You can get a temporary permit in Colorado from a dealership or apply at your county DMV office for a private sale.
Written by Mary Alice Morris Reviewed by Georgina Grant Updated on Jan 31, 2024
, you’ll either get a temporary permit right away from the dealership or have to go to your county motor vehicle department after a private sale.
QUICK LOOKA dealership will issue 60-day temporary tags through the DRIVES program. These can be extended for 30 days if your permanent plates are delayed.
If you buy from a private seller, you can legally drive the vehicle for 36 hours without tags to give you time to get temporary tags from the DMV.
Does Colorado issue temporary plates?You can get temporary Colorado license plates directly from your dealership when you purchase a new car. If the sale is private, you’ll have to visit your local DMV to apply for temporary plates.
Unless you buy from a dealership, your temporary plates must come from your county motor vehicle office. If you go to the motor vehicle office in a different county, they won’t be able to issue you temporary plates.
program to issue your temporary plates. These will be good for 60 days while you complete the title transfer and registration process.
If there’s a hangup after the dealership purchase, you can apply for a 30-day extension from your county division of motor vehicles while you wait for a permanent license plate.
Temporary tags from private car sales are a little more complicated. Let’s look at that next. Temporary registration for private sales in ColoradoIf you’ve bought your vehicle from a private party in Colorado, you may legally drive without temporary plates or registration for 36 hours. During this timeframe, you need to carry a bill of sale with the vehicle identification number (VIN) and
proof of car insuranceWhen you arrive at the DMV office, they’ll issue temporary tags with a 60-day expiration date once you provide the following information:
Proof of identity A copy of the signed vehicle’s and bill of sale to prove your ownership Proof of insuranceHowever, there is no grace period upon the expiration and no extensions are available. Once the temporary tags are expired, you must have a valid registration and license plate.
Can I drive a car without plates if I just bought it in Colorado?Yes—under very limited circumstances. You can drive newly purchased vehicles in Colorado without plates or registration for up to 36 hours under any of the following conditions:
You bought the vehicle from someone who is not a licensed auto dealerYou purchased the car on Saturday, Sunday, a legal holiday, or between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., when vehicle services offices are closed
You’re driving the car from the seller’s storage area to your own storage area “I just financed a new car and knew my insurance premium was going to rise.was well worth it to use. They helped me find a lower premium and canceled my old policy instantly when I was ready to switch!” —Meghana D.
Compare quotes from 50+ insurers with Jerry in under 45 seconds? 4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Are you overpaying for car insurance? Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds. 4.7 17k Ratings 5M+ Drivers Joined $600/yr Average Savings You might also be interestedMary Alice Morris is an insurance writer specializing in car insurance, home insurance, and car maintenance content. Mary Alice’s background in reporting has shaped her mission to deliver authoritative and educational content to car owners and homeowners alike. Mary Alice has written over 500 articles on topics ranging from insurance coverage to traffic laws and car maintenance. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team, Mary Alice worked as a reporter covering everything from crime to community features, and earned statewide awards for investigative reporting, historical writing, and feature photography in the Missouri Better Newspaper Contest.
Editorial Note: This article was written by a paid member of Jerry's editorial team. Statements in this article represent the author’s personal opinions and do not constitute advice or recommendations. You should consult with an insurance professional about your specific circumstances and needs before making any insurance decisions.
