Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

Although motor vehicle laws vary according to state, there are certain similarities across the country in terms of titling, registration, fees, taxes, and drivers licenses. On LawServer you can find federal and state laws on motor vehicles as well as related legal Questions & 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 or license plates. DOT must authorize the trip in writing.

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents who are planning to import their cars should have them documented to ensure that they don't incur additional duty. Documentation includes the bill-of-lading certification of origin and other legal documents that pertain to the vehicle. The documents pertaining to the vehicle should 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 valid driver's license or ID card. If they don't have these, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the necessary paperwork.

To be legally titled, an imported vehicle must comply with 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 of age conform to the safety and bumper requirements and that each vehicle be labelled by the manufacturer as meeting these standards.

Additionally, EPA regulations require that all vehicles comply with air pollution emissions standards. If a non-resident wants to import vehicles that do not meet the standards, they must file EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form H-7 with CBP at the time of entry in order to get prior approval from EPA.

Imported Racing Vehicles for Racing

The laws governing motor vehicle accident lawyer vehicles are different from one state to another, however there are a few commonalities across the nation in the process of registering the vehicle and getting the required driving license. Federal laws also regulate driver and vehicle security. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for cars and other equipment, which includes a number of motor sport related regulations.

The first step to import racing cars into the United States is to get written approval from DOT. This is required for vehicles which are imported for the long term or temporarily race-related.

In order to qualify for this, you'll require an CAMS license as well as prove your previous participation in motorsports and a legitimate need for the car. You will also need to satisfy other compliance requirements, including fitment of child restraint points and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA will not allow you to import race cars into the US unless that car is racing at the time of entry and does not have any features that would make it unsafe or unpractical for use on highways or roads. You must make sure to complete 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 passes through customs.

Imported 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 a period of one year or the validity of their documents. However, they are required to present EPA forms the AP 3520-1 form and the DOT HS-7 at the time of entry.

Imported vehicles for use in touring are also subject to 40% Customs duty, 10% VAT, and ad valorem taxes ranging from 15 percent to 100% based on the displacement of the piston, using their book value as their base. These taxes and duties also apply to spare parts that are supplied with the imported automobile. The car owner must be present in person.

Vehicles Imported for Commercial Purposes

The law defines "motor vehicle" as any device capable of transporting property or people and motor vehicle accident attorneys that is powered by a source other than muscular power and is not limited to (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices operated or driven by a person with a disability; (b) farm type tractor used for the operation of a farm business and implements of husbandry or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which run only upon 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 falls within the definition of the statute is subject to the state's licensing, registration, and financial responsibility laws.

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

A government Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys vehicle is any vehicle that has been acquired by the executive through the purchase, forfeiture, or excess or commercial lease, or GSA fleet leasing, and used to perform the transportation function of an agency or operation. This encompasses both foreign and domestic fleets. The term also includes any vehicle that is used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services provided by the Public Safety department. The definition excludes ambulances, private cars of police or firefighters, and vehicles owned the commissioners court in a county with more than one million residents.