How Do You Replace a Lost Car Title in Colorado?

The Colorado rule in one table

What makes Colorado different

Colorado is the cheapest duplicate in this directory by a wide margin, and the most permissive on lien-release copies. The duplicate fee is 8 dollars and 20 cents, against 28 dollars in California, 39 dollars and 50 cents in Washington, and 75 dollars and 25 cents in Florida. The lien release may arrive as a photo or fax copy, where Texas demands an original and New York rejects photocopies outright. The copy must still carry every required element: vehicle year, make, and identification number, titled owner names, agent signature, release date, and a signature under penalty of perjury in the second degree.

The resident versus nonresident split is the second Colorado difference. Residents file at the county motor vehicle office. Nonresidents file with the Division of Motor Vehicles. The form lists mail, drop-off, and myDMV E-Services as well, but the page read did not disambiguate whether myDMV duplicate service covers residents or only state-processed nonresident cases. A resident who wants certainty files at the county office.

The process, step by step

1. Complete form DR 2539A. Include the vehicle identification number and Colorado title number if known, and Secure and Verifiable Identification for vehicles purchased on or after July 1, 2006.
2. If you apply for someone else, attach the power of attorney. Agents for a business need a power of attorney or letter of authorization.
3. If any lien is active, attach the lien release. It must be on the lienholder's letterhead, except when the lienholder is an individual, and photo and fax copies are accepted with every required element in the table above. The duplicate issues omitting all reference to the released lien.
4. File at the county motor vehicle office if you are a resident, or with the Division if you are not, and pay 8 dollars and 20 cents. The form also lists mail to the Denver post office box, drop-off in Lakewood, and myDMV E-Services, with the resident-scope caveat in the table above.
5. Wait for the duplicate. No processing time was stated on the page read, so confirm timing at filing if a sale or registration depends on it.

If the owner is changing, file a transfer instead: How to Transfer a Car Title in Colorado. If the owner stays the same and only the sticker is expiring, renew instead: How to Renew Vehicle Registration in Colorado.

Duplicate titles in the other states

Every state replaces a lost title, but the form, the fee, and the lienholder rule change at the state line. See How to Replace a Lost Car Title in California and How to Replace a Lost Car Title in Texas. For all seven states side by side, see the Duplicate Title Replacement by State directory. If the owner is changing rather than the paper, you need a transfer, not a duplicate. See Car Title Transfer, Renewal, or Duplicate: Which One Do You Need to tell the three apart.

Source

Form, fee, channels, identification, lien release, and coverage on this page come from the department: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, duplicate title and form DR 2539A. The myDMV scope caveat is stated in the table because the page read did not disambiguate it. Facts verified 2026-10-25.

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 a lawyer or your state agency.