49 U.S.C. § 30102

Definitions

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(a)General Definitions.—In this chapter—(1) “covered rental vehicle” means a motor vehicle that—(A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less;(B) is rented without a driver for an initial term of less than 4 months; and(C) is part of a motor vehicle fleet of 35 or more motor vehicles that are used for rental purposes by a rental company.(2) “dealer” means a person selling and distributing new motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment primarily to purchasers that in good faith purchase the vehicles or equipment other than for resale.(3) “defect” includes any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.(4) “distributor” means a person primarily selling and distributing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale.(5) “interstate commerce” means commerce between a place in a State and a place in another State or between places in the same State through another State.(6) “manufacturer” means a person—(A) manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment; or(B) importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale.(7) “motor vehicle” means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a vehicle operated only on a rail line.(8) “motor vehicle equipment” means—(A) any system, part, or component of a motor vehicle as originally manufactured;(B) any similar part or component manufactured or sold for replacement or improvement of a system, part, or component, or as an accessory or addition to a motor vehicle; or(C) any device or an article or apparel, including a motorcycle helmet and excluding medicine or eyeglasses prescribed by a licensed practitioner, that—(i) is not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle; and(ii) is manufactured, sold, delivered, or offered to be sold for use on public streets, roads, and highways with the apparent purpose of safeguarding users of motor vehicles against risk of accident, injury, or death.(9) “motor vehicle safety” means the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.(10) “motor vehicle safety standard” means a minimum standard for motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment performance.(11) “rental company” means a person who—(A) is engaged in the business of renting covered rental vehicles; and(B) uses for rental purposes a motor vehicle fleet of 35 or more covered rental vehicles, on average, during the calendar year.(12) “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.(13) “United States district court” means a district court of the United States, a United States court for Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, and the district court for the Northern Mariana Islands.(b)Limited Definitions.—(1) In sections 30117(b), 30118–30121, and 30166(f) of this title—(A) “adequate repair” does not include repair resulting in substantially impaired operation of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment;(B) “first purchaser” means the first purchaser of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment other than for resale;(C) “original equipment” means motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) installed in or on a motor vehicle at the time of delivery to the first purchaser;(D) “replacement equipment” means motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) that is not original equipment;(E) a brand name owner of a tire marketed under a brand name not owned by the manufacturer of the tire is deemed to be the manufacturer of the tire;(F) a defect in original equipment, or noncompliance of original equipment with a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter, is deemed to be a defect or noncompliance of the motor vehicle in or on which the equipment was installed at the time of delivery to the first purchaser;(G) a manufacturer of a motor vehicle in or on which original equipment was installed when delivered to the first purchaser is deemed to be the manufacturer of the equipment; and(H) a retreader of a tire is deemed to be the manufacturer of the tire.(2) The Secretary of Transportation may prescribe regulations changing paragraph (1)(C), (D), (F), or (G) of this subsection.(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 941; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title I, § 31201, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 757; Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, § 24109(b), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1706.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
30102(a)(1)	15:1391(7).	Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 102(1)–(3), (5)–(9), (11), (12), 80 Stat. 718, 719.
	15:1391(10).	Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 102(10), 80 Stat. 718; restated Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 110(a), 88 Stat. 1484.
	49 App.:1655(a)(6)(A).	Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(a)(6)(A), 80 Stat. 938.
30102(a)(2)	15:1391(11).
30102(a)(3)	15:1391(6).
30102(a)(4)	15:1391(9).
30102(a)(5)	15:1391(5).
30102(a)(6)	15:1391(3).
30102(a)(7)	15:1391(4).	Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 102(4), 80 Stat. 718; restated May 22, 1970, Pub. L. 91–265, § 2, 84 Stat. 262.
30102(a)(8)	15:1391(1).
30102(a)(9)	15:1391(2).
30102(a)(10)	15:1391(8).
30102(a)(11)	15:1391(12).
30102(b)	15:1419.	Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 159; added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 102(a), 88 Stat. 1476.

