Duplicate titles in Colorado can only be applied for by the owner, lienholder, or an authorized agent. To get a replacement title in Colorado, you’ll need to assemble all the information and documents required to submit the application, which includes the following:

A completed

Duplicate Title Request and Receipt

form

Secure and verifiable ID for vehicles purchased after 7/1/2006

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or Colorado title number

$8.20 for the fee

A completed

Power of Attorney form

, if applying on behalf of the owner

If there is an active lien on your vehicle, you’ll also need a lien release. The release must be on the lienholder’s letterhead unless the lienholder is an individual. Photo and fax copies will work, but they must include the following:

Vehicle make and year

VIN

Title owner’s name

Agent’s signature

Date of lien release

Signed under penalty of perjury

The fee for a lien release title is $7.20. If you’re applying as lienholder but the lien isn’t filed in Colorado, you have to include a Power of Attorney from the owner.

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How to apply for a replacement title in Colorado

In Colorado, you can apply for a duplicate title online, in person, or by mail through the state DMV or your county’s DMV.

To apply for a replacement Colorado title

online

, you’ll need to already have an active title and not have any liens with your title. Residents in Crowley and Hinsdale counties are excluded from online applications.

For mail applications, send in copies of all of the required documents and the $8.20 fee. You can make your check payable to the Colorado Department of Revenue. Mail your application along with the application fee to the following address:

Department of Revenue

Vehicle Services Section

PO Box 173350 Rm 147

Denver, CO 80217-3350

For in-person applications, bring the documents and fee to the following address:

Colorado Department of Revenue

Vehicle Services Section

1881 Pierce Street

Lakewood, CO 80214

You should also be able to visit your county’s DMV for this service.

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How long does it take to get a replacement title in Colorado?

After you’ve submitted your application, you should allow two to six weeks to receive it—though it may be less. Same-day service may be available for out-of-state titleholders. Even if you aren’t an out-of-state titleholder, it may be worth asking if same-day over-the-counter printing is available for your situation.

The fastest option to apply for a duplicate title, though, is to submit an application through the online portal.

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When do you need a replacement title?

A car’s title certifies the ownership of the vehicle. A title contains some basic information about the vehicle, like the VIN, a description of the car, and the owner’s name and address.

The title is mandatory to prove ownership—or to transfer ownership—of the vehicle, making it one of the most essential documents to keep up with when it comes to your car. If you move states or sell your vehicle, you have to transfer the title to be applicable to your new state or the new owner.

You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title if yours is:

Illegible

Lost

Stolen

Mutilated

Altered

Be sure to keep your car’s title in a safe place where you can easily access it when necessary.

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