§ 42-5-202 — Vehicle identification number inspection

Colorado § 42-5-202

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 42: Vehicles and
• Art.: Automobile Theft Law - Inspection of

Text

(1) No bonded title
vehicle, homemade vehicle, rebuilt vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, or vehicle
assembled from a kit shall be sold in the state of Colorado or issued a Colorado
certificate of title unless the seller or owner of such vehicle has had its vehicle
identification number inspected and recorded by an inspector on the inspection
form approved by the department of revenue.

(2) No bonded title commercial vehicle, homemade commercial vehicle,
rebuilt commercial vehicle, reconstructed commercial vehicle, or commercial
vehicle assembled from a kit shall be issued a Colorado certificate of title unless an
inspector inspects the vehicle identification number and records the number on the
inspection form approved by the department of revenue.

(2.5) The department is authorized to perform a vehicle identification number
inspection on any motor vehicle subject to this article that the department
determines is necessary or convenient in carrying out its duties pursuant to this
article and to charge and receive an inspection fee pursuant to section 42-5-204
for such inspection.

(3) The inspections required by this section include a physical inspection of
the vehicle or commercial vehicle and a computer check of the state and national
compilations of wanted and stolen vehicles or commercial vehicles. If the inspector
determines that the vehicle identification number has not been removed, changed,
altered, or obliterated and that it is not the identification number of a wanted or
stolen vehicle or commercial vehicle, the inspection form shall be transmitted to
the executive director of the department of revenue, who shall then act upon the
application for a Colorado certificate of title for such vehicle or commercial vehicle.

(4) If the inspector determines that the vehicle identification number has
been removed, changed, altered, or obliterated or if the inspector has good and
sufficient reason to believe that the vehicle or commercial vehicle is wanted or was
stolen in the state of Colorado or another state, the inspector shall proceed
according to the provisions of part 1 of this article.

(5) [ Editor's note: Subsection (5) is effective July 1, 2027. For the
applicability of this subsection (5) on or after January 1, 2028, see the editor's note
following this section. ] The department of revenue, the agents of the department of
revenue, the Colorado state patrol, the agents of the Colorado state patrol, or a
person that has contracted with the department of revenue or the Colorado state
patrol shall not require a vehicle to have an inspection because it is a kei vehicle, as
defined in section 42-1-102 (45.3), or has the design or manufacturing parameters
of a kei vehicle, as defined in section 42-1-102 (45.3). This subsection (5) applies for
the purposes of both article 6 of this title 42 and part 3 of article 4 of this title 42.

Legislative History

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2446, � 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2001: (2.5) added, p. 591, � 2, effective May 30. L. 2025: (5) added, (HB 25-1281), ch. 176, p. 737, � 7, effective July 1, 2027.