§30114 Special exemptions

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation may allow up to 325 replica motor vehicles each year made by a low-volume manufacturer to be exempt from certain federal motor vehicle safety standards that apply to whole vehicles (not equipment). These exempted vehicles are also exempt from laws in 49 U.S.C. sections 32304, 32502, 32902, and from section 3 of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act. A low-volume maker must register with the Secretary to get an exemption. The Secretary has 90 days to approve or deny a registration, or 120 days if more information is needed; if no decision is made within those times, the registration is treated as approved. A low-volume maker must put a permanent label on each exempted vehicle saying which standards it is exempt from, that it is a replica, and what model year it copies. The Secretary can also require written notice to the dealer and first buyer. The maker must send an annual report with the number and description of exempted vehicles and the label exemptions. The Secretary can revoke a registration for safety problems or rule violations and will publish a list of registrants and exempted models at least once a year. Licensing the replica design from the original maker does not create liability for the original maker. A low-volume maker is a company that makes no more than 5,000 vehicles worldwide per year. A replica copies a vehicle made at least 25 years earlier and is made under license from the rights holder. State title and registration rules still apply.