Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-102
§1646c Export Reporting Requirement
Title 19 › CHAPTER 4 — TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › SUBTITLE III — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part VI — Miscellaneous Provisions › § 1646c
Summary
Anyone exporting a used car by air or ship, including cars for personal use, must give U.S. Customs the VIN and proof of ownership at least 72 hours before export. Customs will randomly check VINs against NCIC for thefts and must give VINs to the FBI Director if requested.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1646c
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall require all persons or entities exporting used automobiles, including automobiles exported for personal use, by air or ship to provide to the Customs Service, at least 72 hours before the export, the vehicle identification number of each such automobile and proof of ownership of such automobile. The Commissioner shall establish specific criteria for randomly selecting used automobiles scheduled to be exported, consistent with the risk of stolen automobiles being exported and shall check the vehicle identification number of each automobile selected pursuant to such criteria against the information in the National Crime Information Center to determine whether such automobile has been reported stolen. At the request of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Commissioner shall make available to the Director all vehicle identification numbers obtained under this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection” substituted for “Commissioner of Customs” in text on authority of section 802(d)(2) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6, Domestic Security.
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1646c
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102