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Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers While motor vehicle laws differ from state to state, there are some commonalities across the country in the areas 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. The nationals of the countries that have ratified the International Road Traffic Agreement may drive their vehicles in the United States for touring purposes without U.S. license plates and drivers' licenses. DOT must be notified in writing of the trip. Vehicles imported by non-residents Non-residents who are planning to import their personal vehicles must have them fully documented to ensure that they don't have to pay additional taxes. This includes the bill of lading, the certificate of origin, and any other legal documents pertaining to the vehicle. All documents that pertain to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is shared by several people each signature has to be notarized. motor vehicle accident lawyer reading and white copy of the driver's license or ID card must be included with it. If they don't have these documents, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the required paperwork. In order for 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. In particular, DOT standards require that motor vehicles not more than 25 years old adhere to safety and bumper standards and that the maker of each automobile must place an inscription on each vehicle that indicates that it is in compliance with these standards. Additionally, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet air pollution emissions standards. If a non-resident 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 obtain prior approval from EPA. Imported Racing Vehicles to Race The laws governing motor vehicles vary from one state to another, but there are some universalities across the country in the process of registering vehicles and obtaining an driving license. The safety of drivers, the highway, and vehicle safety are also controlled by federal laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is part of the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for cars and other equipment. This includes motor sport-related standards. The first step to import a racing car to 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. To be eligible for this, you'll need to have an CAMS license and demonstrate your previous participation in motorsports and a legitimate need for the car. Additionally, you must satisfy other compliance requirements including fitting child restraints and a 17-digit VIN plate. The EPA does not grant permission to import a race vehicle into the US unless it is in race configuration when it is entered and does not have features that make it unsafe or inadvisable for use on roads or highways. You must mark the box 7 on the HS-7 form that you will be filling out with customs and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle is cleared through customs. Imported Touring Vehicles Tourists from Central and South American nations that have accepted the Inter-American Convention of 1943 are allowed to drive their cars in the United States without obtaining license plates or permits for a time of one year or the validity of their documents. They must present EPA forms AP3520-1 or DOT the HS-7 at the time of entry. Imported vehicles used for touring are also subject to customs duties of 40% and 10% VAT, as well as an ad valorem tax that ranges from 15% to 100%, based on the piston displacement. These taxes and duties also apply to spare parts that are included in the imported vehicle. The presence of the owner of the vehicle is required. Vehicles imported for commercial purpose The law defines the term “motor vehicle” to be any device capable of transporting persons or property, and that is driven by power other than muscle power. This is true for all vehicles, with the exception for (a) electric personal assistance mobility devices used by a person who has an impairment, (b) farm type tractor used in operation or farming business, as well as implements of snow plowing or husbandry, © vehicles that operate solely on rails or tracks and (d) vehicles that are all-terrain. The definition can differ between states, and the vehicles that aren't eligible for exemption are subject to licensing, registration, and financial responsibility laws of the state. The motor vehicle division of the state regulates used and new dealers manufacturers, moving companies, and other businesses related to motor vehicles. It also oversees the state's Lemon Law which offers relief for customers who can prove they bought a vehicle that was defective. The definition of a government motor vehicle includes any vehicle acquired by the executive branch via purchase, excess, forfeiture, commercial lease or GSA fleet lease and used in the performance of an agency's or organization's transportation function. This includes both domestic fleets as well as foreign ones. Additionally the term is defined as any vehicle that is used by the department of public safety in responding to emergencies or providing other emergency services. The definition excludes private vehicles of firefighters or police officers ambulances, vehicles, and other vehicles that are owned by the commissioners court of a county with a population greater than 1 million.