no Colorado sales or use tax on it. The person or business that gives the car must have paid the tax on acquiring it, and the county clerk needs proof of that payment before registering the car for the recipient. (tax.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Moving to Colorado with your car
- When a nonresident moves to Colorado and becomes a resident, no Colorado use tax applies to a car they acquired outside Colorado and brought in when becoming a resident. (tax.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Buying outside Colorado
- A Colorado resident who buys a car outside Colorado pays Colorado and local use tax when registering it, with a credit for sales, use or similar tax legally imposed by the state where it was bought. No credit is given for tax a state did not legally impose. (tax.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Active-duty military
- Active-duty members stationed in Colorado who claim another state as their residence can register their cars at a county office and may be exempt from the annual Specific Ownership Tax by filing form DR2667 each year. The DMV and Department of Revenue pages name no military exemption from the sales or use tax on a purchase. (dmv.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Deadline to pay
- A buyer has 60 days from the date of purchase to title and register the car in Colorado, and all applicable sales or use taxes must be paid before titling. (dmv.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Paying late
- Registering late costs $25 for each month or part of a month the car is not registered, up to $100. (dmv.colorado.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
Colorado compared with other states
Colorado ranks 7th lowest of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for tax on a $30,000 car, at its lowest local rate. See all states.
Tax on a $30,000 car before trade-in, in nearby states. You generally pay tax based on where you register the car.
Colorado car sales tax: common questions
What is the car sales tax rate in Colorado?
Colorado charges 2.9% (Sales and use tax). Local tax can add up to 8.3%, depending on where you live.
How much is sales tax on a $20,000 car in Colorado?
About $580 to $2,240, depending on local tax, for a car bought from a dealer before any trade-in or rebate. Enter your own price and city in the calculator above for an estimate; the dealer and the tax agency set the final amount.
Does a trade-in lower the car sales tax in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado taxes the price minus the trade-in value. On a $30,000 car, a $10,000 trade-in saves about $290 in tax.
Is a manufacturer rebate taxed in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado figures the tax on the price before the manufacturer rebate, so a rebate does not lower the tax.
Does car sales tax in Colorado depend on the city?
Yes. On a $30,000 car, tax runs from $2,025 in Centennial to $2,759 in Boulder among the cities we list, a difference of $734. Choose your city in the calculator for your rate.
Do you pay sales tax on a used car bought from a private seller in Colorado?
Colorado state and state-administered local sales taxes on a car are figured on the full purchase price. When a private seller is not required to collect sales tax, the buyer generally pays all applicable state and local sales taxes to the county clerk.
Is a car received as a gift taxed in Colorado?
The recipient of a car given as a gift or prize owes no Colorado sales or use tax on it. The person or business that gives the car must have paid the tax on acquiring it, and the county clerk needs proof of that payment before registering the car for the recipient.
Do new residents pay tax on a car they bring to Colorado?
When a nonresident moves to Colorado and becomes a resident, no Colorado use tax applies to a car they acquired outside Colorado and brought in when becoming a resident.
Do you owe Colorado tax on a car bought outside Colorado?
A Colorado resident who buys a car outside Colorado pays Colorado and local use tax when registering it, with a credit for sales, use or similar tax legally imposed by the state where it was bought. No credit is given for tax a state did not legally impose.
What is the deadline after buying a car in Colorado, and what if you are late?
A buyer has 60 days from the date of purchase to title and register the car in Colorado, and all applicable sales or use taxes must be paid before titling. Registering late costs $25 for each month or part of a month the car is not registered, up to $100.
How we calculate this
We start from the price and subtract the trade-in credit, then apply the Sales and use tax and your local rate. The calculator shows a range until you choose your city.
The full method is on our methodology page.
Sources
- content.leg.colorado.gov (Sales and use tax), checked Nov 5, 2026
- tax.colorado.gov (Local tax), checked Nov 6, 2026
- tax.colorado.gov (Trade-in, Manufacturer rebate), checked Nov 5, 2026