Title 49 › SUBTITLE VI — MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › PART A — GENERAL › CHAPTER 301 — MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY › SUBCHAPTER III — IMPORTING NONCOMPLYING MOTOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT › § 30144
Lets certain people bring a personal car into the United States for a short time without following the normal import rules. It applies to foreign government staff on assignment here, members of international organizations listed under the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.), people the Secretary of State allows to import cars free, and foreign armed forces on assignment. The Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of the Treasury can ask for proof of status. The Transportation Secretary decides what proof is needed and must make sure the car is either exported at no cost to the U.S. Government or given to the Government when the person stops living in the United States or stops qualifying. The car cannot be sold while it is in the United States.
Full Legal Text
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 30144
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110