If a household move to or from Colorado crosses a state line, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the mover. The Colorado PUC says its permit is for intrastate moves. An HHG number does not replace federal registration on a trip to New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, or Oklahoma.

A short drive from Trinidad into New Mexico is still interstate. FMCSA's consumer line is 1-888-368-7238, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. Check the USDOT number before you treat a Colorado contract as enough for that route.

What valuation and what delivery rule?

49 CFR 375.201 makes the mover liable for replacement value up to the declared value unless you waive full-value protection in writing. FMCSA's consumer pages describe the released-value option as 60 cents per pound per article. A 10-pound item worth $1,000 pays no more than $6 under that option. You sign a specific statement to take it. Articles worth more than $100 per pound have to be disclosed in writing or recovery can be limited. The Colorado PUC contract's "lesser of 60 cents or depreciated value" is the in-state form. Do not assume the two sentences are identical. See the Colorado option.

On a non-binding interstate estimate, if the bill is higher than the estimate, the mover must release the shipment when you pay 110 percent and must defer the balance for at least 30 days. Extra services ordered after the contract, and impracticable-operations charges up to 15 percent of other charges due at delivery, can still be collected then. This 110 percent rule is federal. The PUC consumer page does not state it for a move that stays in Colorado. See the in-state estimate.

Who do you call if the truck stays closed?

If you paid 110 percent of a non-binding interstate estimate, or 100 percent of a binding estimate, and the mover will not deliver, call 1-888-368-7238. If both addresses are in Colorado, call the PUC at 303-894-2070. See that complaint. The HHG permit still matters for the Colorado miles of a company that also does interstate work, but it does not set the federal valuation. See the permit.

An auto policy does not value the shipment. See Colorado's 25/50/15 limits.

What to confirm before a deposit

Email the pickup city and the delivery city to the company and ask for the USDOT number in the reply. Look it up before you pay. Ask whether the estimate is binding or non-binding. On a non-binding interstate estimate, 110 percent is the federal delivery figure if the bill is higher, and the balance waits at least 30 days. That percentage is not the Colorado PUC consumer rule for a move from Denver to Colorado Springs. Keep the two papers separate.

Ask whether you are waiving full-value protection. FMCSA describes 60 cents per pound as the released option and uses a 10-pound, $1,000 item that pays $6 as the example. Disclose items worth more than $100 a pound in writing. The Colorado contract's lesser-of-60-cents-or-depreciated-value line is the in-state form. Read the form that matches the route.

Write the date you read this rule on the paper you are using, whether that paper is a declarations page, a notice, a contract, or a permit. Colorado offices do not share one file. The Division of Insurance, the Division of Property Taxation, the county assessor, and the Public Utilities Commission each keep their own. A number you saw on a neighbor's bill, or on a mover's ad from another state, is not your deadline. If two official pages disagree, the document in your hand and a phone call to the office that issued it settle the question for your account. Keep the postmark, the email header, or the receipt. Those are the dates a later complaint can use. Do not wait for a second notice to start the count that already began when the first one was mailed or delivered.

Before you pay a deposit, save the USDOT lookup and the estimate in the same folder. Mark the estimate binding or non-binding in your own handwriting if the form is unclear, and ask the company to confirm by email. On moving day, tender 110 percent of a non-binding estimate if the bill is higher, get a receipt, and note the time. The balance waits at least 30 days under the federal rule. Do not quote that percentage to a crew whose contract is only a Colorado HHG job from one Front Range city to another.

FAQ

Is Denver to Cheyenne a PUC move? No. Cheyenne is in Wyoming. The move is interstate.

What is the federal released-value example? FMCSA describes 60 cents per pound. Its example is a 10-pound item worth $1,000, which pays no more than $6.

When must an interstate mover unload? On a non-binding estimate, when you pay 110 percent if the bill is higher, with the balance deferred at least 30 days.

Does that 110 percent rule apply in Boulder to Fort Collins? No. Both cities are in Colorado. Use the PUC contract. Do not import the federal percentage.

Who takes the complaint? FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238 for a state-line crossing. The PUC for a move that stays in Colorado.

Next step

Write down both cities. If a line is crossed, look up the USDOT number, decide in writing whether you are waiving full-value protection, and keep the federal booklets with the estimate. Pay 110 percent of a non-binding estimate if that is what delivery requires, and call FMCSA if the goods stay on the truck.

