Routt County car sales tax: 3.9% to 8.9%

The rate in Routt County

Vehicle sales tax in Routt County is not a single number — it runs from 3.9% to 8.9% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 3.9%.
That is above the 2.9% most Colorado counties charge — about $350.00 more tax on a $35,000 car than the typical county in the state.
8 other counties in Colorado charge the same rate, out of 64.

Where the rate changes inside Routt County

8.9% — Hayden (dealer inside your area).
8.4% — Steamboat Springs.
7.9% — Yampa.
6.9% — Oak Creek (dealer inside your area).
3.9% — Steamboat Springs (unincorporated), Clark (unincorporated), Hamilton (unincorporated), Hayden, Mc Coy (unincorporated), Oak Creek, Phippsburg (unincorporated), Slater (unincorporated) and 2 more.
This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in Routt County can carry different tax on the same car, and in 6 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 Routt County

Sales tax (8.4% — Steamboat Springs, Routt County) — $2,993.42
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 — $38,710.03 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

ZIP codes in Routt County

80428, 80463, 80467, 80469, 80477, 80479, 80483, 80487, 80488, 81638, 81639, 81653.
Any of these resolves to Routt County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.

Routt County against nearby counties

Summit County is 3.025% — $306.25 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Routt County.
Montezuma County is 3.3% — $210.00 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Routt County.
Larimer County is 3.95% — $17.50 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Routt County.
Douglas County is 4% — $35.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Routt 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 Routt 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 Routt County it ranges from 3.9% to 8.9%.