Colorado license plate renewal happens through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and you can complete it by mail, online, or in person depending on your situation and what documents you have on hand.
Your license plate itself does not expire — the registration attached to it does. When your registration expires, you receive a renewal notice in the mail about 60 days before the expiration date. That notice tells you the fee, your vehicle's details, and how to renew. You can renew online through the Colorado DMV website if your vehicle has a valid inspection and you have no outstanding violations or liens. If you cannot renew online, you can mail your renewal notice with payment to the address printed on it, or visit a DMV office in person.
The key difference between renewing your plate and renewing your registration is this: your registration is the legal permission to drive; your plate is the physical proof. When you renew your registration, you typically keep the same plate unless you request a new one or your plate is damaged. Colorado does not require you to get a new plate every few years just because your registration renewed.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado sends renewal notices 60 days before your registration expires, and you can renew online, by mail, or in person at a DMV office.
- Your vehicle must have a current safety inspection before you can renew your registration online or by mail.
- Online renewal is the fastest option and takes a few minutes if you have your renewal notice and a payment method ready.
- If you want a new plate design or your current plate is damaged, you can request a replacement plate when you renew, though some designs carry an extra fee.
- The renewal fee varies based on your vehicle's weight and type, and Colorado charges an additional fee if your vehicle is registered in a county with air quality rules.
Renewing online through the Colorado DMV website
The Colorado DMV website at dmv.colorado.gov has an online renewal system that works if your vehicle passes inspection and has no holds or violations on the record. You will need your renewal notice (which has your vehicle identification number and current registration details), your driver's license or ID number, and a payment method — debit card, credit card, or electronic check.
Log into the DMV portal, enter your vehicle information, confirm the details, and pay the renewal fee. The system will show you the exact amount before you submit payment. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email with your new registration. You do not need to visit an office or mail anything. Your new registration is valid when ready, and you can print the confirmation as proof until your physical registration card arrives by mail, which usually takes one to two weeks.
Online renewal fails if your vehicle has an outstanding safety inspection, an unpaid violation, a lien on the title, or if the DMV system flags any other issue with your record. If that happens, the system will tell you why and direct you to resolve it before you can proceed. In those cases, you will need to renew by mail or in person.
Renewing by mail with your renewal notice
If you have your renewal notice, you can mail it directly to the Colorado DMV with your payment. The notice includes the mailing address, the exact fee, and a tear-off section you send back. Write a check or money order for the amount shown, include it with the notice, and mail both to the address printed on the form. Do not send cash.
Mail renewal takes longer than online — typically two to three weeks from the time the DMV receives your envelope. Your vehicle must have a current safety inspection before you mail the renewal, because the DMV will not process a renewal for an uninspected vehicle. If your inspection is expired or missing, you will need to get one before sending in your renewal notice.
Keep a copy of your renewal notice for your records. If you lose the notice, you can still renew by mail by contacting the DMV to request a new one, but it is faster to renew online or in person at that point.
Renewing in person at a Colorado DMV office
You can walk into any Colorado DMV office with your renewal notice, proof of a current safety inspection, and payment to renew on the spot. Bring your driver's license or ID as well. The DMV office will verify your inspection, process your payment, and hand you a temporary registration that is valid when ready. Your permanent registration card will arrive by mail within one to two weeks.
In-person renewal is useful if you need your registration the same day, if you have a problem that prevents online or mail renewal, or if you want to request a new plate design or a replacement plate. Some DMV offices accept walk-ins, while others require an appointment. Check the Colorado DMV website for your local office's hours and whether you need to book ahead.
Wait times at DMV offices vary by location and time of day. Visiting early in the morning or mid-week typically means shorter lines than late afternoon or Friday.
Safety inspection requirements before renewal
Colorado requires a safety inspection every two years for most passenger vehicles. Your inspection must be current — not expired — before you can renew your registration. The renewal notice will tell you whether your inspection is on file with the DMV. If it is not, or if it has expired, you must get one before you renew.
A safety inspection checks your brakes, lights, windshield wipers, horn, seat belts, and steering. It takes about 15 minutes and costs between $10 and $20 depending on the inspection station. Any repair shop, tire shop, or dedicated inspection station in Colorado can perform one. Once you pass, the inspection is valid for two years from the date you took it.
If your inspection is expired and you try to renew online or by mail, the DMV will reject your renewal. You will have to get a new inspection, then renew again. This is why checking your inspection status before your registration expires saves time.
Requesting a new plate design or replacement plate
Colorado offers several plate designs — the standard blue and white plate, specialty plates (wildlife, military, collegiate), and personalized plates. If you want to switch designs when you renew, you can request a new plate at the time of renewal. Some designs cost extra; standard renewals do not include a new physical plate unless you ask for one.
If your current plate is damaged, faded, or unreadable, you can request a replacement plate during renewal. The DMV will issue a new plate with the same number. Bring your damaged plate to the DMV office if you are renewing in person, or note the damage in your mail renewal so the DMV knows to send a replacement.
Specialty and personalized plates have different fees and may take longer to produce. If you order a personalized plate, expect an additional one to two weeks for the DMV to create and mail it to you.
Renewal fees and what they cover
Colorado renewal fees depend on your vehicle's weight and type. A standard passenger vehicle typically costs between $100 and $150 to renew, but the exact amount is printed on your renewal notice. Trucks, trailers, and commercial vehicles have different fee schedules based on their registered weight.
If your vehicle is registered in a county with air quality rules — Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, or Weld County — you will pay an additional air quality fee on top of the base registration fee. This fee supports emissions testing programs in those counties.
Your renewal fee covers your registration for one year from the expiration date of your current registration. If you renew early, your new registration still expires on the same date as your old one would have — you do not extend it by renewing early. The DMV will not refund the difference if you renew more than a few months ahead of time.
What to do if your renewal notice is lost or never arrived
If you did not receive a renewal notice 60 days before your registration expires, contact the Colorado DMV directly. You can call them, visit the website, or go to a local office. The DMV can look up your vehicle and send you a new notice, or you can renew without the notice if you have your vehicle identification number and driver's license.
If your registration has already expired, you can still renew it, but you cannot legally drive the vehicle until the renewal is processed. Renew as soon as possible to avoid a lapsed registration violation. Online renewal is the fastest option in this case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my Colorado registration if my vehicle inspection is expired?
No. You must have a current safety inspection before the DMV will process your renewal online, by mail, or in person. Get a new inspection first, then renew your registration. An inspection is valid for two years from the date you take it.
What happens if I drive with an expired registration?
Driving with an expired registration is a traffic violation. You can be stopped and cited. If your registration expires, renew it when ready — online renewal takes just a few minutes and is valid right away.
Do I have to get a new license plate when I renew my registration?
No. Your plate stays the same unless it is damaged, you request a new design, or you order a personalized plate. Standard renewal keeps your current plate and just updates your registration.
How long does it take to renew by mail?
Mail renewal typically takes two to three weeks from the time the DMV receives your envelope. Online renewal is when ready, and in-person renewal is same-day. If you need your registration quickly, renew online or visit a DMV office.
Can I renew my registration if I have an outstanding ticket or violation?
No. The DMV will not process a renewal if there is an unpaid violation or hold on your record. You must resolve the violation first. Contact the court or the agency that issued the violation to find out how to clear it, then renew your registration.