The Colorado DMV says "Duuhhhhhhh what?"

[Bottoz]

I just returned from the DMV. I showed the older lady my MSO, Insurance and Invoice. After a few of the regular questions (It's a what? It's made where? ... why... who...), she trotted off to her supervisor. She then asked if it was a Kit car... I asked here what the requirements were for a Kit car. She didn't know... nor did the supervisor. I had to explain that there was no Donor Car per se. But the engine and transmission is from General Motors. They called the State office, faxed my MSO and invoice to a couple different offices... and sent me on my way. They have no idea how to title the Atom in Colorado. Hopefully I'll get a call back today on what I need to do next.

[bolus]

what does your your vehicle code book say about kit cars?  The DMV likes to say "no" to something they dont understand so it may help if you know what the state rules say so that you can hudge them in the right direction.  I know a ton more than the DMV worker that registered me. 

[bolus]

Search for "kit vehicle" 
http://www.revenue.state.co.us/dlr/pdfs ... 1wheel.pdf

Colorado does not have a lot of homemade
vehicles, so itâ??s no wonder people are confused about
the process required to obtain a Colorado title,
registration and emissions inspection for one of these
vehicles. They are commonly referred to as:
â??Rebuilt Vehicleâ?�, a vehicle assembled from
parts of two or more commercially manufactured
vehicles and has been altered in such a manner that it
doses not look like a commercially manufactured
vehicle. â??Street Rod Vehicleâ?�, a vehicle
manufactured in 1948 or earlier or with a body
design which has been modified for safe road use;
â??Reconstructed Vehicleâ?�, a vehicle constructed
from two or more commercially manufactured
vehicles of the same type, which has not been
altered and is recognizable as a commercially
manufactured vehicle of a given year; and â??Kit
Vehicleâ?�, a vehicle assembled from a manufactured
kit, either as a complete kit to construct a new
vehicle, which consists of a prefabricated body and
chassis, or a kit composed of a prefabricated body
mounted to an existing vehicle chassis and drive
train, commonly referred to as a donor vehicle.
Coloradoâ??s motor vehicle registration system is
designed to deal with factory-manufactured vehicles
certified to be sold in the United States.

Titling these vehicles require special handling, and there are
several steps involved. The owner generally must
deliver documents to the various agencies involved
in order to properly title and register the vehicle.

The first step an owner of these types of vehicles
must take when attempting to license the vehicle is to
make an appointment with the Colorado Department
of Public Safety (CDPS). The vehicle must be
inspected by CDPS, issued a â??road worthyâ?�
certificate and a Colorado ID Number that will be
used as the official vehicle identification number.

The owner then proceeds to their county motor
vehicle registration office to obtain a temporary
license tag and to apply for a Colorado title.

The next step is to make an appointment with a
Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment Emissions Technical Center to have the
vehicleâ??s emissions certified and documented using
Form DR2365, which indicates how the vehicle
must be emissions inspected. The vehicle then must
pass an emissions inspection before returning to the
county motor vehicle office for plates.

However, the DR2365 form will instruct the emis-
sions station and computer system to perform an idle test
for the type of vehicle and issue a two-year emissions
certificate.

For more detailed emissions information, call the
Colorado Department of Revenue at 303-205-5603 and
for titling call the State Titles Section at 303-205-5608

[bolus]

more info:

HB 06-1176 Kit vehicles. Defines a kit vehicle as a passenger-type motor vehicle that has been assembled from a manufactured kit that includes a prefabricated body and chassis and is accompanied by a manufacturer's statement of origin. Specifies that the year listed on the certificate of title is the same as the year stated on the statement of origin. Exempts kit vehicles from the motor vehicle emissions inspection program. Effective July 1, 2007

[Karl]

And I thought California was hard!  Looks like you may want to wait for the emissions law to take effect July 1st.

[Bottoz]

Emmissions are no more in my county as of Jan 1st. I knew about the kit car process... and have all the forms. I'm just playing dumb till they deny me.

[bolus]

[quote="Bottoz"]
Emmissions are no more in my county as of Jan 1st. I knew about the kit car process... and have all the forms. I'm just playing dumb till they deny me.
[/quote]

got it, playing dumb got me pretty damn far with registration and insurance so far.

[Bottoz]

Just got a call from a lady at the DMV. My request has been submitted to the newly created "Special Vehicle" committee. She said it's the group that approves the Smart Cars and things like that. Since it's the first Colorado Atom, they want to be sure it's classified correctly. I asked if I could just register it as a Kit Car... but something about since I didn't build it and since it came from a manufacturer.. blah blah. Wait and see....

[dp35]

I can't believe you waited until you have the car to start asking these questions.  But its your deal, to each his own.  I hope it works out for ya.

To anyone else reading this that's considering buying an Atom, and doesn't know how it will be handled in their state's DMV - start asking questions ASAP, to high level DMV people at the state level (not just counter people or even office mgrs.).  That way, when you get your car, you won't go to the local DMV office and make a huge mistake, like maybe saying something like "I just bought it in Oregon, turn key", which I know in my state would end your possibility of getting the car registered. 

Best of luck Bottoz.

[dford]

Bottoz, don't feel bad, I haven't started the registration process yet either. I don't like the sound of your fate being decided by a committee....

[Bottoz]

dp35 - I did infact ask questions. I called the State level DMV. I got all the info on how to register it as a kit car... but the problem is, is that no one knows if the Atom is a Kit car or a Production car.  That's the problem. That couldn't be determined untill I had the MSO and PIN. If it's classified as a production car in Colorado, then I could just pay my taxes and get plates. If it's a Kit car or Home Made car (another classification in its self), then there has to be inspections by the State Patrol, Pictures of the build, Colorado asigned VIN #'s, ect. The reason I'm playing dumb, is so that hopefully I can just pay taxes and be done with it. Otherwise, there's weeks and perhaps months of making appointments with the CSP, Dept of Revenu, DMV... the list goes on.

[Jammer]

Your on thin ice BotZ... I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Anyone ever seen an MCO other than from Ariel... Im interested in the langusge used to state its "50 state emmision approved".  What actual words are used..anyone know?

[maverick1]

Bottoz, did you opt for the "self assembled drive train option"? This is the way to go to allow the Atom to be classified as a kit car since Brammo gives you the chassis and drive train separately  and you put it together.
Good luck with your registration.
Cheers®

[Jammer]

I did...well, sorta kinda.

[maverick1]

Jammer, gotcha.
Cheers®