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Friday, Jul 10, 2026

Can cars be seized for having fake plates in Colorado?

Cassis Tingley, The Colorado Sun
yes

Drivers who display fictitious tags could have their vehicles seized for the infraction, the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles has warned. 

The DMV said in June that fake temporary plates are being sold by “unverified online sellers” to drivers looking to evade registration fees. 

Displaying false tags is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $300 fine and 90 days in jail. Offenders could also have to pay restitution or complete community service. Whether vehicles are seized is up to the discretion of individual law enforcement agencies.

 In 2024, authorities in Colorado seized just over $6 million worth of goods and property. The biggest chunks of these funds went to capital, vehicles and equipment and operating costs for local and state authorities. Any asset forfeiture that results in profit for local, state or federal agencies must be reported to the state’s Department of Local Affairs.

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The Colorado Sun is a journalist-founded, award-winning and nonprofit news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself. In this way, we believe we can contribute to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado. We are committed to fact-based, in-depth and nonpartisan journalism. We cover everything from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education. Our goal is to produce the best possible journalism. We do that with the help of you, our readers, and community backers. We launched on Sept. 10, 2018.

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