Motor Vehicles as Collector's Items

C.R.S. tit. 42, art. 12
in effect

C.R.S. § 42-12-101 Definitions

42-12-101. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Collector" means an individual or person who is: (a) The owner of one or more vehicles of historic or special interest who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of these vehicles or parts thereof for such owner's use in order to preserve, restore, and maintain a vehicle for hobby purposes or use; or (b) A bona fide member of a national automobile club or association whose charter recognizes in membership a sincere demonstration of interest in the history of automotive engineering, in the preservation of antique, vintage, or special interest motor vehicles, in a sharing of knowledge and experience with other automotive enthusiasts, or in the promotion of good fellowship among such members or collectors. (2) "Collector's item" means a motor vehicle, including a truck or truck tractor, that is of: (a) Model year 1975 or earlier; (b) Model year 1976 or later that was registered as a collector's item prior to September 1, 2009; except that a vehicle so registered is not eligible for registration as a collector's item upon sale or transfer to a new owner; or (c) A model year at least thirty-two years old unless the vehicle was registered before September 1, 2009, and meets the requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection (2). If the vehicle is being registered under this paragraph (c) and in the program area, as defined in section 42-4-304: (I) The vehicle must have passed an emissions test meeting the standards of part 3 of article 4 of this title within the last twelve months before being initially registered by the owner as a collector's item; and (II) The owner must sign an affidavit that the vehicle will not be driven on roadways for more than four thousand five hundred miles per year. (3) "Commercial vehicle" means a trailer, truck, or truck tractor, as those terms are defined in section 42-1-102. (4) "Dealer" means a person who is engaged in the business or vocation of manufacturing, buying, selling, trading, destroying, or salvaging motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, motor vehicle equipment, or motor vehicle accessories. (5) "Department" means the department of revenue. (6) "Director" means the executive director of the department of revenue. (7) "Garage" means a building or business place used for the storage or repair of motor vehicles. (8) "Inspector" means a peace officer of a law enforcement agency who has been certified under section 42-5-206 to inspect vehicle identification numbers. (9) "Law enforcement agency" means the Colorado state patrol or the agency of a local government authorized to enforce the laws of Colorado. (10) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle designed for operation on the highway and not running on rails. (11) "Parts car" means a motor vehicle, generally in inoperable condition, that is owned by a collector to furnish or to supply parts that are usually unobtainable from normal sources, thus enabling a collector or other collectors to preserve, restore, complete, and maintain a vehicle of historic or special interest. (12) "Rebuilt vehicle" means a vehicle that was assembled from parts of two or more commercially manufactured vehicles or that has been altered in such a manner that it is not readily recognizable as a commercially manufactured vehicle of a given year. "Rebuilt vehicle" includes a kit car and a street-rod vehicle. (13) "State" includes the territories and the federal districts of the United States. (14) "Street-rod vehicle" means a vehicle with a body design manufactured in 1948 or earlier or with a reproduction component that resembles a 1948 or earlier model that has been modified for safe road use, including modifications to the drive train, suspension, and brake systems, modifications to the body through the use of materials such as steel or fiberglass, and modifications to other safety or comfort features. icle" means a vehicle with a body design manufactured in 1948 or earlier or with a reproduction component that resembles a 1948 or earlier model that has been modified for safe road use, including modifications to the drive train, suspension, and brake systems, modifications to the body through the use of materials such as steel or fiberglass, and modifications to other safety or comfort features. (15) "Vehicle" means a motor vehicle required to have a certificate of title under part 1 of article 6 of this title but does not include commercial vehicles. (16) "Vehicle identification number" means the identifying number, serial number, engine number, or other distinguishing number or mark, including any letters, that is unique to the identity of a given vehicle or vehicle part and that was placed on a vehicle or vehicle part by its manufacturer or by the department under either section 42-12-202 or the laws of another state or country.

