First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyAdult drivers. Colorado law permits regular cell phone use for voice calls. Headphones may be worn in one ear for this purpose. However, adult drivers are prohibited from manual data entry and transmission on a cell phone (i.e., to send a text message or browse the internet) while behind the wheel.
The Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and plowing Colorado's state highway system, which includes interstates, U.S. highways, toll roads, and numbered state highways in Colorado, under the policy direction of the 11‑member Transportation Commission.
The Department of Revenue includes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which administers the state's motor vehicle laws through four sections: Driver Control and Traffic Records; Driver License; Emissions; and Titles and Registration. Below is an overview of each DMV section. Visit the Contact Us page of the DMV website to contact any of these sections. The DOR's annual report is available
The Department of Regulatory Agencies includes the Division of Insurance and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Division of Insurance regulates the insurance industry in the state, including automobile insurance and insurance agents. The PUC's Transportation Section regulates transportation ne
The Department of Public Safety includes the Colorado State Patrol, which enforces traffic laws on interstates, state highways, and county roads, among other general law enforcement responsibilities.
The Department of Public Health and Environment includes the Motor Vehicle Emissions Program within the Air Pollution Control Division, which administers programs designed to reduce motor vehicle pollution in Colorado. For more information about the state's emissions programs, see the Emissions section.
The state departments that play a role in motor vehicle regulation in Colorado are the Departments of Public Health and Environment, Public Safety, Regulatory Agencies, Revenue, and Transportation.
For more information about the state's chain law as it applies to commercial vehicles, CDOT has created trucker information COtrip. For general information about chain law, visit the Chain Law subsection of this handbook.
Colorado law requires the use of splash guards, also referred to as "mud flaps," to minimize the spray of water and other road substances. This requirement is applicable to large trucks operating on Colorado highways. Flaps must be installed and functioning at all times. Torn or damaged flaps must be replaced at the first reasonable and safe opportunity to exit the road.
Vehicle size and weight limits on state and interstate highways are established by the state and federal governments. In Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is responsible for regulating the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles on the state's highways. CDOT accomplishes this by issuing permits and providing route guidelines for commercial vehicles that exceed the normal size and weight limits allowed by law. The table below outlines state and federal limitations for vehicle size and weight.
Federal regulations govern the maximum number of hours that commercial motor vehicle driver may be "on‑duty." These rules limit commercial drivers to working a maximum of 14 hours within any 24‑hour period. Further, commercial motor carrier drivers:
Under Colorado law, a commercial vehicle is defined as a vehicle used in commerce that weighs at least 16,001 pounds and is self‑propelled, towed, or designed to transport 16 or more passengers. Vehicles that are used for the commercial transportation of other motor vehicles or for hazardous materials transportation are included with the definition of a "commercial vehicle." School buses and certain agricultural vehicles are excluded from the definition.
Under current state law, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has the authority to close any portion of a state highway to public travel or to prohibit travel by vehicles that are unprepared for the conditions. CDOT may close the highway when it considers such a closure or restriction of use necessary for the protection and safety of the public. Highway closures and restrictions occur through cooperation with the Colorado State Patrol (CSP).
The Division of Insurance in DORA maintains a variety of automobile insurance resources on the DORA website.
Automobile owners in Colorado are required to carry liability insurance. Liability insurance covers bodily injury to another person or property damage to another's vehicle or property when the insured is at fault for an accident. The following minimum coverages are required by the state, although higher coverages may be purchased: