A Colorado abandoned vehicle title is the certificate of title you get for a car that was left, stored, or impounded with no clear owner, and it is issued by your County Clerk and Recorder acting for the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. The process runs on a small stack of state forms, mainly the DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale with its “Report of Sale of an Abandoned Vehicle” section and the DR 2395 Application for Title, under the rules in C.R.S. 38-20-116.
Here is the part most people miss: in Colorado, “abandoned” is not the same as “finders keepers.” A car sitting on your land does not become yours by default, and getting a clean title means following a strict chain of steps with hard deadlines. Each year, tens of thousands of vehicles move through Colorado’s abandoned and bonded-title channels, and a large share of first-time applications get bounced back for missing forms, a skipped VIN inspection, or a bond that is too small.
In this guide you will learn:
- 🚗 What each abandoned-vehicle form does and which one you actually need
- 📋 A line-by-line walkthrough of the DR 2173 and DR 2395, field by field
- 💵 The real fees, the $700 minimum bond, and the $350 junk-title cutoff
- 🧾 Three full filled-out examples following real Colorado filers
- ⚠️ The mistakes that get titles rejected and how to dodge every one
What the Abandoned Vehicle Title Is and Who Must File It
An abandoned vehicle title is a Colorado certificate of ownership for a car that was abandoned and then sold, towed, or recovered through a legal process. The form package proves you took the right steps to claim a vehicle whose paper trail is broken or missing. The agency that issues it is your local County Clerk and Recorder, the office that handles all Colorado titles, working under the Division of Motor Vehicles. The controlling statute is C.R.S. 38-20-116, which defines what counts as an abandoned motor vehicle and lays out the notice and sale rules.
Two very different groups file in this lane. The first is registered tow operators and law enforcement, who handle the formal abandonment process when a car is left on private or public property. They report the tow, run a record search, notify the owner, and sell the car if no one claims it. The second is private citizens, such as a person who bought a no-title car off Craigslist or got a vehicle from a tow yard sale. Private buyers usually cannot start the abandonment process themselves and instead end up on the bonded title path, which is the legal cousin of the abandoned title.
You must file if you intend to register, insure, or sell the vehicle. Without a title, the car is legally frozen. You cannot plate it, you cannot legally drive it, and you cannot sell it to anyone who wants a clean title. A tow operator who skips the process cannot lawfully sell the car, and a private buyer who skips it owns a vehicle that no insurer or DMV will recognize.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open a single form. Missing items are the top reason these applications stall for weeks at the county counter. Here is the pre-filing checklist.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): The 17-character VIN ties every form together; a wrong digit voids the record search and the bond.
- Year, make, and model: These must match the VIN plate exactly, because the DMV cross-checks them against the national vehicle database.
- Secure and verifiable ID: A Colorado driver license, Colorado ID, or passport is required to title in your name; without it the clerk cannot process the application.
- Proof of how you got the car: A bill of sale, tow paperwork, or auction receipt shows the chain of ownership, and a gap here triggers a rejection.
- VIN inspection form (DR 2698 or DR 2704): A law-enforcement or state-patrol VIN verification proves the car is not stolen; the title cannot issue without it.
- Record search result (no-record printout): A DR 2489A request shows whether a prior owner or lienholder exists; skipping it stops the bonded path cold.
- Vehicle value or appraisal: A licensed dealer appraisal or NADA value decides whether you need a bond and how big it must be.
- Surety bond (if value is over $350): A minimum $700 Colorado certificate of title bond is required for higher-value cars, and the bond must equal twice the appraised value.
- Payment for fees: Plan for the title fee, inspection fee, record-search fee, and any sales tax due at the county counter.
- Proof of insurance: Required if you register at the same time you title, since Colorado law ties registration to active coverage.
If any single item is missing, the clerk will hand the packet back. Build the file completely, double-check the VIN on every page, and keep copies of all of it.
Where to Get the Forms and How to Access Them
All Colorado abandoned-vehicle and title forms live on the Colorado DMV forms page, where you can search by form number and download a print-ready PDF. Type the number, such as DR 2173, DR 2395, DR 2489A, or DR 2922, into the search box, then open and print the form. Note the revision date printed in the corner of each form, for example the DR 2922 dated 03/27/24 and the DR 2421 dated 09/15/23, so you know you have the current version.
The DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale is a special case. It is a controlled, serialized form, so you often cannot just download it. The state directs filers to order it through Standard Register at 1-800-877-0723, and tow operators usually keep a supply on hand. Your County Clerk and Recorder office can also point you to the correct current copy.
You can pick up paper forms in person at any County Clerk and Recorder motor vehicle office, such as Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, El Paso, or Mesa County. Counties like Boulder require appointments for in-person service, so check hours before you drive over. Bring your full packet and a pen with black ink, and print, do not cursive-write, every entry.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the DR 2173 and DR 2395 Line by Line
The abandoned vehicle title is really a packet, not one page. The two forms you will spend the most time on are the DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale (with the abandoned-vehicle section) and the DR 2395 Application for Title and/or Registration. Below is each field in the order it appears on the forms. Print in black ink and use ALL CAPS where the form asks for it.
DR 2173, Vehicle Description: VIN, Year, Make, Model
What the field asks in plain English. This block asks you to identify the exact car being sold or claimed.
How to answer it. Print the full 17-character VIN, the four-digit model year, the make, and the model in the labeled boxes. Use ALL CAPS and match the VIN plate on the dashboard or door jamb.
A specific example answer. Carlos Reyes, a tow operator, writes 1HGCM82633A004352 for the VIN, 2003 for year, HONDA for make, and ACCORD for model.
A nuance or edge case. If the VIN plate is damaged or unreadable, you must get a DR 2698 VIN verification from law enforcement or a licensed station first, and write the confirmed VIN here.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Transposing two VIN digits is the most common error, and it makes the record search and bond apply to the wrong car, so the county rejects the whole packet.
A misconception people hold about this field. Many filers think the license plate number can stand in for the VIN; it cannot, because titles track the VIN, not the plate.
DR 2173, Odometer Disclosure: Current Odometer Reading (No Tenths)
What the field asks in plain English. This line records how many miles are on the car at the time of sale.
How to answer it. Write the mileage with no tenths and check the matching box for “actual mileage,” “exceeds mechanical limits,” or “not actual mileage / odometer discrepancy.”
A specific example answer. Carlos writes 187432 and checks the Actual Mileage box.
A nuance or edge case. Federal law requires odometer disclosure on most vehicles under 20 model years old; very old cars and some heavy trucks are exempt, but when in doubt, fill it in.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Leaving the box unchecked while still writing a number creates a conflict, and the clerk cannot accept an odometer statement that is internally inconsistent.
A misconception people hold about this field. People assume a broken odometer means they can skip this; instead, you must check the “not actual mileage” box and still record the displayed number.
DR 2173, Section for Report of Sale of an Abandoned Vehicle
What the field asks in plain English. This is the heart of the abandoned-vehicle process; it certifies that a tow operator legally sold the car after the abandonment steps were done.
How to answer it. The tow operator completes the abandoned-vehicle report section, listing the impound details and certifying the sale, as Colorado rules require operators to fill out this section at the time of sale.
A specific example answer. Carlos enters the impound date, the buyer’s name MARIA OKAFOR, and signs certifying the car was sold in a commercially reasonable manner.
A nuance or edge case. If the vehicle was disclosed as salvage during the VIN inspection, this must be noted so the buyer applies for a salvage-branded title, not a clean one.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Skipping the sale-date entry breaks the timeline that proves the 30-to-60-day notice window was honored, and the county will not issue a title without it.
A misconception people hold about this field. Private buyers think they can fill this section in themselves; only a registered operator who ran the statutory process can complete it.
DR 2173, Seller and Buyer Information
What the field asks in plain English. This block names who is selling the car and who is buying it.
How to answer it. Print the seller’s name, company or agency, and street address, then the buyer’s hand-printed name and street address, with the buyer’s signature where marked.
A specific example answer. Seller line reads CARLOS REYES, REYES TOWING LLC; buyer line reads MARIA OKAFOR, 1420 PINE ST, DENVER, CO 80203.
A nuance or edge case. If a business buys the car, write the business name and a company address, and an authorized agent signs on its behalf.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Writing a P.O. Box where a physical address is required can stall the title, because the county needs a verifiable street address for the owner.
A misconception people hold about this field. Buyers think a nickname is fine; the name must match the buyer’s secure and verifiable ID exactly, or the title will not match the registration.
DR 2173, Penalty of Perjury and Signatures
What the field asks in plain English. This block makes both parties swear the information is true under penalty of perjury.
How to answer it. Both seller and buyer sign and date in the marked signature lines after reading the perjury clause.