C.R.S. § 42-12-102 Rebuilder's certificate of title

42-12-102. Rebuilder's certificate of title. (1) (a) If the applicant for a certificate of title to a motor vehicle is unable to provide the director or the authorized agent with a certificate of title duly transferred to the applicant or other evidence of ownership that satisfies the director that the applicant owns the vehicle, the director may issue a rebuilder's title for a motor vehicle valued principally because of the vehicle's early date of manufacture, design, or historical interest or valued as a collector's item if: (I) The motor vehicle is not roadworthy; (II) The motor vehicle is at least twenty-five years old; (III) The components of the motor vehicle include at least a rolling chassis; (IV) The application contains or is accompanied by a statement that complies with paragraph (b) of this subsection (1); (V) The applicant obtains a certified vehicle identification number inspection; and (VI) The applicant provides surety that complies with subsection (3) of this section. (b) The statement required by subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) must contain an account of the facts by which the applicant acquired ownership of the vehicle, the source of the title to the vehicle, and such other information as the director may require. The statement must contain a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury in the second degree, as defined in section 18-8-503, C.R.S. (2) If a motor vehicle titled under this section is later made roadworthy, the department shall issue to an applicant a standard certificate of title if the applicant: (a) Obtains a certified vehicle identification number inspection; and (b) Furnishes a bond under subsection (3) of this section. (3) (a) To convert a rebuilder's title to a standard certificate of title, the applicant shall furnish evidence of a savings account, deposit, or certificate of deposit meeting the requirements of section 11-35-101, C.R.S., or a good and sufficient bond with a corporate surety. The account, deposit, certificate, or bond must be in an amount fixed by the director, but not less than twice the reasonable value of the vehicle, determined as of the time of application. The applicant and the applicant's surety shall hold harmless any person who suffers loss or damage by reason of the filing of a certificate of title under this section. (b) If a person suffers loss or damage by reason of the filing of a certificate of title under this section, the person has a right of action against the applicant and the surety on the applicant's bond, against either of whom the person damaged may proceed independently of the other. (4) (a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle titled under this section on the highways until it complies with subsection (5) of this section. (b) The department or its authorized agent shall not classify a vehicle issued a title under this section as a salvage vehicle. (5) (a) If the motor vehicle's frame and body identification numbers do not match the manufacturer's numbering system as being originally mated or if the motor vehicle is reconstructed from salvage parts or other motor vehicles or reproduction parts, an application for title using subsection (1) or (2) of this section must include evidence of ownership of the parts, other motor vehicles, or reproduction components used in the reconstruction. If the evidence is not acceptable to the director, the director shall reject the application for certificate of title. (b) The evidence required by paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) must include or be accompanied by an affidavit stating the facts concerning the reconstruction and an affidavit of physical inspection that includes a computer check of the state and national compilations of wanted and stolen vehicles. (c) Before issuing a certificate of title under paragraph (a) of this subsection (5), the department shall issue a special vehicle identification number to the vehicle.

C.R.S. § 42-12-103 Furnishing bond for certificates

42-12-103. Furnishing bond for certificates. (1) If a collector's item, street-rod vehicle, or horseless carriage is twenty-five years old or older, the applicant has had a certified vehicle identification number inspection performed on the vehicle, and the applicant presents a bill of sale within twenty-four months after the sale with the title application, then the applicant need not furnish surety under section 42-6-115 (3). To be excepted from the surety requirement, an applicant shall submit to the department a sworn affidavit, under penalty of perjury, stating that the required documents submitted are true and correct. (2) If any person suffers loss or damage by reason of the filing of the certificate of title as provided in this section, the person shall have a right of action against the applicant and the surety on the applicant's bond, against either of whom the person damaged may proceed independently of the other.

C.R.S. § 42-12-104 Applicability of articles 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6

42-12-104. Applicability of articles 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Except as otherwise provided in this article, articles 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this title apply to the titling and registration of a motor vehicle.

C.R.S. § 42-12-105 Evidence of ownership of parts - copy of nonrepairable title

42-12-105. Evidence of ownership of parts - copy of nonrepairable title. The director may accept a copy of the nonrepairable title as evidence of ownership of a part when the part is used to restore another vehicle under this article.

