Colorado Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in Colorado, depending on the situation. A bill of sale is not needed if all information (including sale price) is completed correctly on the title, but it is required when the sale price is not listed on the title and is recommended as best practice for every private sale; DR 2116 is a separate form used only when the Colorado title record has been purged.
Compiled from Colorado DMV guidance — verify current rules with the state · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
DR 2173
Official form: DR 2173, Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (secure version required if used for odometer disclosure; sold through authorized vendors rather than downloadable) · Free printable Colorado template →
What a Colorado car bill of sale must include
- purchase price
- date of sale
- VIN
- year
- make
- model
- buyer and seller names
- buyer and seller signatures
- odometer reading if the secure DR 2173 is used for disclosure
Beginning with model year 2011 vehicles, odometer disclosure is required at every transfer for the vehicle's first 20 years and must be made on the Certificate of Title or the secure DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale form.
Before you sign: run the VIN
Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours. The $9.99 Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model, and the original window sticker where available, in about a minute. One-time, no subscription. Run the report →
FAQ
Do you need a bill of sale to sell a car privately in Colorado?
Sometimes. A bill of sale is not needed if all information (including sale price) is completed correctly on the title, but it is required when the sale price is not listed on the title and is recommended as best practice for every private sale; DR 2116 is a separate form used only when the Colorado title record has been purged.
Does a Colorado car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Colorado does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Colorado bill of sale form?
Yes — DR 2173, Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (secure version required if used for odometer disclosure; sold through authorized vendors rather than downloadable) (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a Colorado car bill of sale include?
At minimum: purchase price; date of sale; vin; year; make; model. Beginning with model year 2011 vehicles, odometer disclosure is required at every transfer for the vehicle's first 20 years and must be made on the Certificate of Title or the secure DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale form.
What should I check before signing the Colorado bill of sale?
Confirm the VIN on the document matches the dashboard and door-jamb VIN character-for-character, and check the vehicle's history first: the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model and the original window sticker where available. Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours, so they're cheaper to find before you sign.
Sources: bill-of-sale, notarization, and odometer requirements from Colorado DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above), with some details confirmed via official-domain search where the state site blocked direct access. Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Colorado Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/colorado, verified 2026-07-08.