A specific example answer. Maria signs Maria Okafor and dates 06/03/2026 on the buyer signature line.
A nuance or edge case. If someone signs using a Power of Attorney, the signed POA document must be attached to the packet.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Forgetting a date next to a signature voids the form, since the clerk treats an undated perjury statement as incomplete.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think a typed name counts as a signature; the form requires a handwritten signature in the signature box.
DR 2395, Owner Name and Address
What the field asks in plain English. This top section of the title application names the person or business who will own the titled vehicle.
How to answer it. Print the full legal name and complete mailing address, including ZIP code, exactly as they appear on your secure and verifiable ID.
A specific example answer. Maria prints MARIA J OKAFOR and 1420 PINE ST, DENVER, CO 80203.
A nuance or edge case. If your ID name and your bill-of-sale name differ, attach a DR 2421 Statement of One and the Same to link the two names.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. A name that does not match your ID triggers a hold, because the clerk cross-checks the name against your ID before issuing the title.
A misconception people hold about this field. Filers think they can list two owners casually; how you join names (and/or) decides survivorship rights, so choose the tenancy box on purpose.
DR 2395, Vehicle Description and Tenancy
What the field asks in plain English. This block restates the VIN, year, make, and model and asks how multiple owners hold title.
How to answer it. Copy the VIN, year, make, and model from the DR 2173, then check Joint Tenancy With Rights of Survivorship or Tenancy in Common if there is more than one owner.
A specific example answer. Maria copies 1HGCM82633A004352, 2003 HONDA ACCORD, and leaves the tenancy boxes blank because she is the sole owner.
A nuance or edge case. For two spouses who want the survivor to inherit the car automatically, choose Joint Tenancy With Rights of Survivorship.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Copying a VIN that differs by even one character from the DR 2173 makes the two forms conflict, and the county rejects the mismatch.
A misconception people hold about this field. People believe tenancy only matters for houses; on a vehicle title it controls who keeps the car if an owner dies.
DR 2395, Lienholder Section
What the field asks in plain English. This block records anyone who has a loan or security interest in the vehicle.
How to answer it. If there is no lender, write NONE; if there is, enter the lienholder’s name, full address, ZIP, lien amount, and any ELT E-number.
A specific example answer. Maria writes NONE because she paid cash and there is no loan.
A nuance or edge case. If the record search uncovered an old, unreleased lien, you must get a lien release before the clean title can issue.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Leaving this blank instead of writing NONE can read as an incomplete form, so the clerk may set it aside.
A misconception people hold about this field. Buyers assume an old lien just disappears; it does not, and an unreleased lien blocks a clean title until it is cleared.
DR 2395, Certification and Signature
What the field asks in plain English. This bottom block is where the owner certifies the application is true and signs under penalty of perjury.
How to answer it. Print your name, sign, date, and provide your secure and verifiable ID type and number where asked, with a witness signature if the form requires one.
A specific example answer. Maria prints MARIA J OKAFOR, signs, dates 06/03/2026, and lists Colorado DL with her license number.
A nuance or edge case. When an agent signs for a company or estate, the supporting authority document must travel with the application.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Skipping the ID number leaves the certification incomplete, and the county cannot finalize a title without verified identity.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think the witness line is optional everywhere; some counties require it, so fill it when the form provides the line.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common Colorado fact patterns, each followed through the core forms. Names and entries are italicized to show what gets written on the form.
