Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While the laws regarding motor vehicles vary from state to state, there are some commonalities across the country in terms of titling, registration fees, taxes, and drivers' licenses. On LawServer you will find federal and state laws regarding motor vehicles as well as related legal Questions & Answers.

Nationals of 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' permits. DOT must authorize the trip in writing.

Vehicles imported by nonresidents

Non-residents who are planning to import their own cars must have them fully documented to ensure that they do not have to pay additional taxes. Documentation includes the bill-of-lading certification of origin and other legal documents pertaining to the vehicle. All documents pertaining the vehicle must be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one person, each signature must be notarized with a black-and-white copy of their valid driver license or ID card. If they do not have these, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the required paperwork.

To be legally entitled, an imported vehicle must meet the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. Particularly DOT standards demand that motor vehicles that are not more than 25 years old conform to safety and bumper standards and that the producer of each vehicle affix the label on each vehicle stating that it satisfies these requirements.

Additionally, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet the air pollution emission standards. If a non-resident wishes to import a vehicle which does not meet the standards, they'll need to file EPA form HS-7 and DOT form 3520-1 with CBP to obtain prior approval from EPA.

Imported Vehicles for Racing

The laws that govern motor vehicle accident law firms vehicles vary from state to the next, but there are a few commonalities across the nation when it comes to registering an automobile and getting a driving license. Federal laws also regulate the safety of drivers, highways and vehicle security. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for vehicles and equipment, as well as several motor sport related requirements.

The first step in importing race cars into the United States is to get written approval from DOT. This is only available for cars which are imported for the long term or temporarily entered for racing purposes.

You will need a CAMS licence and to prove that you've participated in motorsports and have a genuine need for a car. Additionally, you must meet a number of other requirements for compliance, such as the fitting of child restraints and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA will not permit you to import race cars into the US unless the car is race-ready at the time of entry and does not possess any features that render it unsafe or not suitable for use on roads and highways. You must make sure to check Box 7 of the HS-7 form you will submit to customs, and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle can be cleared by customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles for Touring

Tourists from Central and South American nations that have ratified Inter-American Convention of 1943 are permitted to drive their vehicles 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 such as AP3520-1 and DOTHS-7 at the time of entry.

Cars imported for purposes of touring are also subject to Customs duty, 10% VAT and ad valorem tax ranging from 15% to 100% depending on piston displacement using their book value as a base. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts that are supplied with the imported automobile. Personal presence of the car-owner is essential.

Vehicles imported for commercial purposes

The law defines "motor vehicle" as every device that is capable of transporting property or people and that is powered by a source other than muscular power, except (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices that are operated or driven by an individual with a disability; (b) farm type tractors used in the operation of a farming business tools of husbandry, or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which operate solely on tracks or rails or tracks; and (d) all-terrain vehicles. Every state's law 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 as well as financial responsibility laws.

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

A government motor vehicle accident attorney vehicle is any vehicle that is acquired by the executive through the purchase, forfeiture, or excess or commercial lease, or GSA fleet leasing and used to fulfill the transportation role of an agency or the activity. This includes both domestic fleets and foreign ones. It also includes any vehicle used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services provided by the Public Safety department. The definition excludes private vehicles of firefighters or police officers ambulances, vehicles, and other vehicles that belong to the commissioners' court of a county with more than one million.