In subsection (a), the definitions apply to the entire chapter because of references in 15:1421–1431 applying 15:1391–1420 to 15:1421–1431. Before clause (1), the words “As used” are omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the text of 15:1391(10) and 49 App.:1655(a)(6)(A) is omitted as surplus because the complete name of the Secretary of Transportation is used the first time the term appears in a section. The words “selling and distributing” are substituted for “who is engaged in the sale and distribution of” to eliminate unnecessary words. The word “purposes” is omitted as surplus. In clause (3), the words “selling and distributing” are substituted for “engaged in the sale and distribution of” to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (5)(A), the words “manufacturing or assembling” are substituted for “engaged in the manufacturing or assembling of” to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (7), the words “physician or other duly” and “drivers, passengers, and other” are omitted as surplus. In clause (8), the words “is also protected” and “to persons” are omitted as unnecessary. In clause (9), the words “which is practicable, which meets the need for motor vehicle safety and which provides objective criteria” are omitted as unnecessary because of 15:1392(a) which is restated in section 30111 of the revised title. In clauses (10) and (11), the words “the Northern Mariana Islands” are added because of section 502(a)(2) of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, as enacted by the Act of March 24, 1976 (Public Law 94–241, 90 Stat. 268), and as proclaimed to be in effect by the President on January 9, 1978 (Proc. No. 4534, Oct. 24, 1977, 42 F.R. 56593). The words “the Canal Zone” are omitted because of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. In clause (10), the word “means” is substituted for “includes” as being more appropriate. The words “a State of the United States” are substituted for “each of the several States” for consistency. The words “the Commonwealth of” are omitted as surplus. In clause (11), the word “Federal” is omitted as surplus. The words “of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico” are omitted as unnecessary because the district court of Puerto Rico is a district court of the United States under 28:119.

In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words “The term” and “the term” are omitted as surplus. In clause (B), the words “of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment” are added for clarity. In clause (E), the words “to be” are added for consistency. The words “marketed under such brand name” are omitted as surplus. In clause (F), the words “a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter” are added for clarity and consistency. The word “noncompliance” is substituted for “failure to comply” for consistency in the chapter. In clause (G), the words “(rather than the manufacturer of such equipment)” are omitted as surplus. The words “deemed to be” are substituted for “considered” for consistency. In clause (H), the words “which have been” are omitted as surplus.

Subsection (b)(2) is substituted for “Except as otherwise provided in regulations of the Secretary” for clarity and because of the restatement.

Editorial NotesAmendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–94, § 24109(b)(3), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).

Subsec. (a)(2) to (10). Pub. L. 114–94, § 24109(b)(2), redesignated pars. (1) to (9) as (2) to (10), respectively. Former par. (10) redesignated (12).

Subsec. (a)(11). Pub. L. 114–94, § 24109(b)(4), added par. (11). Former par. (11) redesignated (13).

Subsec. (a)(12), (13). Pub. L. 114–94, § 24109(b)(1), redesignated pars. (10) and (11) as (12) and (13), respectively.

2012—Subsec. (a)(7)(C). Pub. L. 112–141 amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: “any device or an article or apparel (except medicine or eyeglasses prescribed by a licensed practitioner) that is not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle and is manufactured, sold, delivered, offered, or intended to be used only to safeguard motor vehicles and highway users against risk of accident, injury, or death.”

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, § 24109(k), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1709, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 30120, 30122, and 30166 of this title] shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015].”

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment 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.

Rule of Construction

Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, § 24109(i), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1708, provided that: “Nothing in this section [amending this section and sections 30120, 30122, and 30166 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 30101 of this title] or the amendments made by this section—“(1) may be construed to create or increase any liability, including for loss of use, for a manufacturer as a result of having manufactured or imported a motor vehicle subject to a notification of defect or noncompliance under subsection (b) or (c) of section 30118 of title 49, United States Code; or“(2) shall supersede or otherwise affect the contractual obligations, if any, between such a manufacturer and a rental company (as defined in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code).”

Rulemaking

Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, § 24109(j), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1708, provided that: “The Secretary [probably means Secretary of Transportation] may promulgate rules, as appropriate, to implement this section [amending this section and sections 30120, 30122, and 30166 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 30101 of this title] and the amendments made by this section.”

