Car Labels Get NHTSA's Theft Prevention Seal
Published Date: 3/20/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to bring back a paperwork process that helps label cars and pick which models need theft prevention features. This affects car makers who must follow these labeling rules and theft standards. If approved, the process will continue smoothly, and the public can share their thoughts by May 19, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Required Parts‑Marking and Reporting
If you are a motor vehicle manufacturer, you must mark major component parts and replacement parts with identifying numbers for vehicle lines designated as high‑theft, submit target‑area information identifying where markings are located, and submit evaluations about whether new light‑duty truck (LDT) lines are likely to be high‑theft or share interchangeable major parts with high‑theft passenger vehicle lines. Manufacturers must comply annually with parts‑marking for each covered line and submit reports when they introduce new lines; approximately 23 manufacturers are expected to submit target‑area reports each year and one manufacturer per year is expected to submit each of the two Part 542 evaluations.
Estimated Annual Compliance Costs
NHTSA estimates about 4.5 million vehicles per year must have parts marked (an average of 14 parts per vehicle) at a printing cost of $0.38 per label, or $5.33 per vehicle, producing an estimated annual label cost of $24,003,000. The agency estimates total annual burden of 150,550 hours (150,000 hours for parts‑marking across 4.5 million vehicles; 460 hours for 23 target‑area reports; 45 hours for one annual high‑theft determination; and 45 hours for one annual interchangeability determination).
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