Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While laws regarding motor Vehicle accident attorneys vehicles differ according to state, there are certain similarities across the country in the areas of titling registration, fees, taxes, and drivers licenses. On LawServer, you'll find federal and state laws regarding motor vehicles, as along with related legal questions and answers.

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

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents wishing to import their own vehicles should ensure they have the documents needed to avoid additional taxes. This documentation includes the bill of delivery, the certificate of origin, as well as any other legal documents pertaining to the vehicle. The documents pertaining to the vehicle must be in English. If the vehicle is owned jointly by a number of people, each signature needs to be notarized. A black and white copy of the driver's license or ID card must be attached to it. If they don't have these documents, a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all the documents.

To be legally titled an imported vehicle, it must conform to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards demand, in particular, that vehicles not older than 25 years must conform to safety and bumper standards and that every automobile be labelled by the manufacturer as satisfying these requirements.

EPA regulations also stipulate that all vehicles must comply with standards for air pollution emission. If a non-resident wants to import a vehicle that does not comply with 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 obtain prior approval from EPA.

Imported Racing Vehicles

The laws governing motor vehicles vary from state to the next, but there are commonalities across the country when it comes to registering a vehicle and obtaining an driving license. The safety of drivers, motor vehicle Accident attorneys the highway, and vehicle safety are controlled by federal laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for cars and equipment, including many motor sports related regulations.

If you are importing an automobile racing car into the United States, the first step is to obtain prior written approval from the DOT. This is required for cars which will be imported for the duration of their ownership or temporarily raced.

In order to qualify for this program, you'll need to have an CAMS license and demonstrate your previous motorsport participation and a genuine need for the vehicle. You also need to meet other compliance requirements such as fitting child safety restraints and a 17-digit VIN plate.

The EPA does not permit you to import race cars into the US unless it is race-ready at the time entry and doesn't contain any features that make it unsafe or incompatible for use on roads and highways. You will have to mark the box 7 on the HS-7 form you will be filling out with customs and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle can be cleared by customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles for touring

Motorists traveling to the United States as tourists from Central and South American countries which have accepted the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may use their vehicles in the United States for one year or the period of validity of their passports, whichever is shorter and without needing to get license plates or driver's permits. However, they must to show EPA forms the AP 3520-1 form and the DOT HS-7 at the moment of entry.

Imported vehicles used for touring are also subject to 40% Customs duty and 10 percent VAT, as as an ad valorem tax which ranges from 15% to 100% based on the piston displacement. Additionally, spare parts sent in the import vehicle are also subject to these taxes and duties. The car owner must 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 people and that is propelled by power other than muscular force and is not limited to (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices operated or driven by a person suffering from disabilities; (b) farm type tractors used in the operation of a farming enterprise, implements of husbandry, or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which run only upon tracks or rails and (d) all-terrain vehicles. The laws of each state may differ slightly from the definition and any nonexempt vehicle that falls within the statutory definition is subject to the state's licensing, registration, and financial responsibility laws.

The state's motor vehicle division regulates used and new dealers, manufacturers, moving companies as well as other businesses that are related to motor vehicles. It also administers the state Lemon Law, which offers relief to consumers who can prove they purchased a defective new car or truck.

The definition of a government motor vehicle accident attorneys vehicle includes any vehicle that has been acquired by the executive branch via purchase excess, forfeiture commercial lease or GSA fleet lease and used for the purpose of fulfilling an agency's or organization's transportation function. This includes both domestic fleets and foreign ones. Furthermore the definition of the word is to encompass any vehicle utilized by the department of public safety when responding to emergencies or providing other emergency services. The definition excludes ambulances, private cars of police officers or firefighters as well as vehicles owned by the commissioners court in an area with more than one million residents.