Moving to Durango comes with two clocks, and they are not the same length. One runs 30 days and covers your driver license. The other runs 90 and covers your car. Miss either and the fix is a hassle that a Friday-morning line at the wrong office will not solve. This page sticks to what the Colorado DMV and La Plata County publish, with the Durango addresses attached.
How long do I have after moving to Durango?
The state's new resident page says you count as a Colorado resident if you do any one of these:
- Own or operate a business in Colorado
- Are employed in Colorado
- Live in Colorado for 90 consecutive days
Once you qualify, two deadlines start running:
- Driver license: transfer it within 30 days
- Vehicle: register it within 90 days
What are the steps to transfer my license?
For anyone 18 or older with a valid out-of-state license, the state lists this sequence:
1. Pre-register and apply online (the state recommends it). 2. Make an appointment. The state marks this step as required. 3. Bring the required identification and proof-of-address documents. 4. Pay the applicable fee. 5. Hand over your old license or a recent driving record. Either one must show a license that is valid or expired less than a year. The old license will be voided with a hole punch.
You may also have to take tests. In Durango, you go to the state's Driver License Office at 329-A S. Camino Del Rio, which the state's office list shows open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed noon to 1 p.m. The state books those appointments, not La Plata County. Full hours and a map of both Durango offices are in our answer on where the DMV is in Durango.
What should I bring to the appointment?
Three things trip people up:
- Your old license, or a motor vehicle report dated within 30 days that shows a license valid or expired under a year
- Identification and proof-of-address documents from the state's required list
- Name-change paperwork, if the name on your documents differs from what you want on the license, such as after marriage or divorce
If the person getting the license is under 18, a parent or guardian must sign an Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship, form DR 2460, before a driver license employee or notary.
Who does not have to get a Colorado license?
The state names two groups:
- Active-duty military and their spouses, if they hold a valid out-of-state license. Dependents follow the regular process.
- Students temporarily here for school who hold a valid home-state license and count as non-residents for tuition purposes. That test matters if you attend Fort Lewis College, because the exemption rides on your tuition status. Out-of-state plates are also recognized for these students.
How do I register my car and get Colorado plates?
Vehicles go through the county, not the state. In Durango that means the La Plata County Motor Vehicle office at 679 Turner Drive, Suite C. Per the county's motor vehicle FAQ, plan for:
- Current Colorado insurance, which is required every time
- A VIN inspection for used vehicles and trailers coming in with an out-of-state title; a standard one is $20 at the county's Durango and Bayfield branches
- Secure and verifiable ID, which includes an out-of-state license that is current or expired one year or less, a passport and several other documents
The state says to title your vehicle in Colorado before registering it. Then comes the Specific Ownership Tax, which the county bases on a taxable value. For a passenger car that is 85% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price, and for a truck it is 75%. The county's example is a $20,000 car with a taxable value of $17,000. The first-year rate is 2.1%, so that car owes $357 in tax, plus a weight-based license fee. The rate then falls to 1.5% in year two, 1.2% in year three and 0.9% in year four. Years five through nine carry 0.45%, and from year 10 on it is a flat $3.
Do I need an emissions test in Durango?
The state describes its emissions program as covering most vehicles in the Denver metro area and the North Front Range. La Plata County is not among the counties its emissions page lists. Check with the county motor vehicle office if your vehicle is unusual.
What about REAL ID and voting?
Colorado is a REAL ID state. The state notes that since May 7, 2025, TSA does not accept non-REAL ID credentials for domestic flights, which matters if you fly out of Durango's airport. The state also says all driver license offices offer voter registration, and our guide on registering to vote in La Plata County walks through the rest. For the full first-90-days checklist, see the moving to Durango guide.