diff --git a/packages/payload/src/auth/strategies/local/register.ts b/packages/payload/src/auth/strategies/local/register.ts
index ef381ce5f8..edf769b20f 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/auth/strategies/local/register.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/auth/strategies/local/register.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const registerLocalStrategy = async ({
   const sanitizedDoc = { ...doc }
   if (sanitizedDoc.password) delete sanitizedDoc.password
 
-  return payload.db.create({
+  const dbArgs = {
     collection: collection.slug,
     data: {
       ...sanitizedDoc,
@@ -49,5 +49,10 @@ export const registerLocalStrategy = async ({
       salt,
     },
     req,
-  })
+  }
+  if (collection?.db?.create) {
+    return collection.db.create(dbArgs)
+  } else {
+    return payload.db.create(dbArgs)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/schema.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/schema.ts
index dccd688038..719e1df7ba 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/schema.ts
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ const collectionSchema = joi.object().keys({
     joi.boolean(),
   ),
   custom: joi.object().pattern(joi.string(), joi.any()),
+  db: joi.object(),
   dbName: joi.alternatives().try(joi.string(), joi.func()),
   defaultSort: joi.string(),
   endpoints: endpointsSchema,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts
index abe12bef05..d3ce40a0eb 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type { Response } from 'express'
 import type { GraphQLInputObjectType, GraphQLNonNull, GraphQLObjectType } from 'graphql'
 import type { DeepRequired } from 'ts-essentials'
 
-import type { GeneratedTypes } from '../../'
+import type { DatabaseAdapter, GeneratedTypes } from '../../'
 import type {
   CustomPreviewButtonProps,
   CustomPublishButtonType,
@@ -383,6 +383,14 @@ export type CollectionConfig = {
   auth?: IncomingAuthType | boolean
   /** Extension point to add your custom data. */
   custom?: Record<string, any>
+
+  /**
+   * Add a custom database adapter to this collection.
+   */
+  db?: Pick<
+    DatabaseAdapter,
+    'create' | 'deleteMany' | 'deleteOne' | 'find' | 'findOne' | 'updateOne'
+  >
   /**
    * Used to override the default naming of the database table or collection with your using a function or string
    * @WARNING: If you change this property with existing data, you will need to handle the renaming of the table in your database or by using migrations
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts
index 83d98d7a7e..6c324b5268 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts
@@ -242,11 +242,16 @@ async function create<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']>(
         req,
       })
     } else {
-      doc = await payload.db.create({
+      const dbArgs = {
         collection: collectionConfig.slug,
         data: resultWithLocales,
         req,
-      })
+      }
+      if (collectionConfig?.db?.create) {
+        doc = await collectionConfig.db.create(dbArgs)
+      } else {
+        doc = await payload.db.create(dbArgs)
+      }
     }
 
     const verificationToken = doc._verificationToken
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts
index 24b0a38df7..2f4c026f5d 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts
@@ -104,12 +104,20 @@ async function deleteOperation<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']
     // Retrieve documents
     // /////////////////////////////////////
 
-    const { docs } = await payload.db.find<GeneratedTypes['collections'][TSlug]>({
+    const dbArgs = {
       collection: collectionConfig.slug,
       locale,
       req,
       where: fullWhere,
-    })
+    }
+    let docs
+    if (collectionConfig?.db?.find) {
+      const result = await collectionConfig.db.find<GeneratedTypes['collections'][TSlug]>(dbArgs)
+      docs = result.docs
+    } else {
+      const result = await payload.db.find<GeneratedTypes['collections'][TSlug]>(dbArgs)
+      docs = result.docs
+    }
 
     const errors = []
 
@@ -160,7 +168,7 @@ async function deleteOperation<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']
         // Delete document
         // /////////////////////////////////////
 
