La Plata County car sales tax: 2.9% to 9.9%

The rate in La Plata County

Vehicle sales tax in La Plata County is not a single number — it runs from 2.9% to 9.9% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 5.9%.
That is above the 2.9% most Colorado counties charge — about $1,050.00 more tax on a $35,000 car than the typical county in the state.
2 other counties in Colorado charge the same rate, out of 64.

Where the rate changes inside La Plata County

9.9% — Bayfield (dealer inside your area).
9.4% — Durango.
8.9% — Ignacio (unincorporated) (dealer inside your area).
6.9% — Durango (unincorporated) (dealer inside your area).
6.4% — Durango (dealer outside your area).
5.9% — Durango (unincorporated), Bayfield, Hesperus (unincorporated), Ignacio (unincorporated), Marvel (unincorporated).
2.9% — Durango (unincorporated) (dealer outside your area), Bayfield (dealer outside your area), Hesperus (unincorporated) (dealer outside your area), Ignacio (unincorporated) (dealer outside your area), Marvel (unincorporated) (dealer outside your area).
This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in La Plata County can carry different tax on the same car, and in 7 of its ZIP codes the boundary runs through the middle so the ZIP alone cannot settle it. The calculator asks you which side you are on.

What a $35,000 car actually costs in La Plata County

Sales tax (9.4% — Durango, La Plata County) — $3,349.78
Doc fee (typical) — $636.00
Title fee — $7.20
Specific ownership tax — $3.00
Registration fee (by weight) (est.) — $9.00
Vehicle age fee — $7.00
Road safety surcharge (est.) — $19.30
Bridge safety surcharge (est.) — $18.00
County clerk hire fee — $4.00
Emergency medical services fee — $2.00
Peace officer training fee — $1.00
Air account and county emissions-program fees — $1.20
Motorist insurance database fees (est.) — $0.60
License plates and tabs (est.) — $8.31
Out the door — $39,066.39 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

ZIP codes in La Plata County

81122, 81137, 81301, 81302, 81303, 81326, 81329.
Any of these resolves to La Plata County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.

La Plata County against nearby counties

Boulder County is 5.335% — $197.75 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than La Plata County.
Fremont County is 5.4% — $175.00 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than La Plata County.
Delta County is 6.5% — $210.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than La Plata County.
Hinsdale County is 6.9% — $350.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than La Plata County.
This follows where you REGISTER, not where the dealer is, so a lower rate nearby only helps if you actually live there. It is not something you can choose at the dealership.

Run your own numbers

Vehicle price

$

The negotiated or advertised price, before tax and registration.

Your ZIP code

Tax and registration follow where YOU register — not the dealership.

Dealer's ZIP code (optional)

A few states tax at the dealer's location instead of yours. If you know the dealer's ZIP, enter it for an exact tax.

Condition

New Used CPO

Fuel

EV/PHEV surcharges apply in many states.

More options — trade-in, rebates, doc fee, add-ons

Common questions

Why is the car sales tax different in parts of La Plata County?

Cities inside the county can levy their own rate on top of the county and state rate, so the combined figure changes at the city line. In La Plata County it ranges from 2.9% to 9.9%.