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Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers While laws regarding motor vehicles differ by state, there's certain similarities 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 and related legal Questions & Answers. The nationals of 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 authorize the trip in writing. Vehicles imported by non-residents Non-residents who wish to import their own vehicles should ensure they have the documentation to avoid additional charges. This includes the bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any other legal documents pertaining to the vehicle. In addition all documents that pertain to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is owned jointly by several people, each signature needs to be notarized. A black-and-white photocopy of the driver's license or ID card should be accompanied by it. If they don't have these documents a Power of Attorney may be used to sign all paperwork. To allow an imported vehicle to be considered legally titled 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 vehicles that are less than 25 years of age conform to safety and bumper standards and that the producer of each such automobile affix the label on each vehicle stating that it satisfies these standards. Furthermore, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet air pollution emission standards. If a nonresident 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 get prior approval from EPA. Imported Racing Vehicles The laws governing motor vehicles differ between states, however, there are a lot of commonalities across the country regarding registering vehicles and being licensed to drive. Federal laws also regulate driver and vehicle security. motor vehicle accident attorneys turlock within the Department of Transportation establishes and enforces national standards for vehicles and equipment, as well as various motor sport related requirements. If you plan to import an automobile racing car into the United States, the first step is to obtain prior written approval from the DOT. This is required for vehicles that are imported permanently or temporarily used for racing purposes. You will need a CAMS licence and to prove that you have competed in motorsports, and have a valid desire to own a car. You will also need to meet a number of other requirements for compliance, such as fitment of child restraint points and 17-digit VIN plates. The EPA won't grant you permission to import a racing car into the US unless it is race-ready at the time of entry and has features that make it unsafe or impractical for use on roads and highways. You must select box 7 on the HS-7 customs form and then submit an EPA letter prior to when the vehicle is cleared. Imported Touring Vehicles Motorists visiting the United States as tourists from Central and South American countries which have been ratified by the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may use their vehicles in the United States for one year or the validity period of their passports or shorter, without having to obtain license plates or driver's permits. However, they are required to show EPA forms AP 3520-1 and DOTHS-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 the base. Additionally spare parts shipped in the import vehicle are also subject to these taxes and duties. The presence of the owner of the vehicle is required. Vehicles imported for commercial purposes The law defines a “motor vehicle” to be any machine capable of transporting people or property, and is driven by power other than muscle power. This is true for all vehicles, with the exception for (a) electric personal mobility devices operated by a person with a disability, (b) farm type tractor used for the farming or agriculture business and implements of husbandry or snow plowing, © vehicles that are solely driven by rails or tracks, and (d) vehicles that run on all-terrain surfaces. The laws of each state may differ from the definition, and any nonexempt vehicle that qualifies under the definition of the statute is subject to the state's licensing and registration laws, as well as financial responsibility laws. The motor vehicle division of the state governs used and new dealers, manufacturers, moving firms and other motor vehicle-related companies. It also manages the state Lemon Law, which offers relief to those who prove that they purchased a vehicle or truck. A government motor vehicle is a vehicle that is acquired by the executive through purchase, forfeiture, excess or commercial lease, or GSA fleet leasing and used to carry out the transportation purpose of an agency or the activity. This includes both domestic and foreign ones. The term also encompasses any vehicle used to respond to emergencies or provide other emergency services through the Public Safety Department. The definition excludes private vehicles owned by firefighters or police officers ambulances, as well as vehicles that belong to the commissioners' court of a county having more than 1 million.