Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While laws regarding motor vehicles differ from state to state, there are some similarities nationally regarding titling and registration requirements along with taxes and fees and driver's licenses. On LawServer you can find state and federal laws on motor vehicles, as well as 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. license plates or driver's licenses. Written approval from DOT is required prior to.

Vehicles Imported by Nonresidents

Non-residents who want to import their own cars must have them fully documented to ensure that they do not incur additional duty. This documentation includes the bill of delivery, the certificate of origin, and any other legal documentation that covers the vehicle. Additionally the documents pertaining to the vehicle must be in English. If the vehicle is owned by more than one individual each signature must be notarized and accompanied by a black and white photocopy of their current driver's license or ID card. If they do not have these, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the necessary paperwork.

To allow an imported car to be legally entitled in the United States, it must meet the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards demand particularly that motor vehicles not older than 25 years old, conform to safety and bumper regulations and that each vehicle be identified by the manufacturer as having met these standards.

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

Imported Vehicles for Racing

The laws that govern motor vehicles vary from one state to the next, but there are a few universalities across the country when it comes to the registration of vehicles and obtaining an official driving license. Federal laws also regulate the safety of drivers, highways and security of vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is part of the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for cars and other equipment. This includes Darlington Motor Vehicle Accident Lawsuit sport-related standards.

If you intend to import an automobile racing vehicle into the United States, the first step is to obtain prior written approval from the DOT. This is only required for cars that will be imported permanently or that are temporarily entered into racing.

You will need an CAMS licence and to prove that you have competed in motorsports, and have a valid need for a vehicle. You must also satisfy other requirements for compliance, such as the installation of child restraint points and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA will not allow you to import race cars into the US in the event that the car is racing at the time of entry and does not have any features which make it unsafe or not suitable for use on roads and highways. You must select the box 7 on the HS-7 form that you will be filling out with customs and submit an EPA letter of approval prior to the vehicle is cleared through customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles

Motorists traveling to the United States as tourists from Central and South American countries which have been ratified by the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may drive their automobiles in the United States for one year or the validity period of their passports or less and without needing to get license plates or driver's licenses. They must show EPA forms AP3520-1 and DOT the HS-7 at the time of entry.

Imported vehicles for use in touring are also subject to a 40% Customs duty, 10% VAT and ad valorem tax ranging from 15 percent to 100% based on the displacement of pistons using their book value as a base. These taxes and duties apply to spare parts sent with the imported auto. The owner of the vehicle has to be present in the presence of a person.

Vehicles imported for commercial purposes

The law defines "mountlake terrace motor vehicle accident law firm vehicle" as every device that is capable of moving people or property that is powered by something other than muscular force, except (a) electric personal assistive mobility devices that are operated or driven by an individual with disabilities; (b) farm type tractor used for the operation of a farm business tools of husbandry, or snow plowing; (c) vehicles which are solely driven by tracks or rails 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 statutory definition 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 oversees the state's Lemon Law which offers relief to customers who can prove they bought a vehicle that was defective.

A government motor vehicle is a vehicle that was acquired by the executive through purchase, forfeiture, excess or commercial lease or GSA fleet leasing and used to fulfill the transportation function of an agency, or operation. This includes both domestic fleets as well as foreign ones. In addition the definition of the word is to encompass any vehicle used by the department of public safety when responding to emergencies or providing other emergency services. The definition excludes ambulances, private vehicles owned by police officers or firefighters, and the vehicles of the commissioners court in a county that has more than one million residents.