Is the seller responsible for emissions testing in Colorado?

[Irving]

I'm about to go buy a used car. From what I understand, the seller is responsible for doing the emissions testing. Is this correct? I'm trying to search the web to verify this. Anyone have something bookmarked before I search all night?

[roberth]

No. The DMV will ask the buyer to do an emissions test prior to changing the registration over to the buyers name while the vehicle is under the 'paper plate'.

[Irving]

Hmm, seems I have it backwards then. If that is the case, how can I, as a buyer, be certain that the vehicle I'm buying will pass emissions?

[islandermyk]

I think only dealerships give that option... for obvious reasons.
I think if someone is selling a vehicle should have an updated emissions test to begin with unless the vehicle has been sitting around for years... just my $0.02
Good luck with your purchase

[Colorado Osprey]

Hmm, seems I have it backwards then. If that is the case, how can I, as a buyer, be certain that the vehicle I'm buying will pass emissions?

Buyer beware. It may not pass.
You can personally require the seller to have one before you will buy it making it a contingent to the sale. This makes your negotiating price position usually not as good though.

[Irving]

Ugh, buying a used car without much money sucks...

[yankeefan98121]

Hmm, seems I have it backwards then. If that is the case, how can I, as a buyer, be certain that the vehicle I'm buying will pass emissions?

If you're buying from a "lot" then usually they'll have that done for you. If it's a private seller then it's up to the buyer as part of the registration requirement at the DMV. We've had a situation before, the seller we were buying from, has agreed to get the emissions done prior to the sale. Maybe this is an option for you. Discussing the cost of the testing was also a part of that conversation. For our situation it wasn't so much the cost of the testing but the time to get it done. If you're a serious buyer I don't see a situation where the seller would refuse such a request, unless of course it won't pass.

[JohnTRourke]

the law says the seller must provide a current emissions proof.

http://www.dmv.org/co-colorado/buy-s...egulations.php

"If the buyer resides in an emissions region, it is the seller's responsibility to provide a current inspection certificate."

[blacklabel]

the law says the seller must provide a current emissions proof.

http://www.dmv.org/co-colorado/buy-s...egulations.php

"If the buyer resides in an emissions region, it is the seller's responsibility to provide a current inspection certificate."

That's what I was thinking as well.

I know I wouldn't purchase a vehicle without knowing that it would pass emissions.

[jerrymrc]

Ugh, buying a used car without much money sucks...

I will agree. The wife has needed something to replace her old Astro van that made it through 4 kids and over 180,000 miles. We have looked on and off for 5 months. The number of vehicles in the $5K range right at 100K miles that had been driven into the ground was staggering.

The one or two we found that may have worked were gone by the time we got to them. On top of that with the gas prices going up we watch cars that magically increased in price by the week.

But we kept at it. I even started looking at cars that were outside my target.

A couple of weeks ago we found it. 2 owner, 100k miles, Colorado car, always been maintained and serviced and clean as a pin. Had a maintenance log showing everything and a clean carfax. Drives and works like new. $4700 out the door after everything.