C.R.S. § 42-12-201 Inspections - street-rod vehicles

42-12-201. Inspections - street-rod vehicles. When an inspector performs a vehicle identification number inspection on a street-rod vehicle, the inspector shall accept the serial number of such street-rod vehicle as the vehicle's identification number or, if the street-rod vehicle has frame and body identification numbers that do not match or is reconstructed from salvage parts, other vehicles, or reproduction parts, the inspector shall accept the special vehicle identification number assigned to such vehicle by the department by section 42-12-202 as the vehicle identification number.

C.R.S. § 42-12-202 Assignment of a special vehicle identification number by the department

42-12-202. Assignment of a special vehicle identification number by the department. The department may assign a special vehicle identification number to any street-rod vehicle whenever required by section 42-12-203 and to any vehicle or commercial vehicle whenever no vehicle identification number is found on the vehicle or whenever a vehicle identification number has been removed, changed, altered, or obliterated. The special number must be affixed to the vehicle or commercial vehicle in the manner and position determined by the department. The special number is the vehicle identification number required to be recorded by an inspector on the inspection form that is transmitted to the department, which shall register and title the motor vehicle using the special vehicle identification number.

C.R.S. § 42-12-203 Identification number - title - street-rod vehicles

42-12-203. Identification number - title - street-rod vehicles. (1) When a person applies for a certificate of title for a street-rod vehicle, the department shall accept the serial number of the street-rod vehicle as its vehicle identification number or the special vehicle identification number assigned to such vehicle by the department under section 42-12-202. (2) A person who applies for a certificate of title for a street-rod vehicle having frame and body identification numbers that do not match the manufacturer's numbering system as being originally mated or that is reconstructed from salvage parts or other motor vehicles or reproduction parts shall furnish evidence of ownership, acceptable to the director, of such salvage parts, other motor vehicles, or reproduction components used in the reconstruction of such vehicle. In addition, the applicant shall furnish an affidavit stating the facts concerning the reconstruction and an affidavit of physical inspection that includes a computer check of the state and national compilations of wanted and stolen vehicles. The department may issue a special vehicle identification number and title the street-rod vehicle as a rebuilt vehicle. The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of a street-rod vehicle are the model year and the year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle resembles.

C.R.S. § 42-12-204 Signal lamps and devices - street-rod vehicles and custom motor vehicles - definition

42-12-204. Signal lamps and devices - street-rod vehicles and custom motor vehicles - definition. (1) As used in this section, "blue dot tail light" means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter. (2) A street-rod vehicle or custom motor vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors if the lamps comply with all requirements of part 2 of article 4 of this title.

C.R.S. § 42-12-301 Special registration of horseless carriages - rules

42-12-301. Special registration of horseless carriages - rules. (1) (a) The department may specially register and issue a horseless carriage special license plate for motor vehicles valued principally because of the vehicles' early date of manufacture, design, or historical interest or valued as collector's items. (b) For the purposes of this section, "early date of manufacture" means that a motor vehicle was manufactured at least fifty years before the current date of registration. (2) The plates issued under subsection (1) of this section must be of a design, determined by the director, that is different from that used by the state for regular motor vehicle registration. (3) (a) The director shall register the vehicles and issue plates for a period not exceeding five years, but all the registrations and plates shall expire on the same date regardless of the date of issue. (b) Upon the expiration of the five-year period ending with the year 1959, and each five years thereafter, the registration plate originally issued for each vehicle must remain with the vehicle. The director shall issue a tab to be securely fastened to the plate showing the five years for which the motor vehicle is registered. (c) A person who has registered a vehicle under this section shall renew the registration within thirty days prior to its expiration date. If the application for renewal, together with the fees, is not received by the director prior to the expiration date, the director shall notify the registered owner, at the owner's last-known address, by regular mail, to reregister the vehicle or surrender the registration plate within ten days after the expiration date of the registration. If the notice is not complied with, the director shall secure the return of the plate. (4) The fee for issuing such registration and special registration plate or tab is five dollars for each five-year period or fraction thereof. In addition to the five-dollar registration fee, the director shall collect the one-dollar-and-fifty-cent annual specific ownership fee provided by law for each year of registration, which additional fee shall be collected for the number of years remaining at the time of registration and issuance or renewal of the registration. (5) A person may drive a motor vehicle with the special registration plates authorized by this section or section 42-12-302 on the streets and highways, but only: (a) To and from assemblies, conventions, or other meetings where such vehicles and their ownership are the primary interest; (b) On special occasions, for demonstrations and parades; (c) On occasions when the operation of the vehicle on the streets and highways will not constitute a traffic hazard; and (d) To, from, and during local, state, or national tours held primarily for the exhibition and enjoyment of such vehicles. (6) Upon the sale or transfer of a motor vehicle bearing a special registration plate, the plate remains with the vehicle and is transferred to the new owner. The new owner shall title such motor vehicle as provided by law and give notice of the transfer of ownership to the department. (7) Applications for special registration of motor vehicles are made directly to the department. The department shall administer all matters concerning such registration. The department shall transfer fees received from special registrations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the fees to the highway users tax fund. (8) The director may prepare any special forms and issue any rules necessary to implement this section. (9) When the director receives an application for a title to a vehicle under subsection (1) of this section, the director shall accept the original motor or serial number on the vehicle and shall not require or issue a special identification number for the vehicle.