Sources: Colorado PUC: household goods movers, FMCSA: valuation, FMCSA: delivery, 49 CFR 375.201.

Before a Colorado household-goods mover does the job, the Public Utilities Commission says you get a written estimate and a signed contract. Ask for someone to look at the goods in person. The mover must accept at least two of these forms of payment: cash, a cashier's check, a valid personal check, or a credit card.

The contract has to show the HHG permit number and say the company is permitted by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. A refund of what you overpaid has to go through binding arbitration under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507. The consumer page does not state a rule that the final bill cannot exceed 110 percent of the estimate. Do not count on that cap for an in-state Colorado move.

What should the estimate show?

The PUC defines a contract, in its mover rules, as a written document the shipper approves before any service, naming the mover and listing the services and the costs. An estimate sets out the total costs and the basis for them. Ask the estimator to see the basement, the attic, and the garage. Write the number of people and the large items on your copy. A phone guess with no walk-through is the estimate most likely to surprise you. Get the paper before loading day, not when the truck is in the street.

Match the payment methods on the contract to what you can actually tender. If you plan to use a card, the card has to be one of the two methods the company accepts. A crew that announces cash only, when the contract listed a card, is the complaint. See how to send it.

What the price paper does not decide

Valuation is a separate initial. Released value is the lesser of 60 cents per pound or depreciated value. Full replacement cost means you declare a value. See that choice. A low estimate with released value can be the expensive outcome if one heavy piece is destroyed. Price the valuation the same day you price the labor.

The permit number is how you know the company is allowed to do an in-state move at all. See the HHG number. If the delivery is in another state, the federal 110 percent rule can apply to a non-binding estimate, and the PUC permit does not. See interstate rules. Do not tell an in-state crew they must unload at 110 percent. That sentence was not on the PUC consumer page used here.

A walk-through checklist

Show every room, including storage. Ask the estimator to name the services and the dollar basis. Approve the contract before any service, which is how the PUC's mover rules describe a contract. Circle at least two payment methods. If you will use a credit card, confirm the card is one of them. Photograph the HHG number on the same page. Initial the valuation before you talk about the deposit.

Do not tell the crew that Colorado law caps the bill at 110 percent of the estimate. That figure was not on the consumer page. Get the costs into the signed contract instead. If you later want money back, the path is binding arbitration under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507. If the destination is another state, stop and use the federal papers. An in-state payment rule does not follow the truck across the line.

Write the date you read this rule on the paper you are using, whether that paper is a declarations page, a notice, a contract, or a permit. Colorado offices do not share one file. The Division of Insurance, the Division of Property Taxation, the county assessor, and the Public Utilities Commission each keep their own. A number you saw on a neighbor's bill, or on a mover's ad from another state, is not your deadline. If two official pages disagree, the document in your hand and a phone call to the office that issued it settle the question for your account. Keep the postmark, the email header, or the receipt. Those are the dates a later complaint can use. Do not wait for a second notice to start the count that already began when the first one was mailed or delivered.

Walk the estimator through storage areas, not only the rooms you live in. Approve the contract before any packing starts. Circle two payment methods and the HHG number. Initial the valuation the same day so a low labor price is not the only number you remember. If the bill later seems wrong, the consumer page does not give you a 110 percent cap to cite. Your record is the signed contract, and a refund goes through binding arbitration under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507.

FAQ

Is a written estimate required? Yes. The PUC also requires a signed contract and tells you to ask for an in-person inspection.

How many ways must I be allowed to pay? At least two of cash, cashier's check, a valid personal check, or credit card.

Can the bill legally jump far past the estimate? The PUC consumer page does not state a 110 percent cap for Colorado in-state moves. Get the services and costs in the contract before the work starts.

How do I get an overcharge back? Binding arbitration, under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507.

Does this apply to a move to Nebraska? No. Crossing the state line puts the move under FMCSA.

Next step

Get the walk-through, the written estimate, and the signed contract with the HHG number and two payment methods before anything is taped. Initial the valuation on the same day. Keep photos of every page in the car you are driving.

Sources: Colorado PUC: household goods movers.

If a Colorado household-goods mover will not fix a bill or a damage claim, write the company and keep the reply. Then contact the Public Utilities Commission. Consumer assistance is 303-894-2070, or 800-456-0858 outside Denver. You can also email dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us. The moving-information page says complaints can be filed online, by that phone, or by that email.