Scenario 1: Carlos, a registered tow operator selling an abandoned car. Carlos towed a 2003 Honda Accord off a Denver apartment lot, reported it, ran the record search, and sold it at a commercially reasonable sale after the notice window closed.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| DR 2173 VIN | 1HGCM82633A004352 |
| DR 2173 Year / Make / Model | 2003 / HONDA / ACCORD |
| DR 2173 Odometer | 187432, Actual Mileage |
| DR 2173 Report of Sale of Abandoned Vehicle | Impound date, sale certified |
| DR 2173 Seller | CARLOS REYES, REYES TOWING LLC |
| DR 2173 Buyer | MARIA OKAFOR, 1420 PINE ST, DENVER |
| Record search result | No-record / owner-not-found printout |
| DR 2173 Signature & date | Carlos Reyes, 06/01/2026 |
Scenario 2: Maria, a private buyer who bought the abandoned car. Maria paid cash for the Accord at the tow yard sale and now needs a title in her name to register and insure it.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| DR 2395 Owner Name | MARIA J OKAFOR |
| DR 2395 Address | 1420 PINE ST, DENVER, CO 80203 |
| DR 2395 VIN | 1HGCM82633A004352 |
| DR 2395 Year / Make / Model | 2003 HONDA ACCORD |
| DR 2395 Tenancy | Blank (sole owner) |
| DR 2395 Lienholder | NONE |
| VIN inspection (DR 2698) | Completed by law enforcement |
| DR 2395 Signature & ID | Maria Okafor, Colorado DL, 06/03/2026 |
Scenario 3: Janet, a private owner on the bonded-title path for a car over $350. Janet bought a 2015 Subaru Outback with no title, could not reach the prior owner, and used the bonded-title route after a record search and appraisal.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| DR 2704 VIN inspection | Completed, $53 fee paid |
| DR 2489A record search | Requested, no current owner reachable |
| Appraisal / value | $8,000 NADA retail value |
| Surety bond amount | $16,000 (twice the value) |
| DR 2394 In Lieu of Bond statement | Explains missing title and search efforts |
| DR 2395 Owner Name | JANET MILLER |
| DR 2395 VIN | 4S4BSANC1F3001234 |
| DR 2395 Signature & ID | Janet Miller, Colorado DL, 06/03/2026 |
How to File the Completed Forms
Colorado titles are filed at the County Clerk and Recorder office in the county where you live, not at a central state DMV. The state does not accept abandoned or bonded title applications directly; the county processes them for the Division of Motor Vehicles.
- In person: Bring the full packet to your county motor vehicle office, such as 200 W 14th Ave in Denver. Many counties require an appointment. Pay by cash, check, or card depending on the county, and keep your stamped receipt as proof of filing.
- By mail: Some counties accept mailed title packets; send the originals, copies of your ID, and a check for fees to the county address, and use tracked mail so you have proof of delivery.
- Fees to expect: A title fee of $7.20, a VIN inspection of about $53 through Colorado State Patrol, a record-search fee of about $2.20, plus sales tax and registration if you plate at the same time.
- Processing time: Counters often issue a title or a receipt the same day, while mailed bonded titles can take two to four weeks for state processing.
For the bonded path, you must also buy your Colorado certificate of title bond before filing, since the bond document goes into the packet. The bond must equal twice the vehicle’s value, with a $700 minimum for vehicles worth more than $350.
What Happens After You File
After the county accepts your packet, it verifies the VIN inspection, the record search, the bill of sale, and any bond, then enters the vehicle into the state title system. If everything matches, the clerk issues a title in your name, often handing you a receipt the same day while the printed title arrives by mail.
If the vehicle is worth $350 or less, you may receive a junk or parts-only title rather than a regular title. That document lets you dismantle or sell the car for parts but does not allow it to be registered and driven. Vehicles worth more than $350 receive a regular or bonded title, depending on your path.
A bonded title carries a flag for three years. During that window, if a prior owner appears and proves a superior claim, the surety bond pays them, and after three clean years the bond brand drops off and the title becomes a standard title. A salvage disclosure, if it came up during the VIN inspection, produces a salvage-branded title until the car passes a rebuilt inspection.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Forms
- Treating the car as finders keepers. A vehicle on your property is not automatically yours, and self-claiming it can be theft.
- Transposing VIN digits. A single wrong character voids the record search and bond and gets the packet rejected.
- Skipping the VIN inspection. Without a DR 2698 or DR 2704, the county cannot confirm the car is not stolen and will not title it.
- Missing the record search. Skipping the DR 2489A search means the DMV cannot confirm there is no prior owner or lien, so the title stalls.
- Buying too small a bond. A bond under twice the appraised value or under the $700 minimum gets rejected outright.
- Forgetting odometer disclosure. Leaving the odometer block blank on a newer car makes the bill of sale incomplete.
- Name mismatch with ID. A name that does not match your secure ID triggers a hold until you add a DR 2421.
- Using a P.O. Box for the owner address. The county needs a verifiable physical address and may bounce a P.O. Box.
- Leaving the lienholder line blank. Write NONE; a blank line reads as an unanswered field.
- Missing signatures or dates. An unsigned or undated perjury block voids the form.
- Ignoring a salvage disclosure. Applying for a clean title on a salvage-flagged car gets the application denied.
- Filing in the wrong county. Title in the county where you live, or the packet may be returned.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do verify the VIN on every page, because one mismatch sinks the whole packet.
