Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While laws regarding motor vehicles differ from state to state, there are commonalities across the nation regarding titling and registration requirements along with taxes and fees and driver's licenses. Here on LawServer you'll find federal as well as state laws governing motor vehicles, as well as related legal questions & Answers.

Nationals from countries that have ratified the International Road Traffic Agreement can drive their vehicles to the United States without U.S. driver's licenses and license plates. DOT must be notified in writing of the trip.

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents who are planning to import their personal vehicles must have them fully documented to ensure that they don't be subject to additional duties. This documentation includes the bill of delivery, the certificate of origin, as well as any other legal documents pertaining to the vehicle. In addition all documents related to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one person, each signature must be notarized and accompanied by a black and white photocopy of their current driver's license or ID card. If they don't possess these documents, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the necessary documents.

To be legally titled an imported vehicle, it must comply with the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards require specifically that motor vehicle accident lawyer vehicles that are not older than 25 years of age conform to the safety and bumper requirements, and that each automobile be identified by the manufacturer as satisfying these requirements.

EPA regulations also stipulate that all vehicles comply with standards for air pollution emission. If a non-resident wants to import a vehicle that does not comply with these standards, they must file EPA form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 with CBP at the moment of entry to obtain prior approval from EPA.

Imported Race Vehicles

The laws that govern motor vehicles differ from one state to the next, but there are similarities across the country in the process of registering the vehicle and getting an driving license. The safety of drivers, the highway, and vehicle safety are enforced by federal laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is part of the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for vehicles and equipment. This includes Motor vehicle accident law Firm sports-related rules and regulations.

If you plan to import an automobile racing car into the United States, the first step is to obtain prior written approval from the DOT. This is available for cars which are imported for the long term or temporarily entered for racing.

In order to qualify for this, you'll be required to possess an CAMS license and prove your past motorsport participation and a real need for the car. You must also satisfy a variety of other requirements to be compliant, such as fitment of child restraint points and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA does not permit you to import race cars into the US unless the car is race-ready at the time of entry and does not possess any features that render unsafe or unsuitable for use on highways and roads. You must make sure to check Box 7 of the HS-7 form that you'll submit to customs, and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle can be cleared by customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles for Touring

Tourists from Central and South American nations that have signed the Inter-American Convention of 1943 are allowed to drive their cars in the United States without obtaining license plates or permits for a period of one year, or the validity of their documents. They must present EPA forms AP3520-1 or DOT H-7 upon entry.

Cars imported for purposes of touring are also subject to a 40% Customs duty as well as 10% VAT, and ad valorem tax of 15 percent to 100% based on the displacement of pistons using their book value as a base. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts that are sent with the imported auto. Personal presence of the owner is necessary.

Vehicles imported for commercial purposes

The law defines a "motor vehicle accident law firm vehicle" to be any machine capable of transporting persons or property, and is powered by something other than muscle power. This includes all vehicles, except for motor vehicle Accident law Firm (a) electric personal mobility devices operated by a person with an impairment, (b) farm type tractor used in farming or agriculture business, as well as implements of snow plowing or husbandry, (c) vehicles that operate solely on rails or tracks and (d) vehicles with all-terrain capabilities. Each state's statute may differ slightly from the definition and any vehicle that meets the statutory definition is subject to the state's licensing and registration as well as financial responsibility laws.

The state's motor vehicle division regulates used and new dealers manufacturing companies, moving firms, and other related businesses to motor vehicles. It also oversees the state's Lemon Law which offers relief for customers who can prove they bought a vehicle that was defective.

A government motor vehicle is any vehicle that has been purchased by the executive through purchase, forfeiture, excess or commercial lease, or GSA fleet leasing, and used to fulfill the transportation function of an agency, or the activity. This includes both domestic and foreign ones. In addition the definition of the word is as any vehicle that is used by the department of public safety for responding to emergencies or providing other emergency services. The definition excludes ambulances, private cars of police officers or firefighters and any vehicle owned by the commissioners court in a county with more than one million residents.