Odometer

The Truth In Mileage Act 

An odometer disclosure statement is required on any document used for transfer of ownership.

Odometer Requirements:

• At the time of sale, record existing mileage (no tenths) as shown on the vehicle’s odometer.

• One of the three following odometer indicators is required:

  • Actual mileage (A)

  • In excess of mechanical limits (E)

  • Not actual mileage - WARNING ODOMETER DISCREPANCY (N)

• If the reading is in kilometers it must be converted to miles. Use the following formula: Kilometers (X) .621371 (=) miles.

• When completing the odometer disclosure statement, the buyer and seller must hand print and sign their name acknowledging the mileage.

• Odometer acknowledgement must be completed on a secure form.

• Any document used for transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle must be printed by means of a secure process.

• The law does not allow a dealer taking a vehicle in on trade to accept power of attorney from the seller for the purpose of completing transfer of ownership on the title. The only exceptions are:

  • If the title is physically held by a lienholder.

  • If the title has been lost and the is dealer applying for a duplicate title.

Note: In these two instances the secure power of attorney form must be used. Refer to this section for information concerning the use of a secure power of attorney form. (Power of Attorney)

Odometer Exemptions:

Vehicles that may, but are not required to complete the odometer disclosure are:

• Vehicles that meet age requirements. Click Here for chart explaining age requirements. 

  • When the surrendered document indicates the odometer reading and indicator (not zero or exempt) on the face of the title and both buyer and seller have properly acknowledged the odometer, the odometer must be entered into the system and printed on the title.

  • When the surrender document has the odometer and indicator on the face of the title and the buyer, the seller, or both have not properly acknowledged the odometer on the transfer; no acknowledgment is required, and a title will be issued with the odometer as exempt.

• Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 lbs.

• Vehicles sold by a court order

  • Disclose odometer on DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale by owner (buyer) to start the odometer tracking. Indicator will be Actual unless it is known that the mileage is Not Actual or In Excess.

• Vehicles without odometer mechanisms

  • Motorcycles 

  • A DR 2444 Statement of Fact must be included with the application for title indicating that the motorcycle has no odometer mechanism. A trip meter is not an odometer mechanism.

  • Trailers

• Manufactured Homes

Note: Seller may not be available to sign the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale.

For vehicles meeting age requirements, if disclosed and owner desires to make exempt, a DR 2444 Statement of Fact is required.

Odometer Disclosure Requirements in Various Situations

MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin)

Dealer to dealer assignments on the MSO does not require a separate odometer disclosure, but must include the odometer reading in the assignment area. The odometer disclosure is required when transferring from a dealer to a private owner.

If the MSO is not available for the buyer’s signature, a DR 2407 Dealers Bill of Sale will be acceptable.

If the odometer reading is over 1500 demonstration miles, the vehicle is a used vehicle and must be titled by the Colorado dealer, C.R.S 42-6-102(11).

When the odometer reading exceeds 1500 miles due to in-transit miles (from point of purchase to point of delivery), and a Colorado dealer claims in-transit miles, the claim must be supported with a DR 2444 Statement of Fact with the following information:

Vehicle description (year, make and VIN).

Name and address of selling dealer.

Name and address of buying dealer. 

Number of in-transit miles claimed.

Perjury statement or notarization.

Signature and date.

Note: Dealer taking title must disclose the odometer reading and indicator as buyer on the MSO.

Conforming Colorado Certificate of Title

Individual-to-individual transaction:

• The Odometer Disclosure Statement is incorporated on the back of the title; no additional documents are required for titling.

• The buyer’s signature acknowledges receipt of the odometer disclosure information. Only one buyer’s signature and hand printed name is required.

Individual to dealer transaction:

• The Odometer Disclosure Statement is incorporated on the back of the title; no additional documents are required for titling.

Subsequent transfer(s) by dealer(s):

• Each transfer will require the odometer reading to be disclosed, on the title or on a separate secure form.

Non-Conforming Colorado Certificate of Title Purged Bill of Sale, and/or Out-of-State Title

Individual-to-individual transaction:

When a vehicles does not meet age requirements for exemption, the odometer reading must be disclosed on a secure form.

