Learn More About Motor Vehicle Case While Working From Your Home
Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers
While motor vehicle laws differ by state, there's certain similarities across the United States in the areas of titling registration fees, taxes, and drivers licenses. On LawServer, you'll find the federal and state laws governing motor vehicles as and related legal questions and answers.
Nationals of countries that have ratified the International Road Traffic Agreement can drive their cars into the United States without U.S. driver's licenses or license plates. DOT must be notified in writing of the trip.
Vehicles Imported by Nonresidents
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 delivery, the certificate of origin, and 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 individual each signature has to be notarized with a black-and-white photocopy of their current driver's license or ID card. If they don't have these, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the required paperwork.
To allow an imported car to be legally titled in the United States, it must meet the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards require, in particular, that motor vehicles that are not older than 25 years of age conform to safety and bumper regulations, and that each automobile be labeled by the manufacturer as satisfying these standards.
Additionally, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet air pollution emissions standards. If a nonresident wants to import a vehicle which does not meet the standards, they must to file EPA form HS-7 and DOT form 3520-1 along with CBP to obtain prior approval from EPA.
Imported Race Vehicles
The laws governing motor vehicles differ from one state to another, but there are similarities across the country in the process of registering a vehicle and obtaining a driving license. Federal laws also regulate the safety of drivers, highways and security of vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for cars and equipment, as well as several motor sport related requirements.
If you are planning to import cars for racing in the United States, the first step is to obtain prior written approval from the DOT. This is necessary for vehicles that will be permanently imported or if they are being temporarily used in racing.
You'll require a CAMS licence and to prove that you've competed in motorsports and that you have a legitimate desire to own a car. Additionally, you must satisfy a variety of other requirements for compliance, including the fitting of child restraints and 17-digit VIN plates.
The EPA will not permit you to import a race car into the US unless it 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 will need to select the box 7 on the HS-7 form that you'll be submitting to customs and submit an EPA letter of approval prior to the vehicle is cleared through customs.
Imported Touring Vehicles for touring
Tourists from Central and South American nations that have been ratified by the 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 are required to present EPA forms AP 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 at the moment of entry.
Vehicles imported for touring purposes are also subject to customs duty as well as 10% VAT and ad valorem tax 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 supplied with the imported automobile. The owner of the vehicle must be present in the presence of a person.
Vehicles imported for commercial use
The law defines the term "motor vehicle" to be any machine capable of transporting persons or property, and is propelled using power other than muscle power. This encompasses all vehicles, except for (a) electric personal assistance mobility devices used by a person with disabilities, (b) farm type tractor used in the farming or agricultural business, as well as implements of snow plowing or grooming, (c) vehicles that run solely on rails and tracks and (d) vehicles that are all-terrain. The definition could differ slightly among states, and vehicles that aren't eligible for exemptions are subject to the licensing, registration and financial responsibility laws of the state.
motor vehicle accident attorneys sparks of the state regulates used and new dealers manufacturers, moving companies, and other related businesses to motor vehicles. It also enforces the state Lemon Law which offers relief to those who can prove they bought an unreliable vehicle or truck.
The definition of a"government" vehicle is any vehicle that is acquired by the executive branch via purchase or forfeiture, in excess, commercial lease or GSA fleet lease and utilized in the performance of an agency's or activity's transport purpose. This encompasses both domestic fleets and foreign ones. The term also encompasses any vehicle used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services provided by the Public Safety Department. The definition excludes private vehicles used by firefighters or police officers ambulances, police vehicles, and any other vehicle that are owned by the commissioners court of a county with more than 1 million.