-        await payload.db.deleteOne({
+        const deleteOneArgs = {
           collection: collectionConfig.slug,
           req,
           where: {
@@ -168,7 +176,12 @@ async function deleteOperation<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']
               equals: id,
             },
           },
-        })
+        }
+        if (collectionConfig?.db?.deleteOne) {
+          await collectionConfig.db.deleteOne(deleteOneArgs)
+        } else {
+          await payload.db.deleteOne(deleteOneArgs)
+        }
 
         // /////////////////////////////////////
         // afterRead - Fields
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts
index 8857b92288..9827bf7351 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts
@@ -96,13 +96,19 @@ async function deleteByID<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']>(
     // /////////////////////////////////////
     // Retrieve document
     // /////////////////////////////////////
-
-    const docToDelete = await req.payload.db.findOne({
+    let docToDelete: Document
+    const dbArgs = {
       collection: collectionConfig.slug,
       locale: req.locale,
       req,
       where: combineQueries({ id: { equals: id } }, accessResults),
-    })
+    }
+
+    if (collectionConfig?.db?.findOne) {
+      docToDelete = await collectionConfig.db.findOne(dbArgs)
+    } else {
+      docToDelete = await req.payload.db.findOne(dbArgs)
+    }
 
     if (!docToDelete && !hasWhereAccess) throw new NotFound(t)
     if (!docToDelete && hasWhereAccess) throw new Forbidden(t)
@@ -132,11 +138,17 @@ async function deleteByID<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']>(
     // Delete document
     // /////////////////////////////////////
 
-    let result = await req.payload.db.deleteOne({
+    let result
+    const deleteOneArgs = {
       collection: collectionConfig.slug,
       req,
       where: { id: { equals: id } },
-    })
+    }
+    if (collectionConfig?.db?.deleteOne) {
+      result = await collectionConfig?.db.deleteOne(deleteOneArgs)
+    } else {
+      result = await payload.db.deleteOne(deleteOneArgs)
+    }
 
     // /////////////////////////////////////
     // Delete Preferences
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
index 44497cac6b..185d830cf0 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ async function find<T extends TypeWithID & Record<string, unknown>>(
         where,
       })
 
-      result = await payload.db.find<T>({
+      const dbArgs = {
         collection: collectionConfig.slug,
         limit: sanitizedLimit,
         locale,
@@ -151,7 +151,13 @@ async function find<T extends TypeWithID & Record<string, unknown>>(
         req,
         sort,
         where: fullWhere,
-      })
+      }
+
+      if (collectionConfig?.db?.find) {
+        result = await collectionConfig.db.find<T>(dbArgs)
+      } else {
+        result = await payload.db.find<T>(dbArgs)
+      }
     }
 
     // /////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts
index 764cfb636e..adf53e3e69 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,12 @@ async function findByID<T extends TypeWithID>(incomingArgs: Arguments): Promise<
 
     if (!findOneArgs.where.and[0].id) throw new NotFound(t)
 
-    let result: T = await req.payload.db.findOne(findOneArgs)
+    let result: T
+    if (collectionConfig?.db?.findOne) {
+      result = await collectionConfig.db.findOne(findOneArgs)
+    } else {
+      result = await req.payload.db.findOne(findOneArgs)
+    }
 
     if (!result) {
       if (!disableErrors) {
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts
index 16e218261f..cb355a4ac7 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,12 @@ async function restoreVersion<T extends TypeWithID = any>(args: Arguments): Prom
       where: combineQueries({ id: { equals: parentDocID } }, accessResults),
     }
 
-    const doc = await req.payload.db.findOne(findOneArgs)
+    let doc: T
+    if (collectionConfig?.db?.findOne) {
+      doc = await collectionConfig.db.findOne(findOneArgs)
+    } else {
+      doc = await req.payload.db.findOne(findOneArgs)
+    }
 
     if (!doc && !hasWherePolicy) throw new NotFound(t)
     if (!doc && hasWherePolicy) throw new Forbidden(t)
@@ -106,12 +111,18 @@ async function restoreVersion<T extends TypeWithID = any>(args: Arguments): Prom
     // Update
     // /////////////////////////////////////
 
