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Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers Although motor vehicle laws vary by state, there are some commonalities across the country in regards to titling, registration and fees, taxes and drivers licenses. On LawServer you'll find federal as well as state laws pertaining to motor vehicles as well as related legal questions & Answers. Nationals of countries that have signed the International Road Traffic Agreement may drive their vehicles in the United States for touring purposes without U.S. license plates and drivers' permits. DOT must accept the trip in writing. Vehicles Imported by Nonresidents Non-residents who are planning to import their own vehicles must ensure they have all the documents needed to avoid additional fees. This includes the bill of lading and the certificate of origin, as well as any other legal documents covering the vehicle. In addition all documents related to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is jointly owned by a number of 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 motor vehicle accident lawsuit chattanooga don't possess these documents, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the required documents. To be legally entitled an import vehicle, it must comply with the Department of Transportation's (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations. The DOT standards require, in particular, that vehicles not older than 25 years conform to the safety and bumper requirements and that every vehicle be labelled by the manufacturer as meeting these requirements. EPA regulations also require that all vehicles meet air pollution emission standards. If a nonresident wishes to import a car that is not in compliance with the standards, they must to file EPA form HS-7 and DOT form 3520-1 with CBP to get prior approval from EPA. Vehicles Imported for Racing Motor vehicle laws vary between states, however, there are some commonalities across the country regarding registering vehicles and being licensed to drive. Federal laws also regulate the safety of drivers, highways and vehicle security. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for cars and equipment. This includes motor sports-related standards. The first step to import race cars to the United States is to get written approval from DOT. This is required for vehicles that are imported permanently or temporarily entered for racing purposes. You'll need an CAMS license and proof that you've participated in motorsports and that you have a legitimate need for a vehicle. You will also need to satisfy a variety of other compliance requirements, including the fitting of child restraints and 17-digit VIN plates. The EPA will not permit you to import race cars into the US unless it is race-ready at the time of entry and does not contain any features that make it unsafe or unpractical for use on highways or roads. You must check Box 7 of the HS-7 form that you'll be submitting to customs and submit an EPA letter of approval before the vehicle is cleared through customs. Imported 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. They must show EPA forms AP3520-1 or DOT H-7 upon entry. Imported vehicles for use in touring are also subject to 40% Customs duty as well as 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. Additionally spare parts shipped along with the vehicle are also subject to these duties and taxes. Personal presence of the car-owner is required. Vehicles Imported for Commercial Purposes The law defines a “motor vehicle” to mean any device capable of transporting persons or property, and is driven by power other than muscle power. This includes all vehicles, except for (a) electric personal assistance mobility devices operated by a person who has a disability, (b) farm type tractor used in farming or operation as well as equipment of snow plowing or grooming, © vehicles that operate solely on rails or tracks or tracks, and (d) vehicles that run on all-terrain surfaces. The definition can differ between states, and vehicles that aren't eligible for exemption are subject to licensing, registration, and financial responsibility laws of the state. The motor vehicle department of the state oversees new and second-hand dealers and manufacturers, as well as moving companies and other motor vehicle-related companies. It also manages the state Lemon Law which offers relief to customers who prove they bought a defective car or truck. The definition of a”government motor” vehicle includes any vehicle that has been acquired by the executive branch through purchase excess, forfeiture commercial lease or GSA fleet lease and utilized for the purpose of fulfilling an agency's or activity's transportation function. This encompasses both foreign and domestic fleets. Additionally, the term is defined to include any vehicle used by the department of public safety when responding to emergencies or providing other emergency services. The definition does not include private vehicles of firefighters or police officers ambulances, as well as vehicles owned by the commissioners court of a county that has a population greater than 1 million.