C.R.S. § 42-12-302 Original plates

42-12-302. Original plates. (1) In addition to any other registration, the department may approve use of the style of original plates from the vehicle's year of manufacture for motor vehicles valued principally because of the vehicles' early date of manufacture, design, or historical interest or valued as collector's items. Original plates must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for use under this section: (a) The plates were made at least thirty years prior to registration under this section; (b) The plates are embossed with the year of original issue; (c) The plates are legible; (d) The plates were issued contemporaneously with the year of manufacture of the vehicle upon which they are displayed, as determined by the department; and (e) The plates do not exceed seven characters. (2) A person shall not drive the vehicle bearing the original plates except as authorized in section 42-12-301 (5).

C.R.S. § 42-12-401 Registration of collector's items - fees - definition

42-12-401. Registration of collector's items - fees - definition. (1) Except for motor vehicles that are entitled to registration under section 42-12-301, owners of collector's items shall apply for a title, register, and pay a specific ownership tax in the same manner as provided in this title for other motor vehicles, with the following exceptions: (a) Such collector's items are registered for periods of five years. The taxes and fees imposed for registration of a collector's item for each five-year registration period is equal to five times the annual taxes and fees that would otherwise be imposed for the registration of the motor vehicle under this title and under title 43, C.R.S.; except that the amount of a surcharge imposed pursuant to section 43-4-804 (1)(a) or 43-4-805 (5)(g), C.R.S., is the amount specified in the applicable section. In addition to any other taxes and fees, if a collector's item is registered in a county that is a member of a highway authority and the authority has imposed an annual motor vehicle registration fee pursuant to section 43-4-506 (1)(k), C.R.S., then five times such annual motor vehicle registration fee is imposed and remitted to the authority. (b) The motor vehicle's compliance with emissions standards is governed by section 42-12-404. (c) The annual registration fee for a truck or truck tractor that has an empty weight of six thousand one pounds or more, or a declared gross vehicle weight of sixteen thousand one pounds or more and is a collector's item, is sixty-five dollars if such vehicle is used exclusively for noncommercial transportation and only used to drive: (I) To and from assemblies, conventions, or other meetings where such vehicles and their ownership are the primary interest; (II) For special occasions, demonstrations, and parades and on occasions when their operation on the streets and highways will not constitute a traffic hazard; or (III) Traveling to, from, and during local, state, or national tours held primarily for the exhibition and enjoyment of such vehicles by their owners. (d) For purposes of paragraph (c) of this subsection (1), "noncommercial transportation" means a truck or truck tractor used exclusively for private transportation of passengers or cargo for purposes unrelated in any way to a business or commercial enterprise. (2) (a) An owner of a collector's item that is not operated upon the highways of this state and that is kept on private property for the purpose of maintenance, repair, restoration, rebuilding, or any other similar purpose shall pay an annual specific ownership tax as provided in section 42-3-106 on any such motor vehicle owned by the owner, except owners of parts cars or licensed garages or licensed automobile dealers. The owner shall pay the specific ownership tax in the manner provided in section 42-12-301. vate property for the purpose of maintenance, repair, restoration, rebuilding, or any other similar purpose shall pay an annual specific ownership tax as provided in section 42-3-106 on any such motor vehicle owned by the owner, except owners of parts cars or licensed garages or licensed automobile dealers. The owner shall pay the specific ownership tax in the manner provided in section 42-12-301. (b) Upon payment of the specific ownership tax as provided in this subsection (2), the department shall issue to the owner of the motor vehicle for which the tax has been paid a license, sticker, decal, or other device evidencing such payment, as may be prescribed by the director. When such device or license is affixed to the motor vehicle for which it is issued, the owner of that motor vehicle is permitted to keep such motor vehicle on private property for the purposes of maintenance, repair, restoration, rebuilding, or renovation. (3) Notwithstanding the amount specified for any fee in subsection (1) of this section, the director by rule or as otherwise provided by law may reduce the amount of one or more of the fees if necessary pursuant to section 24-75-402 (3), C.R.S., to reduce the uncommitted reserves of the fund to which all or any portion of one or more of the fees is credited. After the uncommitted reserves of the fund are sufficiently reduced, the director by rule or as otherwise provided by law may increase the amount of one or more of the fees as provided in section 24-75-402 (4), C.R.S. (4) An applicant may apply for personalized license plates issued for a motor vehicle registration issued pursuant to this section. If the applicant complies with section 42-3-211, the department may issue such plates upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6) for personalized license plates. If the applicant has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers to a new set of license plates for the vehicle upon paying the fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) and upon turning in such existing plates to the department as required by the department. A person who has obtained personalized plates under this subsection (4) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) to renew such plates. The fees imposed by this subsection (4) are in addition to all other taxes and fees imposed for collector's license plates.

