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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§32511 Relationship to Other Motor Vehicle Standards

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VI — MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › PART C — INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND REQUIREMENTS › CHAPTER 325 — BUMPER STANDARDS › § 32511

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

States may not make or enforce bumper rules for passenger vehicles unless the rule exactly matches the federal bumper standard in section 32502. A State can enforce its own bumper rule for a performance area the federal standard does not cover only if that State rule does not clash with rules in chapter 301 and the rule was already in effect or adopted by the State on October 20, 1972. The U.S. Government, a State, or a local government may set tougher bumper rules for passenger vehicles they buy for their own use.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §32511

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Preemption.—
Except as provided in this section, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or enforce a bumper standard for a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title.
(b)Enforcement.—
This chapter and chapter 301 of this title do not affect the authority of a State to enforce a bumper standard about an aspect of performance of a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment not covered by a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title if the State bumper standard—
(1)does not conflict with a standard prescribed under chapter 301 of this title; and
(2)was in effect or prescribed by the State on October 20, 1972.
(c)Additional and Higher Standards of Performance.—
The United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe a bumper standard for a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment obtained for its own use that imposes additional or higher standards of performance than a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 32511(a)15:1920(a).Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 110, 86 Stat. 955. 32511(b)15:1920(b)(1). 32511(c)15:1920(b)(2). In subsection (a), the words “may prescribe or enforce . . . only if the standard is identical” are substituted for “no . . . shall have any authority to establish or enforce with respect to . . . which is not identical” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title” are substituted for “Federal bumper standard” for clarity. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “to continue” are omitted as surplus. The words “a bumper standard about an aspect of performance . . . not covered by a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title” are substituted for “Until a Federal bumper standard takes effect with respect to an aspect of performance” and “any bumper standard which is applicable to the same aspect of performance of such vehicle or item of equipment” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “if the State bumper standard” are added for clarity. In subsection (c), the words “that imposes additional or higher standards of performance than” are substituted for “which is not identical to . . . if such requirement imposes an additional or higher standard of performance” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 32511

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110