Motor vehicle accident attorney Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While motor vehicle accident lawsuits vehicle laws differ by state, there are some commonalities across the country in terms of titling, registration, fees, taxes, and drivers licenses. On LawServer, you'll find state and federal laws on motor vehicles, as well as related legal questions and answers.

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

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents who want to import their personal cars must have them fully documented to ensure that they don't be subject to additional duties. This includes the bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any other legal documents that pertain to the vehicle. Additionally, all documents pertaining to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one person each signature must be notarized with a black-and-white photocopy of their current driver's license or ID card. If they don't have these documents a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all documents.

To be legally titled an imported vehicle, it must be in compliance with the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards require particularly that vehicles not older than 25 years must conform to safety and bumper standards, and that each automobile be labeled by the manufacturer as having met these standards.

Furthermore, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet air pollution emission standards. If a nonresident wishes to import a vehicle that doesn't meet these standards and is not registered, they must file EPA form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 with CBP at the time of entry in order to get prior approval from EPA.

Imported Race Vehicles for Racing

The laws for motor vehicles vary from state to state however, there are a lot of similarities across the nation regarding registration of vehicles and being licensed to drive. Federal laws also regulate the safety of drivers, highways and security of vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for vehicles and other equipment, which includes a number of motor sport related regulations.

The first step in importing racing cars into the United States is to get written approval from DOT. This is necessary for vehicles which will be imported for the duration of their ownership or that are temporarily entered into racing.

In order to qualify for this, you'll be required to possess a CAMS license as well as prove your previous motorsport participation and a genuine need for the car. You will also have to meet other compliance requirements such as fitting child safety restraints and 17-digit VIN plate.

The EPA will not allow you to import a race car into the US unless that car is racing at the time of entry and does not possess any features that render it unsafe or unpractical for use on roads and highways. You will need to check box 7 on the HS-7 customs form and submit an EPA letter before the vehicle is cleared.

Imported Touring Vehicles for Touring

Tourists from Central and South American nations that have ratified Inter-American Convention of 1943 are permitted to drive cars in the United States without obtaining license plates or permits for Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney a period of one year or the validity of their documents. However, they must to show EPA forms such as AP3520-1 and DOTHS-7 at the moment of entry.

Imported vehicles for use in touring are also subject to a 40% Customs duty, 10% VAT and an ad valorem tax from 15% to 100% depending on the displacement of the piston, using their book value as their base. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts that are shipped with the vehicle imported. The owner of the vehicle has to be present in the presence of a person.

Vehicles imported for commercial use

The law defines "motor vehicle" as any device capable of transporting property or persons and is propelled by power other than muscular force and is not limited to (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices that are operated or driven by a person suffering from a disability; (b) farm type tractor utilized in the operation of a farming enterprise or implements of husbandry or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which operate solely on tracks or rails or tracks; and (d) all-terrain vehicles. Each state's laws may differ from the definition, and any nonexempt vehicle that qualifies under the definition of the statute is subject to the state's licensing, registration, and financial responsibility laws.

The motor vehicle department of the state oversees dealers who sell second-hand and new cars and manufacturers, as well as moving companies and other motor vehicle-related companies. It also administers the state Lemon Law, which offers relief to those who prove that they bought an unreliable new car or truck.

A government motor vehicle accident lawyer vehicle is any vehicle that has been purchased by the executive through the purchase, forfeiture, or excess or commercial lease or GSA fleet leasing and used to fulfill the transportation purpose of an agency or activity. This includes both domestic fleets as well as foreign ones. The term also encompasses any vehicle that is used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services by the Public Safety Department. The definition excludes private vehicles used by firefighters or police officers ambulances, vehicles, and other vehicles that are owned by the commissioners court of a county with more than 1 million.