-    let result = await req.payload.db.updateOne({
+    const restoreVersionArgs = {
       id: parentDocID,
       collection: collectionConfig.slug,
       data: rawVersion.version,
       req,
-    })
+    }
+    let result
+    if (collectionConfig?.db?.updateOne) {
+      result = await collectionConfig.db.updateOne(restoreVersionArgs)
+    } else {
+      result = await req.payload.db.updateOne(restoreVersionArgs)
+    }
 
     // /////////////////////////////////////
     // Save `previousDoc` as a version after restoring
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
index 3520442a70..ca067bbfb7 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
@@ -137,14 +137,21 @@ async function update<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']>(
 
       docs = query.docs
     } else {
-      const query = await payload.db.find({
+      const dbArgs = {
         collection: collectionConfig.slug,
         limit: 0,
         locale,
         pagination: false,
         req,
         where: fullWhere,
-      })
+      }
+
+      let query
+      if (collectionConfig?.db?.find) {
+        query = await collectionConfig.db.find(dbArgs)
+      } else {
+        query = await payload.db.find(dbArgs)
+      }
 
       docs = query.docs
     }
@@ -282,13 +289,18 @@ async function update<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']>(
         // /////////////////////////////////////
 
         if (!shouldSaveDraft || data._status === 'published') {
-          result = await req.payload.db.updateOne({
+          const dbArgs = {
             id,
             collection: collectionConfig.slug,
             data: result,
             locale,
             req,
-          })
+          }
+          if (collectionConfig?.db?.updateOne) {
+            result = await collectionConfig.db.updateOne(dbArgs)
+          } else {
+            result = await req.payload.db.updateOne(dbArgs)
+          }
         }
 
         // /////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts
index 9502098bca..c8739bb24b 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts
@@ -270,13 +270,18 @@ async function updateByID<TSlug extends keyof GeneratedTypes['collections']>(
     // /////////////////////////////////////
 
     if (!shouldSaveDraft || data._status === 'published') {
-      result = await req.payload.db.updateOne({
+      const dbArgs = {
         id,
         collection: collectionConfig.slug,
         data: dataToUpdate,
         locale,
         req,
-      })
+      }
+      if (collectionConfig?.db?.updateOne) {
+        result = await collectionConfig.db.updateOne(dbArgs)
+      } else {
+        result = await req.payload.db.updateOne(dbArgs)
+      }
     }
 
     // /////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/versions/getLatestCollectionVersion.ts b/packages/payload/src/versions/getLatestCollectionVersion.ts
index d0e883f1d8..90a8fcd1ae 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/versions/getLatestCollectionVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/versions/getLatestCollectionVersion.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ export const getLatestCollectionVersion = async <T extends TypeWithID = any>({
 }: Args): Promise<T> => {
   let latestVersion: TypeWithVersion<T>
 
-  if (config.versions?.drafts) {
+  const hasConfigDb = Object.keys(config?.db ? config?.db : {}).length > 0
+
+  if (config.versions?.drafts && !hasConfigDb) {
     const { docs } = await payload.db.findVersions<T>({
       collection: config.slug,
       limit: 1,
@@ -35,7 +37,12 @@ export const getLatestCollectionVersion = async <T extends TypeWithID = any>({
     ;[latestVersion] = docs
   }
 
-  const doc = await payload.db.findOne<T>({ ...query, req })
+  let doc
+  if (config?.db?.findOne) {
+    doc = await config.db.findOne<T>({ ...query, req })
+  } else {
+    doc = await payload.db.findOne<T>({ ...query, req })
+  }
 