If the title is in more than one name, only one seller’s signature and hand printed name is required to acknowledge the odometer disclosure. All seller’s signatures are required to release their interest in the vehicle when sold.

The buyer’s signature acknowledges receipt of the odometer disclosure information. Only one buyer’s signature and hand printed name is required.

Vehicle is 10 years old or older:

• No odometer requirements apply.

Vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 lbs. (GVWR):

• No odometer requirements apply.

Vehicle does not have an odometer and did not have odometer originally installed:

• No odometer requirements apply.

• Statement of Fact from seller is required.

Odometer has been removed/broken:

• The odometer reading must be disclosed on a secure form. When the odometer is broken, the seller fills in the present odometer reading in the space provided and marks the box indicating “Not Actual”.

Individual to Dealer

When a vehicles does not meet age requirements for exemption, the odometer reading must be disclosed on a secure form:

If the title is in more than one name only one seller’s signature and hand printed name is required to acknowledge the odometer disclosure. All seller’s signatures are required to release their interest in the vehicle when sold.

The buyer’s signature acknowledges receipt of the odometer disclosure information. Only one buyer signature and hand printed name is required.

Vehicle requires federal odometer disclosure and title is held by lienholder:

• Seller must sign DR 2174 Secure Power of Attorney for a Motor Vehicle.

• Dealer transfers odometer information from Power of Attorney to the assignment section on Certificate of Title.

Vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 lbs. (GVWR):

• No odometer requirements apply.

Vehicle does not have an odometer and did not have odometer originally installed:

No odometer requirements apply.

Statement from seller.

Odometer has been removed/broken:

• The odometer reading must be disclosed on a secure form. When the odometer is broken, the seller fills in the present odometer reading in the space provided and marks the box indicating “Not Actual”.

Subsequent transfer(s) by Dealer(s) with a non-restricted title:

• Each transfer will require a DR 2407 Dealer’s Bill of Sale.

Public/Private Tow Bill Sale

DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale with odometer section completed.

Note: This statement will begin the odometer trail.

Leased Vehicles (When Odometer Disclosure Is Not Completed On MSO/Title)

DR 2407 Dealer’s Bill of Sale with MSO; or Secure odometer disclosure statement from another state.

Note: Lessee can act as agent for lessor when signing odometer disclosure statement.

Repossession

Odometer disclosure must be completed on the title; or a secure odometer disclosure form.

Floor Plan

Odometer disclosure must be completed on the title; or a secure odometer disclosure form.

Direct Court Orders/Bonds/Storage Liens/Colorado Assigned Identification Number

The person taking title (buyer) will complete the odometer reading and indicator on the secure odometer disclosure form DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale. Odometer reading will be disclosed as “Actual,” unless it is known to be “Not Actual” or “In Excess” or search results indicate “Not Actual” or “In Excess”. This will begin the odometer tracking.

Salvage Title

Odometer disclosure must be completed on the title; or

A secure odometer disclosure form DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale completed.

U. S. Bill of Sale (Standard Form 97)

Odometer Disclosure must be completed on the Standard Form 97. If seller is not available to sign, the DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale signed by the buyer is needed to start tracking the odometer reading.

Note: Vehicles sold by the federal (United States) government are specifically exempted from these requirements.

Odometer Reading Not Required

Odometer reading is not required for the following:

Vehicles meeting age requirements for exemption,

Motorcycles (without odometer mechanism).

Trailers and mobile/manufactured homes.

Motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) more than 16,000 lbs.

When the title will remain in the owner’s name and a lien is being filed.

When a name has been legally changed (See Assignments, Legal Name Change).

Broken Odometer

Individual to Individual/Dealer or Dealer to Individual/Dealer

When the odometer is broken, the seller fills in the present odometer reading in the space provided on the secure odometer disclosure form, marks the box indicating “Not Actual”.

Odometer Correction

(See Assignments)

Note: Odometer Disclosure must include odometer reading, odometer indicator, a signature, hand printed name of seller and buyer (odometer indicator must be selected when applicable), the date of sale and be on secure paper.

Floor Plans