Colorado Bonded Title

When bonding applies

An applicant who is unable to provide satisfactory evidence of proof of ownership of a vehicle shall be required to perform the bonding for title requirements in Colorado Revised Statutes section 42-6-115 in order to obtain a Colorado certificate of title. That is the rule stated in 1 CCR 204-10, Rule 19, section 2.1. A lost title alone does not automatically mean bonding is required; bonding applies where the evidence of ownership itself is not satisfactory under Rule 18. If a properly assigned title exists, the ordinary transfer route applies instead, as described in the How to Transfer a Car Title in Colorado guide.

The steps in Rule 19

A Colorado certificate of title will be issued upon successful completion of the requirements in section 42-6-115 and Rule 19, section 2.2. The applicant must complete each of the following, in the order the rule lists them.

First, provide a Certified VIN Inspection. The inspection must be conducted by a Peace Officers Standards and Training certified inspector, on forms provided by the Department, and must not be over one year old at the time of application.

Second, obtain and provide a title record search. The search may not be older than one year from the date of the bonding application. Vehicles titled and registered in Colorado must have a Colorado title record search completed using form DR2489A, Motor Vehicle Requestor Release Affidavit of Intended Use, or through the myDMV Request Vehicle Record or Title History Search transaction.

Third, provide proof of an attempt to contact all owners and lienholders identified on the title record searches, through certified or registered mail. The proof must include a copy of the letter sent, stating the vehicle year, make, and VIN, the applicant intent, such as retaining or selling the vehicle, and the applicant contact information.

Fourth, provide a lien release for all active liens shown on the title record searches, unless the lienholder cannot be reached and the rule alternative proof of mailing is supplied. A lien release must be on the lienholder letterhead, unless the lienholder is an individual, and must include the vehicle year, make, and VIN, the titled owner names, the agent signature, and the date of lien release, and must be notarized or signed under penalty of perjury in the second degree.

Fifth, provide the reasonable appraised value of the vehicle under section 42-6-115(3)(a). The appraisal must be for the current condition of the vehicle at the time of application, and must describe the vehicle by VIN, year, and make.

Sixth, provide proof of a surety bond for twice the appraised value shown on the appraisal, unless exempted under section 42-6-115(3)(b). The bond is a good and sufficient bond with a corporate surety to the state, in an amount fixed by the director, not less than twice the reasonable value of the vehicle determined at the time of application.

Odometer, salvage, and small trailers

The applicant must disclose the odometer reading on Secure Form DR 2173, Bill of Sale for Motor Vehicle, for vehicles with model years of less than twenty years beginning with model year 2011 on January 1, 2021, under Rule 19, section 2.4. If the vehicle record searches indicate the vehicle is salvage, the applicant must complete the rebuilt from salvage requirements on form DR 2415, Rebuilt Title Established By Salvage Title Checklist. If the vehicle is a trailer weighing 2,000 pounds or less, and the applicant provides form DR 2697, Certification of Equipment Compliance for Homemade and In Lieu of Bond Trailers, and completes form DR 2908, In Lieu of Bond For Trailer 2000 Pounds or Less Checklist, as necessary, the applicant is deemed to have provided sufficient evidence of ownership and is not required to purchase a surety bond.

The DR 2712 boundary: JDF 999 is not accepted for vehicles

The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles does not accept the court general small-estate affidavit, form JDF 999, for vehicle titles. The motor vehicle form DR 2712, Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property Pursuant to Small Estate Proceeding, is required for a vehicle. The JDF 999 instructions state the same boundary: the Department of Motor Vehicles will not accept JDF 999 but instead requires its own affidavit, form DR 2712, to transfer title to motor vehicles, motorcycles, and motor homes owned by the decedent.

Denial and appeal

An applicant denied issuance of a Colorado certificate of title on a bonding application may request a hearing in writing within 60 days after the date of notice of denial, under Rule 19, section 3.1. The written request goes to the Department of Revenue, Hearings Division, at the email and mailing address stated in the rule, and must include the applicant full name, mailing address, email address, the vehicle VIN, and a copy of the denial letter.

Source

Sources: 1 CCR 204-10, Rule 19, Bonding for Colorado Certificate of Title, read in full 2026-10-31, including sections 1, 2.1 to 2.5, and 3; Colorado Revised Statutes section 42-6-115, as cited in Rule 19; Colorado Judicial Branch, JDF 998 Small Estate Affidavit Instructions, stating the Department of Motor Vehicles will not accept JDF 999 and requires DR 2712; banked Colorado small-estate research summarized in the brief for the DR 2712 boundary, re-verified against the JDF 998 instructions text read this run. Colorado Department of Revenue motor vehicle pages were opened for the companion new-resident guide this run. Facts verified 2026-10-31. Open flags: the terms of the bond exemption in section 42-6-115(3)(b) were not stated in the rule text read; the DR 2712 form itself was not opened this run and the JDF 999 boundary should be confirmed at the county office; no bond duration or bond cost is stated in the rule text read and none is given here; no county office filing fee for a bonded title application was stated in the pages read.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to your state motor vehicle agency or court.