Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While the laws regarding motor vehicles vary by state, there's certain similarities across the country regarding titling registration, fees, taxes, and drivers licenses. Here on LawServer you will find federal and state laws governing motor vehicles as well as related legal questions & Answers.

Nationals from countries that have ratified International Road Traffic Agreement can drive their vehicles to the United States without U.S. license plates or driver's licenses. A written approval from DOT is required in advance.

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Nonresidents who wish to import their personal cars must ensure that they are fully documented to ensure that they don't have to pay additional taxes. This includes the bill of lading and the certificate of origin, as well as any other legal documentation that covers the vehicle. The documents pertaining to the vehicle must be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one person each signature has to be notarized and accompanied by a black-and-white photocopy of their valid driver's license or ID card. If they do not have these documents, a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all documents.

To allow an imported vehicle to be legally registered in the United States, it must comply with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Particularly DOT standards require that motor vehicle accident law firm (www.kmgosi.co.kr) vehicles not more than 25 years old, conform to safety and bumper standards and that the maker of each one affix an identification label to each vehicle that states that it meets these standards.

EPA regulations also require that all vehicles meet air pollution emission standards. If a nonresident wishes to import a vehicle that does not meet these requirements they must file EPA form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 with CBP at the moment of entry to receive prior approval from EPA.

Imported Vehicles for Racing

The laws that govern motor vehicles are different from one state to another, but there are commonalities across the country when it comes to registering a vehicle and obtaining an driving license. Highway, motor vehicle accident law Firm driver and vehicle safety are also controlled by federal laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for vehicles and equipment, as well as many motor sports related requirements.

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

To be eligible to be eligible, you'll require an CAMS license and proof of your previous motorsport participation and a legitimate need for the car. Additionally, you must satisfy other requirements to be compliant, such as the use of child restraints points and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA won't allow you to import a race car into the US in the event that the car is race-ready at the time of entry and does not contain any features that make it unsafe or not suitable for use on roads and highways. You will need to mark the box 7 on the HS-7 form that you'll be filing with customs and submit an EPA letter of approval prior to 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 validity period of their documents, whichever is shorter without the need to obtain license plates or driver's permits. However, they must to present EPA forms such as AP3520-1 and DOTHS-7 at the moment of entry.

Imported vehicles for use in touring are also subject to customs duty as well as 10% VAT, and ad valorem taxes ranging from 15% to 100% depending on the displacement of the piston, using their book value as a base. These duties and taxes also apply to spare parts included in the imported vehicle. The presence of the owner of the vehicle is essential.

Vehicles imported for commercial purposes

The law defines a "motor vehicle" to be any device capable of transporting people or property, and that is driven by power other than muscle power. This encompasses all vehicles, except for (a) electric personal assistance mobility devices operated by a person who has disabilities, (b) farm type tractor used in the operation or farming business and implements of mowing or snow plowing, (c) vehicles that run only on rails or tracks, and (d), all-terrain vehicles. Each state's laws may differ slightly from the definition and any nonexempt vehicle that qualifies under 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 manufacturing companies, moving firms, and other businesses related to motor vehicles. It also administers the state Lemon Law, which offers relief to those who prove they bought a defective new car or truck.

A government motor vehicle is a vehicle that has been purchased by the executive through purchase, excess, forfeiture or commercial lease or GSA fleet leasing, and utilized to carry out the transport function of an agency or activity. This encompasses both domestic fleets and foreign ones. The term also includes any vehicle that is used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services by the Public Safety Department. The definition excludes ambulances, private vehicles owned by police officers or firefighters, and the vehicles of the commissioners court of a county with more than one million residents.