Low-Speed Electric Bicycles

Pub. L. 107–319, § 2, Dec. 4, 2002, 116 Stat. 2776, provided that: “For purposes of motor vehicle safety standards issued and enforced pursuant to chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, a low-speed electric bicycle (as defined in section 38(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act [15 U.S.C. 2085(b)]) shall not be considered a motor vehicle as defined by section 30102[(a)](6) [now 30102(a)(7)] of title 49, United States Code.”

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 85 cases (17 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: Vickie Thorne v. Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack, 980 F.3d 879 (3rd Cir. 2020).

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Vickie Thorne v. Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack, 980 F.3d 879 (3rd Cir. 2020). · cites it 6× “Manufacturers must notify vehicle owners and dealers of any such defect or non-compliance, and the Secretary may sua sponte or on petition of an “interested person” hold a hearing on the sufficiency of notice.”

In Re Green, 360 B.R. 34 (Bankr. N.D.N.Y. 2007). · cites it 19× “M & T asserts that the purchase money security interest securing the subject loan was incurred within the 910 day period specified by Code § 1325(a), and that the Trailer is a motor vehicle as defined in 49 U.S.C. § 30102 . That statute defines a motor vehicle as “a vehicle…”

MCI Sales & Serv., Inc. v. Hinton, 329 S.W.3d 475 (Tex. 2010). · cites it 2× “Thus, we must decide if an agency's deliberate decision to give manufacturers a choice between several different materials, none of which is superior to the others in all circumstances, preempts a jury's conclusion that another of the required types should have been used.”

Obst v. Microtron, Inc., 614 N.W.2d 196 (Minn. 2000). · cites it 4× “District Court for the Northern District of New York concluded that allegations that a manufacturer of motor vehicle component parts failed to follow agreed-on performance testing procedures could constitute a defect within the meaning of 49 U.”

Smith v. Ford Motor Co., 749 F. Supp. 2d 980 (N.D. Cal. 2010). · cites it 3× “at 14:27-15:1) (citing 49 U.S.C. § 30102 (a)(8)) (internal quotation omitted).”

In Re Look, 383 B.R. 210 (Bankr. D. Me. 2008). · cites it 4× “The hanging paragraph references 49 U.S.C. § 30102 (a)(6) which provides that a motor vehicle "means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a vehicle operated only on a rail…”

Morgan v. Ford Motor Co., 680 S.E.2d 77 (W. Va. 2009). · cites it 3× “” 49 U.S.C. § 30102 (a)(9). The Safety Act contains an express preemption provision, which states: When a motor vehicle safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue in effect a standard applicable to the…”

Emergency Servs. Billing Corp. v. Allstate Ins., 668 F.3d 459 (7th Cir. 2012). · cites it 2× “§ 2052 ; 49 U.S.C. § 30102 . If the Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “CPSC”) — the agency established by the CPSA — promulgates regulations regarding the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles, those regulations could conflict with the regulations already established in…”

Malcolm v. Evenflo Co., Inc., 2009 MT 285 (Mont. 2009). · cites it 2× “" See 49 U.S.C. § 30102 (a)(9) (2006). The court emphasized that Congress has established that a person may not use compliance with a motor vehicle safety standard as a defense at common law and compliance does not exempt a person from liability at common law.”

Shaw v. Aurgroup Fin. Credit Union, 552 F.3d 447 (6th Cir. 2009). · cites it 2× “§ 506 ] shall not apply to a claim described in that paragraph if the creditor has a purchase money security interest securing the debt that is the subject of the claim, the debt was incurred within the 910-day preceding the date of the filing of the petition, and the collateral…”

Ying Ye v. GlobalTranz Enter., Inc., 74 F.4th 453 (7th Cir. 2023). “” 49 U.S.C. § 30102 (9). Congress went on to give the Secretary of Transportation authority to, among other things, set “standards for inspection of commercial mo- tor vehicles,” id.”

In Re Trejos, 352 B.R. 249 (Bankr. D. Nev. 2006). · cites it 2× “For purposes of the hanging paragraph, it must be a motor vehicle as defined in 49 U.S.C. § 30102 . That section defines "motor vehicle” as follows: "motor vehicle” means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads,…”

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