Colorado § 42-6-136.5 - Salvage title.

§ 42-6-136.5. Salvage title.

(1) Upon the sale or transfer of a motor vehicle for which a current Colorado certificate of title has been issued or filed and that has become a salvage vehicle, the purchaser or transferee shall apply for a salvage certificate of title. The owner of the vehicle may apply for a salvage certificate of title before the sale or transfer of the vehicle. To be issued a salvage title, an owner applying for a salvage certificate of title must provide the director with evidence of ownership that satisfies the director of the applicant's right to have a salvage certificate of title filed in the applicant's favor.

(2) (a) An owner of a salvage motor vehicle that has been made roadworthy who applies for a certificate of title as provided in section 42-6-116 shall include the information regarding the vehicle as the director may require by rule. To be issued a salvage title, the owner must provide to the director evidence of ownership that satisfies the director that the applicant is entitled to file a certificate of title. The director shall place a designation in a conspicuous place in the record when a salvage vehicle has been made roadworthy. The director shall include the words "REBUILT FROM SALVAGE" and shall make the designation a permanent part of the certificate of title for the vehicle, so that the phrase appears on all subsequent certificates of title for the vehicle.

(b) (I) An owner of a salvage motor vehicle that has been made roadworthy who applies for a certificate of title in accordance with section 42-6-116 shall include a certified VIN inspection in accordance with section 42-5-202 by a certified VIN inspector.

(II) To pass the VIN inspection required by this paragraph (b), the applicant must stamp a motor vehicle with a salvage brand using the words "REBUILT FROM SALVAGE" with each letter being not less than one-fourth inch in height. The brand must be placed in the following locations:

(A) In a motorcycle, on the frame in a visible location;

(B) In a class A manufactured motor home, on the main entrance door jamb;

(C) In a trailer, adjacent to the public vehicle identification number; and

(D) In all other motor vehicles, on the body post to which the driver's door latches, also known as the driver's door B pillar.

(c) (I) Except as provided in subsection (2)(c)(II) of this section, a person commits a class 2 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501 if the person:

(A) Intentionally removes or alters a salvage brand; or

(B) Possesses a motor vehicle without retitling the vehicle with a salvage brand for forty-five days after learning that the motor vehicle's salvage brand may have been removed or altered.

(II) A person may remove or alter a salvage brand if necessary to legitimately repair a motor vehicle. To qualify for this exception, the person must provide evidence of the repair to the investigating law enforcement authority. The evidence must include pre-repair and post-repair photographs of the affected motor vehicle part and the salvage brand and a signed affidavit describing the repairs. Upon repair, or subsequent repair, the person or owner must restamp the vehicle.

Source: L. 2014: Entire section added, (HB 14-1100), ch. 122, p. 436, § 6, effective August 6. L. 2021: IP(2)(c)(I) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3321, § 755, effective March 1, 2022.