NHTSA Extends Tire Buyer Recordkeeping Requirements
Published Date: 6/26/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to keep collecting info about who first buys new cars and details about tires. They’re asking for your thoughts on continuing these recordkeeping rules and updating how much work it takes. If you’re a car dealer or tire maker, this affects you, and comments are due by August 25, 2026—no new costs, just keeping things running smoothly!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
5‑Year Tire & Vehicle Record Rule
NHTSA is seeking OMB approval to continue requiring tire manufacturers and motor vehicle manufacturers to collect names and addresses of first purchasers and tire identification numbers and retain those records for not less than five years. The notice covers tire dealers, distributors, vehicle manufacturers, and consumers and invites comments by August 25, 2026.
Dealer & Distributor Paperwork Burden
NHTSA estimates independent distributors and dealers will provide 12,445,000 paper registration forms annually (taking about 45 seconds each) for 155,563 burden hours, and dealers/distributors will submit 10,000,000 registration responses (45 seconds each) for 125,000 burden hours. The agency estimates annual labor costs using $42.04/hour at roughly $6.54 million for independents and $5.255 million for other distributors/dealers.
Net Change: Burden Up, Costs Down
Since the last approval, NHTSA reports the total annual burden hours rose by 188,480 (from 250,000 to 438,480 hours) and annual tire purchases rose from 54,000,000 to 57,000,000 tires. At the same time, estimated total annual compliance costs fell by $2,544,000 (from $4,950,000 to $2,499,000) largely due to increased electronic submissions.
More Electronic Tire Registrations
NHTSA estimates 90% of tire registration forms are submitted electronically, which reduced estimated annual compliance costs from $4,950,000 to $2,499,000. The agency attributes the cost decrease of $2,544,000 mainly to greater use of electronic registration and less postage.
Time & Cost for Tire Purchasers
About 9,000,000 tire purchasers choose to submit registration forms each year; NHTSA estimates each purchaser spends about 60 seconds per tire sale, totaling 150,000 hours annually. The agency estimates the opportunity cost at $7,911,000 total and an average of $0.88 per tire purchaser; 10% (900,000) mail forms costing $0.61 each in postage.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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