The office is 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202. A refund has to go through binding arbitration. The consumer page cites C.R.S. 40-10.1-507. A phone call does not skip that statute.

Which number is the permit desk?

Permits are 303-894-2000, option 2, or 800-888-0170 outside Denver. Use that line to ask whether an HHG number is real. Use 303-894-2070 when the problem is the move itself. The email on the household-goods consumer page for the website is dora_puc_website@state.co.us. The complaint email on the moving-information page is dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us. Send the complaint to the complaints address, and put the HHG number, both addresses, and the move date in the first lines.

Attach the estimate, the contract, the valuation page you initialed, and photos. The released-value option is the lesser of 60 cents per pound or depreciated value unless you declared full replacement cost. See that choice. Asking the PUC to order a new sofa after you initialed released value asks for a result the contract does not give.

What the Commission can look at

The PUC says it regulates intrastate movers under Title 40, Article 10.1, and it takes action for violating the permit or refusing to obey an order or rule. A missing HHG number on the ad or the contract is part of that story. See what the number has to show. Payment methods are part of it too. The mover must accept at least two of cash, cashier's check, personal check, or credit card. See the estimate and the payment rule.

An insurance complaint about a homeowners or auto policy goes to the Division of Insurance, not this desk. See that complaint. A move that crossed a state line goes to FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238. See interstate rules.

What the first paragraph should contain

Write the pickup city, the delivery city, the move date, and the HHG number. Say whether you want a refund, which must go through binding arbitration under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507, or whether the company ignored the valuation you initialed. Attach the estimate, the contract, and the page with your initials. Consumer assistance is 303-894-2070 or 800-456-0858 outside Denver. The complaint email is dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us. The permit check is a different number, 303-894-2000 option 2.

If one address is outside Colorado, say so in the first sentence and call FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238 for that route. The PUC office at 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, is for the in-state job. Do not send a homeowners claim to this email. The Division of Insurance has its own portal. A mover complaint and an insurance complaint are different files even when the same storm damaged both the house and the truck.

Write the date you read this rule on the paper you are using, whether that paper is a declarations page, a notice, a contract, or a permit. Colorado offices do not share one file. The Division of Insurance, the Division of Property Taxation, the county assessor, and the Public Utilities Commission each keep their own. A number you saw on a neighbor's bill, or on a mover's ad from another state, is not your deadline. If two official pages disagree, the document in your hand and a phone call to the office that issued it settle the question for your account. Keep the postmark, the email header, or the receipt. Those are the dates a later complaint can use. Do not wait for a second notice to start the count that already began when the first one was mailed or delivered.

Put the HHG number in the subject line of the email to dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us. Say both cities. Attach the contract. If you want money back, say that the refund path you are using is binding arbitration under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507. If the goods are still on the truck and the delivery is in another state, call 1-888-368-7238 the same hour. The Denver office cannot order an out-of-state delivery under the intrastate permit. Keep a copy of everything you send. The permit desk at 303-894-2000 option 2 can confirm the number. It is not the complaint intake.

The office address to put on an envelope is 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202. Name the company the way it appears next to the HHG number, keep a copy of the email you send, and note the date you mailed or sent it so you can show when the complaint started.

FAQ

What is the consumer phone? 303-894-2070, or 800-456-0858 outside Denver.

Where is the office? Colorado Public Utilities Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202.

How do I get money back? Binding arbitration, under C.R.S. 40-10.1-507, as the PUC states it.

Who checks the permit number? 303-894-2000, option 2, or 800-888-0170 outside Denver.

Does the PUC handle a move to Utah? No. Interstate household goods are an FMCSA complaint.

Next step

Write the mover, save the answer, and email dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us with the HHG number and the contract if the company will not follow the paper you signed. Call 303-894-2070 if you are not sure the route stayed inside Colorado.

Sources: PUC: household goods movers, PUC: moving information for consumers.

On a Colorado intrastate move, the released-value option in the Public Utilities Commission's contract samples is the lesser of 60 cents per pound per lost or damaged article, or the actual value after depreciation. Full replacement cost is the other option. It requires you to declare the value of the shipment, and it may allow a deductible.

