§1232 — Title 15 Commerce and Trade | U.S. Code

Summary

Manufacturers must firmly attach a label to the windshield or a side window of every new car before giving it to a dealer, or before the model’s public introduction if dealers get cars earlier. The label must clearly show the car’s make, model, and identification number(s); where it was finally assembled; the dealer’s name and business location and the city where it will be delivered; how it was transported if it was driven or towed from the assembly point; the manufacturer’s suggested retail price; the suggested retail delivered price for any optional accessories attached when delivered that aren’t in the base price; any charge to the dealer for transporting the car to the delivery spot; and the total of those amounts. If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the car safety ratings, the label must show a clear graphic (for example stars or other ratings) for each rating and the maximum possible rating, refer to categories like frontal, side, and rollover tests (even if some categories have no rating), explain what the crash test data means, and point to more safety information including http://www.safecar.gov. That safety info must be easy to read, prominent, and cover at least 8 percent of the label or be at least 4½ inches by 3½ inches. If the car has not been tested or has missing ratings, the label must say so.

Title 15, §1232

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Every manufacturer of new automobiles distributed in commerce shall, prior to the delivery of any new automobile to any dealer, or at or prior to the introduction date of new models delivered to a dealer prior to such introduction date, securely affix to the windshield, or side window of such automobile a label on which such manufacturer shall endorse clearly, distinctly and legibly true and correct entries disclosing the following information concerning such automobile—

(a)the make, model, and serial or identification number or numbers;

(b)the final assembly point;

(c)the name, and the location of the place of business, of the dealer to whom it is to be delivered;

(d)the name of the city or town at which it is to be delivered to such dealer;

(e)the method of transportation used in making delivery of such automobile, if driven or towed from final assembly point to place of delivery;

(f)the following information:

(1)the retail price of such automobile suggested by the manufacturer;

(2)the retail delivered price suggested by the manufacturer for each accessory or item of optional equipment, physically attached to such automobile at the time of its delivery to such dealer, which is not included within the price of such automobile as stated pursuant to paragraph (1);

(3)the amount charged, if any, to such dealer for the transportation of such automobile to the location at which it is delivered to such dealer; and

(4)the total of the amounts specified pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3);

(g)if one or more safety ratings for such automobile have been assigned and formally published or released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, information about safety ratings that—

(1)includes a graphic depiction of the number of stars, or other applicable rating, that corresponds to each such assigned safety rating displayed in a clearly differentiated fashion indicating the maximum possible safety rating;

(2)refers to safety rating categories that may include frontal impact crash tests, side impact crash tests, and rollover resistance tests (whether or not such automobile has been assigned a safety rating for such tests);

(3)contains information describing the nature and meaning of the crash test data presented and a reference to additional vehicle safety resources, including http://www.safecar.gov; 11 So in original. Probably should be “http://www.safercar.gov;”. and

(4)is presented in a legible, visible, and prominent fashion and covers at least—

(A)8 percent of the total area of the label; or

(B)an area with a minimum length of 4½ inches and a minimum height of 3½ inches; and

(h)if an automobile has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, or safety ratings for such automobile have not been assigned in one or more rating categories, a statement to that effect.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2012—Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 112–141 inserted “safety rating categories that may include” after “refers to”. 2005—Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 109–59, § 10307(a)(2), inserted “and” at end. Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 109–59, § 10307(a)(1), (3), (4), added subsecs. (g) and (h).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.

Effective Date

Section effective on the later of Oct. 1, 1958, or the first day of the introduction of any new model of automobile in any line of automobile beginning after July 7, 1958, see section 5 of Pub. L. 85–506, set out as a note under section 1231 of this title.

Regulations

Pub. L. 109–59, title X, § 10307(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1942, provided that: “The Secretary of Transportation shall issue

Regulations

to ensure that the labeling requirements under subsections (g) and (h) of section 3 of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act [15 U.S.C. 1232(g), (h)], as added by subsection (a), are implemented by September 1, 2007.”

§1232 Label and Entry Requirements

Summary

Title 15, §1232

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Regulations

Regulations

Citations & Metadata