In 1876, Nicolaus August Otto invented the gas engine, Henry Ford reached the apex of legal driving age (well, by today's standards), and Colorado attained statehood. In the ensuing 10 years, automobiles would eventually come to life (thanks to Daimler and Benz) in a way that would transform how the world traveled.

By the early 1900s, Colorado had already hosted the first automobile endurance race from Denver to Colorado Springs (around 70 miles) and showcased Stanley Steamers as coaches from Denver to Estes Park.

In 1908, Henry Ford's Model "Ts" rolled off the assembly line, and five years later, Colorado issued the state's first license plate. A barrage of drivers took advantage of this technological form of transport.

But all of this mechanical clutter needed some sort of regulation, and the State felt it needed to benefit from these things driving on state-built roads. Colorado had just created a State Tax Commission, and the legislature decided that the regulation and registration of all these new vehicles would fit nicely under its wing.

The year was 1913 and Denver was becoming a major hub for the Intermountain West. There were no ski resorts; Vail wasn't even on the map. Most likely, vehicles exploring too far outside of Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs endured rough rock and dirt roads, and "share the road" had certain bovine underpinnings. But a major road and highway project started in the early 1920s set the foundation for many routes driven from town to town today.

Ultimately, the State Tax Commission became too big for its title. That, or perhaps Colorado's famous libertarians could not handle the word "tax" in a government entity unless the word "cut" followed it. Anyway, the Commission became the full-fledged Department of Revenue.

Today, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is just one of 11 branches managed by the Department, which regulates (and taxes) a host of issues people tend to have fun with including gambling, racing, liquor, and tobacco.

The DMV itself is divided into four agencies:

Driver License Section―This sector is where you are issued basic driver licenses, learner permits, commercial driver licenses and identification cards. It operates 36 full-service and three limited-service driver license offices, which are peppered throughout the state. The agency also provides oversight for 18 other limited-service offices managed by counties.

Driver Control―This mammoth agency has a small army of units, and acts as the enforcement wing and nerve center of the entire DMV. It hands out suspensions, enters all accident reports and conviction information, processes all subpoenas, aids with municipal code creation, serves as a reference center for law enforcement, assesses point penalties, and acts as the troubleshooting headquarters for the Driver License section.

Emission Program―Governs emission testing facilities and emissions inspectors, and investigates and settles consumer complaints against these facilities.

Vehicle Titles and Registration―Issues state titles and attests to vehicle ownership in the state. Also records receipt of taxes and fees imposed on those vehicles by counties.

Quick Links in the DMV

• Driver License FAQ
• Titles & Registrations
• DMV Forms
• Emissions information
• Colorado's License Plates

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