You initial the option you accept. The samples were revised February 9, 2026. The cover sheet cites C.R.S. 40-10.1-505 and Rule 4 CCR 723-6-6608(c). A 40-pound table at 60 cents a pound is $24 before depreciation makes it even less. Replacement price does not enter that math.

What do you initial?

Read both choices before you sign. Released value is the cheaper rate and the thinner payment. Full replacement cost costs more and starts from the value you declare. If a deductible is offered, the sample says the mover may allow you to specify one. Ask what that deductible is in dollars. A line that only says "insured" is not an initialed choice. Ask the mover to point at the sentence.

The HHG permit number still has to be on the contract. See the permit. The written estimate and the two forms of payment are separate from this valuation. See the estimate. A refund of charges, if you are owed one, goes through binding arbitration. Valuation is what a broken item pays. Arbitration is how a fee dispute is decided. See the complaint.

What not to import from another rule

A Cornell copy of the Colorado rule has been cited for a 24-hour estimate and a 110 percent cap. That copy is not the official code, and the PUC consumer page used here does not state those two figures. Do not tell a Colorado driver they must release the goods at 110 percent of the estimate unless you are holding the official rule that says so. The figure you can rely on from the PUC's own contract PDF is the 60-cent or depreciated-value option.

An interstate move uses the federal full-value rule unless you waive it. FMCSA's consumer pages describe 60 cents per pound as the released option on that federal move. See interstate rules. Do not initial a Colorado released-value line on a bill of lading that ends in another state without reading the federal waiver.

What to do if something breaks

Note the damage before you sign the delivery papers. Tell the company in writing. Keep the article if someone needs to see it. The payment, if you selected released value, is the lesser of 60 cents a pound and depreciated value. Asking for a new replacement price after you initialed the released option asks for a result the contract does not give. If the company will not follow the option you paid for, file with the PUC and attach the initialed page.

Your homeowners or renters policy may or may not cover goods on a truck. Ask the insurer in writing. That answer is a different contract from the line you initialed. See what a homeowners policy leaves out for a different exclusion, flood, so you do not assume one policy pays every kind of loss.

How to price the choice on a kitchen table

List five heavy or costly pieces and a rough weight. Multiply by 60 cents. That product is the ceiling only if it is also less than depreciated value. The samples say you get the lesser of the two. If the number is too small, declare a shipment value and ask the charge, and ask whether a deductible applies. Initial only after the charge is on the estimate. A blank initial is how people end up on released value by silence.

The samples were revised February 9, 2026, and the cover sheet points to C.R.S. 40-10.1-505 and Rule 4 CCR 723-6-6608(c). Keep a photo of the initialed page. If the route leaves Colorado, switch to the federal full-value rule unless you sign the federal waiver. Do not mix a Colorado depreciated-value sentence into an FMCSA bill of lading without reading it.

Write the date you read this rule on the paper you are using, whether that paper is a declarations page, a notice, a contract, or a permit. Colorado offices do not share one file. The Division of Insurance, the Division of Property Taxation, the county assessor, and the Public Utilities Commission each keep their own. A number you saw on a neighbor's bill, or on a mover's ad from another state, is not your deadline. If two official pages disagree, the document in your hand and a phone call to the office that issued it settle the question for your account. Keep the postmark, the email header, or the receipt. Those are the dates a later complaint can use. Do not wait for a second notice to start the count that already began when the first one was mailed or delivered.

FAQ

What is released value on a Colorado in-state move? The lesser of 60 cents per pound per article or the depreciated actual value, on the PUC's 2026 contract samples.

How do I get replacement cost? Declare the value of the shipment and initial that option. A deductible may apply. Ask for the charge before you load.

Is 60 cents the statute's only number? The contract samples cite C.R.S. 40-10.1-505 and the rule, and they print 60 cents or depreciated value, whichever is less. Read the form you sign.

Does Colorado cap the bill at 110 percent of the estimate? The PUC consumer page used here does not say that. Do not assume it.

Who do I call if the settlement ignores the option I initialed? The company first, then the PUC at 303-894-2070, with the contract attached.

Next step

Before loading, initial either released value or declared full value, and keep a photo of that page. If 60 cents a pound is too low for the heavy pieces, declare a value and pay the charge the same day. Do not decide while the truck is idling.

Sources: PUC contract samples, revised February 9, 2026, PUC: household goods movers.