- Do run the record search first, since it tells you if a prior owner or lien exists before you spend on a bond.
- Do get the VIN inspection early, as no title issues without it.
- Do match every name to your ID, so the clerk does not place a hold.
- Do buy a bond for twice the value, because an undersized bond is rejected.
- Do keep copies of everything, as your stamped receipt is your proof of filing.
Don’ts
- Don’t assume “abandoned” means free, because self-claiming a car can be a crime.
- Don’t guess the vehicle’s value, since the DMV checks NADA and a low figure invites rejection.
- Don’t use a P.O. Box for the owner address, as the county wants a physical address.
- Don’t skip the perjury signature, because an unsigned form is incomplete.
- Don’t ignore an old lien, since it blocks a clean title until released.
- Don’t file in the wrong county, because titles are handled where you live.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing on your own
- Lower cost, because you avoid title-service and attorney fees.
- Full control, since you handle each form and deadline yourself.
- Faster for simple cases, when the chain of ownership is clean.
- Learning the process, which helps if you title cars often.
- Direct county contact, so you hear about problems right away.
Cons of filing on your own
- Easy to miss a form, because the packet has many moving parts.
- Hard deadlines, since the abandonment notice windows are unforgiving.
- Bond math errors, because a wrong bond amount means starting over.
- Salvage surprises, which can derail a clean-title plan.
- Time cost, as several agencies and trips may be involved.
Abandoned Title vs. Bonded Title
| Abandoned Vehicle Title | Bonded Title |
|---|---|
| Used after the statutory tow-and-sale process under C.R.S. 38-20-116 | Used by a private owner who cannot prove a clean chain of ownership |
| Usually driven by a registered tow operator or law enforcement | Driven by the individual buyer or owner |
| Relies on the DR 2173 abandoned-sale section | Relies on a surety bond, DR 2394, and DR 2489A search |
| Owner notice and 30-to-60-day windows apply | Three-year bond brand applies, then drops off |
| Title code reflects the abandoned/bill-of-sale source | Title is flagged “bonded” until cleared |
FAQs
Do I need a surety bond for every abandoned vehicle?
No. A bond is required only when the vehicle is valued over $350, and then it must be at least $700 and equal twice the appraised value of the car.
Can I claim a car just because it sits on my property?
No. Colorado is not a finders-keepers state, so you must use the tow-and-notice process or a bonded title rather than simply taking the car.
Do I write the VIN or the license plate number on the DR 2173?
No. Always use the 17-character VIN, not the plate number, because Colorado titles track the VIN, not the plate.
Is a VIN inspection really required?
Yes. A law-enforcement or state-patrol VIN inspection is required to confirm the car is not stolen, and the title cannot issue without it.
Do I list a P.O. Box as my owner address on the DR 2395?
No. Use a physical street address, because the county needs a verifiable address and may reject a P.O. Box on the owner line.
Can a private buyer fill out the “Report of Sale of an Abandoned Vehicle” section?
No. Only a registered tow operator who ran the statutory process completes that section of the DR 2173.
Do I file my abandoned vehicle title at the state DMV?
No. You file at the County Clerk and Recorder office in the county where you live, which processes titles for the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Is a junk title the same as a regular title?
No. A junk or parts-only title is issued for vehicles worth $350 or less and does not let you register or drive the vehicle.
Do I write NONE in the lienholder box if there is no loan?
Yes. Write NONE so the field is clearly answered, because a blank line can read as an incomplete application.
Can I use any value I want for the bond?
No. The bond must be twice the vehicle’s value based on a dealer appraisal or NADA, and a low value invites a rejection.
Does a bonded title stay flagged forever?
No. The bonded brand lasts three years, and if no superior claim appears, the title converts to a standard title after that.
Do I need different names to match across my forms?
Yes. Your name must match your secure ID across the DR 2173 and DR 2395, and a DR 2421 links any difference so the title is not held.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out the Ohio Abandoned Vehicle Title Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Arizona AZ MVD Abandoned Vehicle Title (Form #46-4402) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Colorado DMV Bonded Title (DR 2922) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Colorado DMV Rebuilt Vehicle Statement (DR 2424 & DR 2710) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Colorado DMV Salvage Title Application (Forms DR 2424 & DR 2710) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Vermont DMV Application for Duplicate Title + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Delaware DMV Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV213) + FAQs