   if (!latestVersion || (docHasTimestamps(doc) && latestVersion.updatedAt < doc.updatedAt)) {
     return doc
diff --git a/test/collections-db/config.ts b/test/collections-db/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f635941e4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/collections-db/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+import type { CollectionConfig } from '../../packages/payload/types'
+
+import { buildConfigWithDefaults } from '../buildConfigWithDefaults'
+import { devUser } from '../credentials'
+
+export const doc = {
+  id: -1,
+  customData: true,
+}
+export const docs = [doc]
+
+const collectionWithDb = (collectionSlug: string): CollectionConfig => {
+  return {
+    slug: collectionSlug,
+    db: {
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      create: () => {
+        return doc
+      },
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      deleteOne: () => {
+        return docs
+      },
+      // Only used in deleteUserPreferences on user collections
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      deleteMany: () => {
+        return docs
+      },
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      find: () => {
+        return { docs }
+      },
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      findOne: () => {
+        return doc
+      },
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      updateOne: () => {
+        return { ...doc, updated: true }
+      },
+    },
+    fields: [
+      {
+        name: 'name',
+        type: 'text',
+      },
+    ],
+  }
+}
+
+export const collectionSlug = 'collection-db'
+export default buildConfigWithDefaults({
+  // @ts-expect-error
+  collections: [collectionWithDb(collectionSlug)],
+  graphQL: {
+    schemaOutputFile: './test/collections-db/schema.graphql',
+  },
+
+  onInit: async (payload) => {
+    await payload.create({
+      collection: 'users',
+      data: {
+        email: devUser.email,
+        password: devUser.password,
+      },
+    })
+  },
+})
diff --git a/test/collections-db/int.spec.ts b/test/collections-db/int.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d334c5d9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/collections-db/int.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+import payload from '../../packages/payload/src'
+import { devUser } from '../credentials'
+import { initPayloadTest } from '../helpers/configHelpers'
+import { collectionSlug } from './config'
+import { doc } from './config'
+
+require('isomorphic-fetch')
+
+let apiUrl
+let jwt
+
+const headers = {
+  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+}
+const { email, password } = devUser
+
+describe('Collection Database Operations', () => {
+  // --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__
+  // Boilerplate test setup/teardown
+  // --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const { serverURL } = await initPayloadTest({ __dirname, init: { local: false } })
+    apiUrl = `${serverURL}/api`
+
+    const response = await fetch(`${apiUrl}/users/login`, {
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        email,
+        password,
+      }),
+      headers,
+      method: 'POST',
+    })
+
+    const data = await response.json()
+    jwt = data.token
+  })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+    }
+  })
+
+  // --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__
+  // Local API
+  // --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__
+
+  it('collection DB Create', async () => {
+    const result = await payload.create({
+      collection: collectionSlug,
+      data: {
+        id: doc.id,
+      },
+    })
+
+    expect(result.id).toEqual(doc.id)
+    expect(result.customData).toEqual(doc.customData)
+  })
+
+  it('collection DB Update', async () => {
+    const where = { id: { equals: doc.id } }
+    const result = await payload.update({
+      collection: collectionSlug,
+      where,
+      data: {
+        id: doc.id,
+      },
+    })
+
+    expect(result.docs[0].id).toEqual(doc.id)
+    expect(result.docs[0].customData).toEqual(doc.customData)
+    expect(result.docs[0].updated).toEqual(true)
+  })
+
+  it('collection DB Find', async () => {
+    const where = { id: { equals: doc.id } }
+    const result = await payload.find({
+      collection: collectionSlug,
+      where,
+    })
+
+    expect(result.docs[0].id).toEqual(doc.id)
+    expect(result.docs[0].customData).toEqual(doc.customData)
+  })
+
+  it('collection DB Find One', async () => {
+    const result = await payload.findByID({
+      collection: collectionSlug,
+      id: doc.id,
+    })
+
+    expect(result.id).toEqual(doc.id)
+    expect(result.customData).toEqual(doc.customData)
+  })
+
+  it('collection DB Delete', async () => {
+    const where = { id: { equals: doc.id } }
+
+    const result = await payload.delete({
+      collection: collectionSlug,
+      depth: 0,
+      user: devUser,
+      where,
+    })
+
+    expect(result.docs[0].id).toEqual(doc.id)
+    expect(result.docs[0].customData).toEqual(doc.customData)
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
+  })
+})