HB280 Summary

• Updates motor vehicle title requirements to exempt certain vehicles based on age, including trailers, semi-trailers, travel trailers, utility trailers, and moving collapsible folding campers that are more than 20 model years old, and all other motor vehicles more than 35 model years old.

• Adds low-speed vehicles (four-wheeled vehicles with top speed not exceeding 25 mph and gross vehicle weight rating under 3,000 pounds) and mini-trucks as exempt from title requirements.

• Increases penalty for dealers who violate title law by selling, trading, or transferring vehicles without complying with title requirements from an unspecified violation to a Class A misdemeanor with fines up to $500.

• Requires persons or entities initiating involuntary transfers of motor vehicles by operation of law to provide notice to the Department of Revenue at least 35 calendar days prior to transfer, including vehicle identification information and transfer date, time, and location; exempts transfers under Chapter 13 bankruptcy and divorce decrees from this requirement.

• Becomes effective January 1, 2017.