Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While laws regarding motor vehicles differ from state to state, there are some similarities across the country regarding titling, registration requirements, fees and taxes, and driver's licenses. On LawServer you can find federal and state laws regarding motor vehicles as well as other legal Questions & Answers.

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

Vehicles imported by nonresidents

Nonresidents who wish to import their own cars must document their vehicles to ensure that they don't incur additional duty. This documentation includes the bill of lading, certificate of origin, and Motor vehicle accident law firm any other legal documents that pertain to the vehicle. All documents that pertain to the vehicle must be in English. If the vehicle is shared by several individuals each signature must be notarized. A black-and-white photocopy of the driver's license or ID card must be attached to it. If they do not have these documents, a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all paperwork.

To be legally entitled 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 demand particularly that vehicles not older than 25 years of age conform to safety and bumper standards and that every automobile be identified by the manufacturer as meeting these standards.

EPA regulations also stipulate that all vehicles must meet the standards for air pollution emissions. If a non-resident wishes to import a vehicle that doesn't meet these requirements they must file EPA form 3520-1 as well as DOT form HS-7 with CBP at the moment of entry to get prior approval from EPA.

Vehicles Imported for Racing

The laws governing motor vehicles differ from one state to another, but there are commonalities across the nation in the process of registering an automobile and getting an driving license. Highway, driver and vehicle safety are regulated by federal laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is part of the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for cars and equipment. This includes motor vehicle accident lawyer sport-related standards.

The first step to import a racing car to the United States is to get written approval from DOT. This is necessary for vehicles that will be imported permanently or that are temporarily entered into racing.

In order to qualify to be eligible, you'll be required to possess an CAMS license and motor vehicle Accident law firm proof of your past motorsport participation and a genuine need for the car. You must also satisfy other compliance requirements such as fitting child restraints and a 17-digit VIN plate.

The EPA will not grant you permission to import a racing vehicle into the US unless it is in race configuration at the time of entry and has features that make it unsafe or inadvisable for use on streets and highways. You must check box 7 on the HS-7 customs form and then submit an EPA letter prior to when the vehicle is cleared.

Touring vehicles that are imported to tour

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 period of validity of their documents or shorter, without having to obtain license plates or driver's permits. They must present EPA forms AP3520-1 as well as DOT 7 upon entry.

Imported vehicles used for touring are also subject to Customs duty of 40% and 10 percent VAT, as being subject to an ad valorem rate that can range from 15% up to 100% based on piston displacement. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts sent with the imported auto. The presence of the owner is necessary.

Vehicles imported for commercial purpose

The law defines "motor vehicle" as any device that is capable of moving people or property and which is powered by something other than muscular power and is not limited to (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices operated or driven by a person suffering from a disability; (b) farm type tractor that is used for the running of a farming operation, implements of husbandry, or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which operate solely on rails or tracks or tracks; and (d) all-terrain vehicles. The laws of each state may differ 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 requirements, as well as financial responsibility laws.

The state's motor vehicle accident law firm (new content from vimeo.com) vehicle division regulates used and new dealers manufacturers, moving companies 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 an unreliable vehicle or truck.

A government motor vehicle is any vehicle that has been 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 activity. This includes both domestic fleets and foreign ones. The term also includes any vehicle that is used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services provided by the department of Public Safety. The definition excludes ambulances, private cars of police officers or firefighters as well as vehicles owned by the commissioners court of a county that has more than one million residents.