Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

Although motor vehicle laws vary by state, there's certain similarities across the country in terms of titling, registration fees, taxes and drivers licenses. On LawServer you can find federal and state laws governing motor vehicles and related legal questions & Answers.

The nationals of the countries that have ratified the International Road Traffic Agreement may drive their cars in the United States for touring purposes without U.S. license plates and drivers' licenses. DOT must authorize the trip in writing.

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents who want to import their own cars must ensure that they are fully documented to ensure that they do not pay additional duty. Documentation includes the bill-of-lading, certification of origin and other legal documents related to the vehicle. In addition, 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 and accompanied by 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 the paperwork.

To be legally titled the vehicle that is imported must conform to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. Particularly, DOT standards require that motor vehicles not more than 25 years old conform to safety and bumper standards and that the producer of each automobile must place an inscription on each vehicle that states that it meets these requirements.

EPA regulations also require that all vehicles meet the standards for air pollution emissions. If a nonresident wants to import a vehicle that does not meet the requirements, they will need to file EPA form HS-7 and DOT form 3520-1 with CBP to get prior approval from EPA.

Imported Vehicles for Racing

The laws that govern motor vehicles vary from one state to another, but there are some commonalities across the country when it comes down to registering vehicles and obtaining the required driving license. Federal laws also regulate highway, driver and vehicle security. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, within the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for vehicles and equipment. This includes motor sport-related rules and regulations.

If you plan to import cars for racing in the United States, the first step is to get prior written approval from the DOT. This is available for cars that are imported for a long time or temporarily entered for racing purposes.

You'll need an CAMS licence and to prove that you have competed in motorsports and that you have a legitimate desire to own a car. Additionally, you must meet other compliance requirements such as fitting child safety restraints and a 17-digit VIN plate.

The EPA will not grant you permission to import a race vehicle into the US unless it is in race configuration at the time of its entry and does not have features that make it unsafe or unsuitable for use on streets and highways. You must make sure to select 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 is cleared through customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles for touring

Motorists who are visiting the United States as tourists from Central and south plainfield motor vehicle accident attorney American countries which have signed the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may drive their vehicles in the United States for one year or the period of validity of their documents, whichever is shorter, without having to obtain license plates or driver's licenses. They must show EPA forms AP3520-1 and HS-7 upon entry.

Imported vehicles for touring are also subjected to 40% Customs duty and 10 percent VAT, as as an ad valorem tax which ranges from 15% to 100% based upon the piston displacement. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts supplied with the imported automobile. The owner of the car must be present in person.

Vehicles imported for commercial use

The law defines a "motor vehicle" to be any machine capable of transporting persons or property, and is driven by power other than muscle power. This encompasses all vehicles, except for (a) electric personal assistance mobility devices used by a person who suffers from an impairment, (b) farm type tractor that is used in the farming or operation as well as equipment of husbandry or snow plowing, (c) vehicles that run solely on rails and tracks or tracks, and (d) vehicles that are all-terrain. Each state's statute may differ slightly from the definition and any nonexempt vehicle that meets the statutory definition is subject to the state's licensing and registration requirements, as well as financial responsibility laws.

The motor vehicle department of the state oversees dealers who sell second-hand and new cars as well as manufacturers, moving companies and other giddings motor Vehicle Accident attorney vehicle-related companies. It also enforces the state Lemon Law which offers relief for customers who can prove they bought a vehicle that was defective.

A government motor vehicle is any vehicle that is acquired by the executive through purchase, forfeiture, excess or commercial lease or GSA fleet leasing, and used to carry out the transportation function of an agency or business. This includes both foreign and domestic fleets. The term also encompasses any vehicle that is used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services provided by the Public Safety Department. The definition does not include private vehicles of police officers or firefighters ambulances, vehicles, and other vehicles belonging to the commissioners court of a county having more than 1 million.