C.R.S. § 42-12-402 Storage

42-12-402. Storage. A collector may store one or more motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts on the collector's property if the vehicle, motor vehicle part, and storage area are maintained so as to not constitute a health hazard, a safety hazard, or a fire hazard; are screened from ordinary public view by means of a solid fence, trees, shrubbery, or other appropriate means; and are kept free of weeds, trash, and objectionable items.

C.R.S. § 42-12-403 Special equipment or modification

42-12-403. Special equipment or modification. (1) Unless the presence of special equipment was a prior condition for sale within Colorado at the time an historic or special interest vehicle was manufactured for first use, the presence of such equipment or device is not required as a condition for current legal use. (2) Any safety device or safety equipment that was manufactured for and installed on a motor vehicle as original equipment must be in proper operating condition when the vehicle is operated on or for highway purposes.

C.R.S. § 42-12-404 Emissions

42-12-404. Emissions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a motor vehicle of historic or special interest manufactured prior to the date emission controls were standard equipment on that particular make or model of vehicle is exempted from statutes requiring the inspection and use of such emission controls. A motor vehicle using emission controls as standard equipment at the time of manufacture must have such equipment in proper operating condition at all times when the vehicle is operated on or for highway purposes. (2) A certification of emissions control that has been issued for a motor vehicle that is registered as a collector's item before September 1, 2009, and that is of model year 1976 or later is valid until the motor vehicle is sold or transferred. (3) Except for a motor vehicle that was registered before September 1, 2009, and meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, to register or reregister a collector's item that is model year 1976 or newer, the owner must have a certificate of emission control issued under part 3 of article 4 of this title.

C.R.S. § 42-12-405 Registration penalty

42-12-405. Registration penalty. In addition to any other penalties, the department shall cancel the registration of a noncommercial or recreational vehicle, truck, or truck tractor registered as a collector's item pursuant to section 42-12-401 that is used to transport cargo or passengers for profit or hire or in a business or commercial enterprise. The department shall cancel the registration of a truck or truck tractor registered as a collector's item pursuant to section 42-12-401 that is driven for any purpose other than those purposes allowed in section 42-12-401 (1)(c).
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-42.docxFetched: 10/6/2026