Definitions

• Unconventional Vehicle (UV): A specialty, rebuild or other non-conforming vehicle. It can include non-conforming motorcycles, off-road vehicles, converted vehicles and mini-trucks. 

• National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA): An operating administration of the US Department of transportation and is the federal agency responsible for improving motor vehicle safety on US roadways. 

• Non-conforming Vehicle: Vehicles that were not built to standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). 

• UV Process Log: Unconventional Vehicle Process Log is where a list of unconventional and non-conforming vehicles that have already been reviewed is tracked.

• Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO): a document that proves a vehicle was manufactured and outlines its origin serving as a prerequisite for titling; the original ownership document of a vehicle. 

Policy

If the vehicle is not already listed on the UV Process Log, the county will submit the vehicle for review by Unconventional Vehicle Support staff at the Department. 

Unconventional Vehicle Support Staff 

• Vehicle Services Program (VSP) (Department) 

  • Deputy Director, VSP Operations Manager, Title Services Unit (TSU) & Customer Service Center (CSC) Production Manager, Title Services Unit (TSU) Supervisor and Leads 

• Colorado State Patrol

  • Officers will be doing the VIN verifications for these vehicles; they often reach out ahead of time for the department’s opinion and offer their input as well on the vehicles they are inspecting. 

Procedure

1. Check to see if the vehicle qualifies as a Low Speed Electric Vehicle (LSEV); if not an LSEV then continue with step #2. 

2. Check the UV Process Log on the DRIVES Intranet to see if the vehicle is listed.

If it is listed as approved or denied, it has already been reviewed and been through the vetting process and, if approved, can be titled/registered based on the information found in the log.

If it is not in the log, check if the make is already in DRIVES and the VIN decodes on the NHTSA VIN Decoder to green and eligible for on-highway use, it can be titled/registered as such. 

3. If the vehicle is not listed in any of the above, the county will submit an unconventional vehicle case through the County Office Manager in DRIVES with the vehicle's information and pictures for review.

DO NOT submit for the UV process when the applicant has a conforming MSO pursuant to Rules and Regulations for a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin that has a seventeen character VIN and the Colorado distributing dealer on the face of the MSO is licensed and franchised to sell the make of the vehicle as described on the MSO.

DO NOT enter an owner in the case tab basics field when they are submitting a case for review; this will prevent the Department from being able to pull the transaction in DRIVES.

Submit the required documentation into the unconventional vehicle case in DRIVES.

4. Department staff will monitor DRIVES for the unconventional vehicle cases submitted by the county. Staff will then review the following to see where the vehicle fits and reach up the chain of command if additional assistance is needed: 

   • Check NHTSA VIN Decoder 

   • Check UV Process Log to confirm not already listed 

   • Look at C.R.S. definitions (42-1-102) of Autocycle, Low Power Scooter, Low Speed Electric Vehicle, Motorcycle, Motor Vehicle, etc. 

   • Review submitted photos (door plates, steering, seat belts, etc.)

   • Look at additional documentation and statute as needed based on individual situations

5. If a vehicle is deemed by the appropriate staff to be able to be titled and/or registered, it will be added to the UV Process Log on the DRIVES Intranet. The submitting county will also be notified by the department of the decision and how to proceed with the vehicle.