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Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While the laws regarding motor vehicles vary from state to state, there are certain similarities across the country in terms of titling, registration fees, taxes, and drivers' licenses. On LawServer you can find federal and state laws regarding motor vehicles, as along with related legal questions and answers.

The nationals of countries that have adopted the International Road Traffic Agreement may drive their cars in the United States for touring purposes without U.S. license plates and drivers' licenses. A written approval from DOT is required prior to.

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents who are planning to import their cars must have them fully documented to ensure that they do not have to pay additional taxes. Documentation includes the bill-of-lading certificate of origin and any other legal documents that pertain to the vehicle. Additionally all documents that pertain to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one individual each signature has to be notarized and accompanied by a black and white photocopy of their valid driver's license or ID card. If they don't have these documents, a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all the paperwork.

To allow an imported car to be considered legally titled in the United States, it must meet the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards demand that vehicles not older than 25 years of age conform to safety and bumper requirements and that each vehicle be labelled by the manufacturer as satisfying these requirements.

Furthermore, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet air pollution emission standards. If a nonresident wishes to import an automobile that does not meet the standards, they must file EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7 with CBP at the moment of entry to get prior approval from EPA.

Imported Racing Vehicles to Race

The laws governing motor vehicles differ from one state to the next, but there are some similarities across the country when it comes down to registering a vehicle and obtaining an driving license. motor vehicle accident lawsuit joliet , driver and security of vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for vehicles and equipment, including several motor sport related requirements.

If you intend to import cars for racing in the United States, the first step is to get prior written approval from the DOT. This is necessary for vehicles which will be imported for the duration of their ownership or temporarily raced.

In order to qualify to be eligible, you'll need to have a CAMS license and prove your previous participation in motorsports and a legitimate need for the vehicle. Additionally, you must satisfy a variety of other requirements for compliance, such as fitment of child restraint points and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA will not give you permission to import a racing vehicle into the US unless it is in race configuration at the time of its entry and does not have features that make it unsafe or inadvisable for use on roads or highways. You must mark the box 7 on the HS-7 form that you will be submitting to customs and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle can be cleared by customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles

Motorists who are visiting the United States as tourists from Central and South American countries which have ratified the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may drive their automobiles in the United States for one year or the validity period of their passports or shorter, without having to obtain license plates or driver's licenses. They must present EPA forms AP3520-1 or DOT H-7 upon entry.

Automobiles imported for tourism purposes are also subject to a 40% Customs duty as well as 10% VAT and ad valorem taxes ranging from 15% to 100% depending on piston displacement using their book value as the basis. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts that are supplied with the imported automobile. Personal presence of the car-owner is required.

Vehicles imported for commercial purposes

The law defines "motor vehicle" as any device that is capable of transporting people or property that is powered by something other than muscular force that is, excluding (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices operated or driven by a person with disabilities; (b) farm type tractor that is used for the running of a farm business or implements of husbandry or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which are solely driven by tracks or rails or tracks; and (d) all-terrain vehicles. Each state's statute may differ slightly from the definition and any nonexempt vehicle that qualifies under the statutory definition is subject to the state's licensing and registration as well as financial responsibility laws.

The motor vehicle department of the state oversees dealers of second-hand and new vehicles, manufacturers, moving firms and other motor vehicle related businesses. It also manages the state Lemon Law, which offers relief to consumers who can prove that they purchased a vehicle or truck.





A government motor vehicle is a vehicle that was acquired by the executive through purchase, excess, forfeiture or commercial lease or GSA fleet leasing, and is used to fulfill the transportation purpose of an agency or business. This encompasses both domestic fleets and foreign ones. Furthermore, the term is defined as any vehicle that is used by the department of public safety when responding to emergencies or providing other emergency services. The definition excludes ambulances, private vehicles owned by police officers or firefighters, and vehicles owned the commissioners court of a county with more than 1 million residents.