Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While laws regarding motor vehicles differ from state to state, there are a few similarities across the country regarding titling, registration requirements including fees and taxes and driver's licenses. Here on LawServer you'll find federal and state laws pertaining to motor vehicles as well as other legal Questions & Answers.

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

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents wishing to import their own vehicles must make sure they have the documentation to avoid additional charges. This documentation includes the bill of delivery, the certificate of origin, as well as any other legal documents that pertain to the vehicle. All documents pertaining the vehicle must also be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one individual each signature has to be notarized with a black-and-white copy of their valid driver license or ID card. If they do not have these documents, a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all the documents.

To be legally entitled an imported vehicle, it must conform to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. DOT standards demand specifically that vehicles not older than 25 years must conform to the safety and bumper requirements and that every vehicle be branded by the manufacturer as having met these requirements.

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

Imported Vehicles for Racing

The laws governing motor vehicles differ from one state to the next, but there are some commonalities across the country when it comes to registering the vehicle and getting a driving license. The safety of drivers, the highway, and vehicle safety are regulated by federal laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, within the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for cars and equipment. This includes Motor Vehicle Accident Law Firms sports-related requirements.

The first step to import racing cars to the United States is to get written approval from DOT. This is required for motor vehicle accident law firms cars which will be imported for the duration of their ownership or temporarily entered into racing.

To be eligible for this, you will require an CAMS license and prove your past motorsport participation and a real need for the car. You also need to meet other compliance requirements like fitting child restraints and 17-digit VIN plate.

The EPA will not allow you to import race cars into the US unless that car is race-ready at the time entry and doesn't contain any features that make it unsafe or not suitable for use on highways or roads. You will have to check Box 7 of the HS-7 form that you will be filling out with customs and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle passes through customs.

Imported Vehicles for Touring

Tourists from Central and South American nations that have signed the Inter-American Convention of 1943 are permitted to drive cars in the United States without obtaining license plates or permits for a period of one year, or the validity of their documents. However, they have to show EPA forms the AP 3520-1 form and the DOT HS-7 at the time of entry.

Imported vehicles for touring are also subject to customs duty of 40% and 10 percent VAT, as well as an ad valorem rate that can range from 15% up to 100% based upon the piston displacement. These taxes and duties also apply to spare parts that are shipped with the vehicle imported. The owner of the vehicle must be present in person.

Vehicles Imported for Commercial Purposes

The law defines "motor vehicle" as every device capable of transporting property or persons and is powered by something other than muscular force, except (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices operated or driven by an individual with a disability; (b) farm type tractor that is used for the running of a farm business tools of husbandry, or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which run only upon rails or tracks and (d) all-terrain vehicles. Each state's laws may differ slightly from the definition and any nonexempt vehicle that is deemed to be in compliance with the definition of the statute is subject to the state's licensing and registration laws, as well as financial responsibility laws.

The motor vehicle accident law firms vehicle division of the state regulates used and new dealers, manufacturers, moving companies and other related businesses to motor vehicles. It also manages the state Lemon Law which offers relief to customers who can prove they bought a defective car or truck.

A government motor vehicle is any vehicle that was acquired by the executive through purchase, forfeiture, excess or commercial lease or GSA fleet leasing, and used to perform the transportation function of an agency, or the 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 through the department of Public Safety. The definition excludes ambulances, motor vehicle accident law firms private vehicles of police officers or firefighters as well as vehicles owned by the commissioners court of a county with more than 1 million people.