Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73not60
§30126 Used Motor Vehicles
Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VI— MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › Part A— GENERAL › Chapter 301— MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY › Subchapter II— STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE › § 30126
Summary
The Secretary of Transportation must make one set of safety rules that apply to all used cars. The federal government wants state inspection programs to keep working and get better, so those rules must say how a vehicle must perform for safety rather than list only design details.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §30126
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
To ensure a continuing and effective national safety program, it is the policy of the United States Government to encourage and strengthen State inspection of used motor vehicles. Therefore, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe uniform motor vehicle safety standards applicable to all used motor vehicles. The standards shall be stated in terms of motor vehicle safety performance.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3012615:1397(b)(1) (2d–last sentences).Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 108(b)(1) (2d–last sentences), 80 Stat. 722. The words “In order” are omitted as surplus. The words “United States Government” are substituted for “Congress” for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The words “Therefore, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe uniform motor vehicle safety standards applicable to all used motor vehicles” are substituted for 15:1397(b)(1) (4th sentence) to eliminate unnecessary and executed words. The text of 15:1397(b)(1) (last sentence) is omitted as unnecessary because of 5:ch. 5, subch. II. The text of 15:1397(b)(1) (3d sentence) is omitted as executed.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 30126
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60