If you’re buying a car in the state of Colorado, 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 LOOK
- A 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.
How to get a temporary license plate in Colorado
If you buy from a dealership, they will use the state’s DRIVES 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 DMV 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 Colorado
If 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 insurance.
When 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 title and bill of sale to prove your ownership
- Proof of insurance
However, 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 dealer
- You 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
Mary 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.
Bellina Gaskey is Jerry’s content editor and head of video. The Motor City native specializes in creating articles and video content car owners can use to reduce costs, master repair skills, and learn more about all things car. Bellina has edited nearly 2,000 articles on car ownership and home insurance topics, and scripted and appeared in over 350 videos on car ownership, insurance tips, and automotive news racking up more than three million views. Prior to joining Jerry, Bellina worked as a media consultant for a legal e-discovery startup and as a research assistant at the University of Michigan, where she completed a degree in Classical Languages and Literature.
Georgina Grant is a senior insurance editor and researcher with 8 years of experience in digital communications. She specializes in home insurance and car maintenance and strives to create accurate and comprehensive guides that highlight the details that matter most to homeowners and drivers. Georgina has edited over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from engine oil capacity to state community property laws. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, Georgina worked as a contributor at Forbes, a film development intern at Madison Wells, and a content editor at professional coaching agency Readily. Her work has appeared in Forbes and The Stanford Daily.
