Colorado Car Sales Tax & Emissions by County (2026)
In Colorado, combined car sales tax runs ~7% to 9.4% by address, and emissions testing is required in the Denver metro / Front Range. The annual Specific Ownership Tax is a statewide value-based formula. Find your county below.
Rates verified July 2026 from the Colorado DOR (typical at the county seat). Colorado taxes by residence address; "partial" emissions counties depend on your exact location.
| County | Combined sales tax | Emissions? |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | ~9.15% | Yes |
| El Paso | ~8.2% | No |
| Arapahoe | ~8.5% | Part of county |
| Jefferson | ~7.5% | Yes |
| Adams | ~8.9% | Part of county |
| Larimer | ~8.3% | Part of county |
| Douglas | ~8.1% | Yes |
| Boulder | ~8.85% | Yes |
| Weld | ~7.01% | Part of county |
| Pueblo | ~7.6% | No |
| Mesa | ~8.66% | No |
| Broomfield | ~8.15% | Yes |
| Garfield | ~9.35% | No |
| La Plata | ~9.4% | No |
| Eagle | ~8.5% | No |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car sales tax in Colorado?
State sales tax is 2.9%, plus county, city, and special-district taxes set by your home address. Combined vehicle rates run from about 7% to 9.4% — and Denver-metro addresses add the RTD (1%) and SCFD (0.1%) districts on top.
What is the Specific Ownership Tax in Colorado?
An annual value-based tax charged in place of a personal-property tax. It's based on 85% of the original MSRP and decays with the vehicle's age (2.1% in year one down to a flat $3 after year ten). It's a statewide formula — it doesn't vary by county.
Which Colorado counties require an emissions test?
The Denver-metro and North Front Range program area: Denver, Jefferson, Douglas, Boulder, and Broomfield fully; Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer, and Weld partly (it depends on your exact address). Counties like El Paso, Pueblo, and Mesa require no test.
Is Colorado car sales tax based on where I live or where I buy?
Where you live. Colorado assesses vehicle sales/use tax at the buyer's residence address, not the dealer's location — so home-rule cities collect their own use tax at registration.