A household move that starts and ends in Colorado has to be done by a mover with a permit from the Public Utilities Commission. The permit number starts with HHG. It has to appear on every advertisement and on every contract. The contract also has to say the mover is permitted by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

The PUC cites Title 40, Article 10.1, of the Colorado Revised Statutes. A move that crosses the state line is not this permit. That job is federal. Ask for the HHG number before you compare prices. A truck with a logo and no number is the estimate to set aside.

What else has to be in writing?

The PUC says you get a written estimate and a signed contract. Ask for an in-person look at the goods. The mover must accept at least two of these: cash, a cashier's check, a valid personal check, or a credit card. If the contract lists a card and the crew demands cash only, that is a fact for a complaint. Refunds for household-goods movers must go through binding arbitration. The consumer page cites C.R.S. 40-10.1-507. See the estimate and the payment methods and how to complain.

The permit desk is 303-894-2000, option 2, or 800-888-0170 outside Denver. The office is 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202. Consumer assistance is a different line, 303-894-2070, or 800-456-0858 outside Denver.

What the PUC page does not promise

The consumer page that was used here does not state a statewide cap such as 110 percent of the estimate, and it does not state that the estimate must be delivered 24 hours ahead. Do not quote those figures as Colorado intrastate rules. The protections you can check are the HHG number, the written estimate, the signed contract, two accepted ways to pay, and arbitration if you want money back. Released value on the PUC's contract samples is the lesser of 60 cents per pound per article or the depreciated value. See that valuation.

Insurance filings for the carrier, cargo coverage, and general liability are the company's obligation to the Commission. They are not a promise that your sofa is insured for replacement cost. Read the valuation line you initial.

When the permit does not apply

If the delivery address is in another state, use FMCSA. A non-binding interstate estimate uses the federal 110 percent rule. See interstate rules. Do not call the PUC to enforce a Wyoming or Kansas delivery. An auto policy at 25/50/15 does not price household goods. See the auto minimums.

What to compare on two estimates

Put the HHG numbers side by side. If one ad has no number, stop. The contract must repeat the number and state that the mover is permitted by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Ask which two payment methods each company accepts. Ask for the valuation option in the same packet so a cheap labor price is not hiding a 60-cent release. Ask for an in-person inspection. The consumer page requires a written estimate and a signed contract. It does not, on that page, give you a 110 percent cap.

Call 303-894-2000, option 2, if you want the permit desk, or 800-888-0170 outside Denver. Call 303-894-2070 if the move already went wrong. The office is 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver. A refund still goes through binding arbitration. The phone call starts the record. It does not replace the statute the PUC cites, C.R.S. 40-10.1-507.

Write the date you read this rule on the paper you are using, whether that paper is a declarations page, a notice, a contract, or a permit. Colorado offices do not share one file. The Division of Insurance, the Division of Property Taxation, the county assessor, and the Public Utilities Commission each keep their own. A number you saw on a neighbor's bill, or on a mover's ad from another state, is not your deadline. If two official pages disagree, the document in your hand and a phone call to the office that issued it settle the question for your account. Keep the postmark, the email header, or the receipt. Those are the dates a later complaint can use. Do not wait for a second notice to start the count that already began when the first one was mailed or delivered.

Photograph the HHG number on the advertisement and on the signed contract. They should match. The contract should also say the mover is permitted by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Ask which two payment methods are accepted before you choose how you will pay at delivery. A refund, if one is owed, still goes through binding arbitration. Call 303-894-2000 option 2, or 800-888-0170 outside Denver, if the number on the truck does not match the paper.

FAQ

What does a legal Colorado mover's permit number look like? It starts with HHG, and it has to be on the ads and on the contract.

What must the contract say besides the price? That the mover is permitted by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, along with the permit number.

How do I get a refund? Through binding arbitration, under the statute the PUC cites, C.R.S. 40-10.1-507.

Which phone checks a permit? 303-894-2000, option 2, or 800-888-0170 outside Denver.

Does the PUC regulate a move to New Mexico? No. Interstate moves are federal.

Next step

Write the HHG number down from the ad and match it to the contract before you pay a deposit. Ask which two payment methods the company accepts. If the number is missing, call the permit desk before the truck is loaded.

Sources: Colorado PUC: household goods movers, consumer information.

