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HB 25-1281

Title Register & Drive Kei Vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Carlos Barron and 21 co-sponsors

Colorado now allows kei vehicles to be titled, registered, and legally operated under specific limits, with day-to-day use restricted to lower-speed roads and emission testing adju

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1281

Summary — HB 25-1281 (Title: Title Register & Drive Kei Vehicles)

Status: Governor signed (May 9, 2025)
Introduced: February 20, 2025 — Passed both chambers; signed by Speaker and Senate President on May 7, 2025.
Primary sponsors: Rep. William Lindstedt and Rep. Larry Don Suckla (House); Sen. Nick Hinrichsen and Sen. Byron Pelton (Senate). Multiple cosponsors in both chambers.

Purpose

To recognize and incorporate “kei vehicles” (small, road‑legal four‑wheel vehicles imported from Japan) into Colorado vehicle law by defining them as motor vehicles for titling/registration and traffic‑law purposes, specifying allowable use on Colorado roads, and adapting emissions and inspection procedures appropriate to their design.

Key provisions and statutory changes

  • Adds a definition of “KEI VEHICLE” to Colorado statutes (new subsection 42‑1‑102(45.3)) and treats kei vehicles as “motor vehicles” for certain statutes (amends 10‑4‑601 and 42‑1‑102(58)(a)).
    • Definition highlights (statutory limits):
    • Internal combustion engine ≤ 1000 cc OR electric motor ≤ 56,000 watts
    • Width ≤ 67 inches; length ≤ 140 inches
    • Four or more tires
    • Top speed of at least 50 mph
    • Enclosed passenger cab
    • Imported into the United States AND either 25+ years old when imported or previously titled in U.S. and 25+ years old
  • Driving restrictions (new section 42‑4‑109.7):
    • Prohibits operating a kei vehicle on roadways with posted speed limits greater than 55 mph (except crossing such a roadway at an at‑grade intersection).
    • Prohibits operation on limited‑access highways (e.g., interstates).
    • Violation: classified as a Class B traffic infraction.
  • Emissions and inspection rules:
    • Kei vehicles are exempt from dynamometer (loaded transient) emissions testing. Instead they must undergo a two‑speed idle test and meet emissions standards for their model year (amendments to 42‑4‑304, 42‑4‑309, 42‑4‑310).
    • For model year 1975 and later vehicles not tested on a dynamometer, visual inspections of emissions control equipment remain required per commission rules.
  • Protections against discriminatory inspection determinations:
    • The bill prevents the Department of Revenue, Colorado State Patrol, and their agents/contractors from requiring an inspection solely because a vehicle is a kei vehicle or has kei design/manufacturing parameters, and prevents declaring a vehicle not roadworthy solely for those design/manufacturing features (provisions appear in the bill text; some related text is truncated in the provided document).

Who is affected / likely impacts

  • Owners, importers, and prospective buyers of kei vehicles — now able to title, register, and legally operate these vehicles subject to restrictions.
  • Department of Revenue, Colorado State Patrol, inspection stations, and emissions programs — must apply the specified testing method and may not impose extra inspections or roadworthiness exclusions based solely on kei design.
  • Roadway users and safety regulators — limited‑speed and highway prohibitions confine kei vehicle use to lower‑speed environments (local roads, city streets).

Legislative and procedural notes

  • Key statutes amended/added: 10‑4‑601; 42‑1‑102; new 42‑4‑109.7; amendments to 42‑4‑304, 42‑4‑309, 42‑4‑310; additional changes (e.g., 42‑5‑202) are included but parts of the text were truncated in the provided document.
  • Floor/action timeline: introduced in House Feb 20, 2025; passed House and Senate in April–May 2025; sent to Governor May 7, 2025; signed May 9, 2025. The bill text does not specify an effective date in the provided excerpt.

This bill integrates kei vehicles into Colorado’s titling/registration and inspection framework while limiting where they may be driven and adapting emissions testing to their characteristics.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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