Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-73

§609 Identification of vehicles

Title 40 › Subtitle SUBTITLE I— - FEDERAL PROPERTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - PROPERTY MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - MOTOR VEHICLE POOLS AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS › § 609

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal agencies and the District of Columbia must put clear markings on every government vehicle used inside the United States or its territories. Each vehicle must show either the agency’s full name and the service it does or a short title that clearly identifies the agency and service, and it must display a label saying it is for official use only. The General Services Administration sets the rules for how the markings look. The GSA can allow exceptions when visible markings would get in the way of the vehicle’s purpose.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §609

Public Buildings, Property, and Works — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Under regulations prescribed by the Administrator of General Services, every motor vehicle acquired and used for official purposes within the United States, or the territories or possessions of the United States, by any federal agency or by the District of Columbia shall be conspicuously identified by showing, on the vehicle—

(1)(A)the full name of the department, establishment, corporation, or agency that uses the vehicle and the service for which the vehicle is used; or

(B)a title that readily identifies the department, establishment, corporation, or agency that uses the vehicle and that is descriptive of the service for which the vehicle is used; and

(2)the legend “For official use only”.

(b)The regulations prescribed pursuant to this section may provide for exemptions when conspicuous identification would interfere with the purpose for which a vehicle is acquired and used.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 60940:491(k).June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title II, § 211(k), as added Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, § 5(c), 64 Stat. 583; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1211, § 2, 68 Stat. 1128.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 609

Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73