(1) The department may establish by
rule a periodic vehicle registration program whereby certain vehicles shall be
registered at:
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, twelve-month
intervals beginning on the month following the month of application for
registration, in which case the registration of these vehicles expires on the last day
of the month of each twelve-month registration period;
(b) Five-year intervals upon payment of a five-year registration fee and any
five-year specific ownership tax that may be due. An owner of any of the following
motor vehicles may elect a five-year registration pursuant to this paragraph (b),
which registration shall expire on the last day of the last month of each five-year
registration period:
(I) A utility trailer; or
(II) Special mobile machinery.
(2) (a) Except for motor vehicles of model year 1981 or older and except for
motorcycles of any model year, the department may register motor vehicles at two-year intervals upon payment of a two-year registration fee and a two-year specific
ownership tax. The owner of a motor vehicle that is eligible as determined by the
department for two-year registration may elect a two-year registration pursuant to
this subsection (2), which registration shall expire on the last day of the last month
of each two-year registration period.
(b) This subsection (2) shall not apply to class A property that is registered
through the international registration plan. Such vehicles shall continue to be
registered every twelve months.
(3) (a) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (3)(a) is effective until July 1,
2027. ] The department may register vehicles at intervals of less than one year upon
payment of the appropriate registration fees, surcharges, and specific ownership
tax in order to allow the owner of more than one vehicle to provide for the owner's
vehicle registrations to expire simultaneously. The owner of a vehicle that is eligible
as determined by the authorized agent may elect a registration pursuant to this
subsection (3). The department may adopt rules as necessary for the administration
of this subsection (3).
(3) (a) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (3)(a) is effective July 1,
2027. ] The department may register vehicles at intervals of less than one year upon
payment of the appropriate registration fees, surcharges, and specific ownership
tax in order to allow the owner to select the month of expiration during initial
registration or registration renewal. The request must be made only one time in the
twelve months after the transaction date. The owner of a vehicle that is eligible as
determined by the authorized agent may elect a registration pursuant to this
subsection (3). The department may adopt rules as necessary for the administration
of this subsection (3).
(b) This subsection (3) shall not apply to class A property that is registered
through the international registration plan. Such vehicles shall continue to be
registered every twelve months.
(4) (a) (I) In lieu of registering under subsections (1) to (3) of this section, an
applicant may register a commercial trailer or semitrailer under this paragraph (a)
if:
(A) The trailer or semitrailer qualifies as Class A personal property;
(B) The owner is based outside Colorado in accordance with the international
registration plan; and
(C) The owner complies with this section and sections 42-3-107 (28) and 42-3-313.
(II) A trailer or semitrailer registration issued under this subsection (4) does
not expire except when the vehicle changes ownership in accordance with this
article. The registration expires upon the sale or transfer of the trailer or
semitrailer.
(III) The department shall issue a license plate to a trailer or semitrailer
registered under this paragraph (a), but a validating sticker or tab is not issued nor
required for the license plate.
(b) (I) In lieu of registering under subsections (1) to (3) of this section, an
applicant may register a commercial trailer or semitrailer under this paragraph (b)
if:
(A) The trailer or semitrailer qualifies as Class A personal property;
(B) The owner is based in Colorado in accordance with the international
registration plan;
(C) The trailer or semitrailer is in at least its tenth year of service; and
(D) The owner complies with this section and sections 42-3-107 (28) and 42-3-313.
(II) A trailer or semitrailer registration issued under this paragraph (b) does
not expire except when the vehicle changes ownership in accordance with this
article. The registration expires upon the sale or transfer of the trailer or
semitrailer.
(III) The department shall issue a license plate to a trailer or semitrailer
registered under this paragraph (b), but a validating sticker or tab is not issued nor
required for the license plate.
(c) Upon the sale or transfer of ownership of a trailer or semitrailer
registered under this section, the owner shall notify the department of the sale or
transfer. Upon registering a trailer or semitrailer under this section, the department
shall notify the owner of this provision. The department shall also notify the public
of the requirements of this section on its web page.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article or article 6 of this title,
a person may register a trailer or semitrailer under this subsection (4) with a valid
certificate of title from another jurisdiction of the United States without filing for a
certificate of title in Colorado.
(e) The department shall issue a report to the transportation legislation
review committee created in section 43-2-145, C.R.S., by July 1, 2014, detailing the
number of trailers and semitrailers registered under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
subsection (4) and making recommendations as to the cost-effectiveness of the
permanent registration.
(5) [ Editor's note: Subsection (5) is effective July 1, 2027. For the
applicability of subsection (5) on or after January 1, 2028, see the editor's note
following this section. ]
(a) In lieu of registering under subsections (1) to (3) of this section, an applicant
may register a trailer under this subsection (5) if:
(I) The trailer qualifies as Class B or Class D personal property; and
(II) The owner complies with this section and sections 42-3-107 (29) and 42-3-315.
(b) A trailer registration issued under this subsection (5) does not expire until
the trailer changes ownership in accordance with this article 3. The registration
expires upon the transfer of the trailer.
(c) The department shall issue a license plate to a trailer registered under
this subsection (5), but a validating sticker or tab is not issued nor required for the
license plate.
(d) (I) Upon the transfer of ownership of a trailer registered under this
section, the owner shall notify the department of the transfer.
(II) Upon registering a trailer under this section, the department shall notify
the owner of the requirement of this subsection (5)(d) to notify the department of
any transfer of the trailer registered under this subsection (5). The department shall
also notify the public of the requirements of this subsection (5) on its web page.