Unregistered Vehicles

Are you Driving Without Valid Vehicle Registration?

In Colorado, traffic laws make it unlawful to operate a motor vehicle when the vehicle has never been registered with the Colorado state department of motor vehicles (or motor vehicles bureau) if the vehicle is primarily used in Colorado or the vehicle's once-valid registration has expired (i.e. required fees and filings were not submitted to the state motor vehicle department within the registration period).

In Colorado, as in many states, penalties for driving a vehicle whose registration has expired will increase the longer the registration has lapsed. For example, if the vehicle's registration expired less than 6 months ago, the infraction might be considered a non-moving violation. But if the vehicle's registration expired more than 6 months ago, the offense may be considered a moving violation, which shows up as points on a driving record, and may lead to increased automobile insurance rates. Colorado traffic laws differentiate between operating a vehicle that is not registered, and operating a vehicle without proof that the vehicle is registered (i.e. when a driver of a properly registered vehicle fails to carry a required registration certificate, or fails to display current registration stickers). In most states, certain types of vehicles need not be registered -- including off-highway vehicles, stored vehicles, or vehicles for which a non-operating has been filed with the state department of motor vehicles.