After you become a Colorado resident, you have 30 days to transfer your driver's license and 90 days to title and register your vehicle. You count as a resident once you work in Colorado, own or run a business here, or live here for 90 consecutive days. License offices require an appointment, and county offices handle registration.

When does Colorado's clock start?

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles says you're a resident if any one of these is true:

• You own or operate a business in Colorado.
• You're employed in Colorado.
• You've lived in Colorado for 90 consecutive days.

For many people who move for a job, that means the clock starts on the first day of work, not after three months. Plan your DMV visits early in the move.

How do you transfer your driver's license?

License transfers happen at a state driver license office, and every applicant needs an appointment. The DMV suggests pre-registering online first.

Bring:

• Your identification and proof of Colorado address documents.
• Your license from your previous state, valid or expired less than one year, or a driver history record dated within 30 days.
• Documents showing any name changes, like a marriage certificate or divorce decree, if your documents don't all show the same name.

At the appointment, you may need to take tests, you'll pay the fee, and your old license will be voided. Colorado issues REAL ID-compliant credentials to eligible applicants, so bring the full set of identity documents.

If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must sign an affidavit of liability at the appointment, or bring a notarized form.

How do you title and register your car?

County motor vehicle offices handle title and registration, not the state driver license offices. You have 90 days from establishing residency.

Gather:

• Your out-of-state title. If a lender holds it, bring your most recent out-of-state registration, current or expired less than six months, and the lender's name and address.
• Proof of Colorado auto insurance. Colorado's minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage.
• Secure and verifiable ID.
• Proof of residency. Complete Form DR 2504, the Colorado Residency Establishment form, and bring a document like a utility bill, lease or mortgage statement.

At the county office, you'll fill out Form DR 2395, the application for title and registration, and pay title fees, registration fees and any state and local taxes.

What inspections do you need first?

Get these done before your county visit:

• VIN verification (Form DR 2698): a physical check of your vehicle identification number by Colorado law enforcement, a licensed Colorado dealer or a Colorado emissions station.
• Emissions test: required if your vehicle is more than seven model years old and you live in a designated emissions county, such as Denver, Boulder, Jefferson or Douglas.
• Certified weight slip: only for motorhomes and certain trucks if the weight isn't on your title.

What happens to your old plates?

Standard green-and-white Colorado plates are issued the same day at the county office. Specialty or personalized plates are made to order and mailed, usually in about 21 days, with a temporary permit in the meantime. You can surrender your old plates at the county office or return them to your former state.

If your car has no lien, your Colorado title is mailed to you. If there's a lien, the title stays with or goes to your lender.

Are students and military members exempt?

Sometimes:

• Out-of-state students don't need a Colorado license if they have a valid home-state license, are living in Colorado temporarily for school and are considered nonresidents for tuition. They also don't have to register their vehicles in Colorado.
• Active-duty military members and their spouses with a valid out-of-state license don't need a Colorado license. Dependents do. Active-duty members stationed here who claim another home state may be able to skip the Specific Ownership Tax by filing Form DR 2667 each year.

Will registration cost more than you expect?

Possibly. Colorado registration includes the Specific Ownership Tax, which is based on the vehicle's value and age, plus county and local fees. Newer cars can carry a noticeable bill the first year. The DMV has a fee estimator, so run your numbers before your county visit.

How do you plan the paperwork around a move?

A simple order helps:

• Week one: update your address with your insurer and get a Colorado auto policy.
• Week two: book a driver license appointment, since slots can fill up.
• Within the first month: get your VIN verification and emissions test if needed.
• Before day 90: visit your county office for title and registration.

Keep copies of your lease or closing documents handy. You'll use them as proof of residency more than once.

FAQ

How long do I have to get a Colorado driver's license after moving? 30 days after you establish residency.

How long do I have to register my car in Colorado? 90 days after you establish residency.

When am I considered a Colorado resident? When you work in Colorado, own or operate a Colorado business, or live in Colorado for 90 consecutive days.

Do I need an emissions test? Only if your vehicle is more than seven model years old and you live in a designated emissions county.

Next step

Book your driver license appointment and line up your VIN verification now so you're not racing the deadline. If you're still choosing where to live or settling into a new home, talk with a licensed local agent who knows the area.

Sources: Colorado DMV: Welcome to Colorado; Colorado DMV: VIN Inspections.