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NHTSA / DOT U.S. Agent Services for Foreign Manufacturers

NHTSA U.S. Agent Overview

 

Foreign manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment intended for import into the United States must designate a U.S. Agent under 49 CFR § 551.45.
This requirement ensures that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have a reliable domestic contact for safety-related notices, defect investigations, recall communications, and service of process.
 
As your designated NHTSA U.S. Agent, we serve as the official point of contact for all safety-related correspondence from NHTSA or other federal transportation authorities. We ensure that any notifications, requests, or legal documents sent to your company are received promptly and forwarded without delay.

NHTSA / DOT U.S. Agent Requirements

Foreign manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment must designate a U.S. Agent under 49 CFR § 551.45 before importing regulated products into the United States.

This designation ensures that NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation have a reliable domestic contact for safety-related communications, defect investigations, and service of process.

 

Your NHTSA U.S. Agent must:

 

  • Be a U.S. resident individual or a domestic U.S. firm as required under § 551.47

  • Accept service of process, which is legally considered service on the manufacturer under § 551.66

  • Receive and forward NHTSA safety communications, defect notices, and recall-related correspondence

  • Maintain a physical U.S. address and be available during U.S. business hours

  • Provide a designation letter that meets § 551.53 requirements (English language, signed by both parties)

  • Continue to serve as agent until formally replaced under § 551.52

  • Not assign or transfer the agent role to another party unless officially replaced under the regulation (§ 551.51)

 

 

Failure to designate a compliant U.S. Agent may prevent a foreign manufacturer from importing, selling, or distributing vehicles or equipment in the U.S., and may delay safety-related communications or compliance actions.

Your Responsibilities

 

  • Ensure all vehicles and equipment comply with applicable FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards)

  • Submit manufacturer identification information to NHTSA as required

  • Maintain records of defect reports, recall information, and compliance documents

  • Respond to NHTSA inquiries or information requests related to safety or compliance

  • Manage your own engineering, certification, and regulatory filings

  • Provide accurate and up-to-date company and product data to your U.S. Agent

  • Issue an official designation letter naming your U.S. Agent (as required under §§ 551.45–551.53)

Our Responsibilities as Your U.S. Agent

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  • Serve as your official U.S. Agent as required under 49 CFR Part 551, Subpart D

  • Receive and forward safety-related communications, defect notices, or recall correspondence from NHTSA

  • Accept service of process, which is legally binding on your company (§ 551.66)

  • Maintain a permanent U.S. address and availability during standard U.S. business hours

  • Ensure your designation letter meets the requirements of § 551.53 (English, signed, identifies manufacturer and agent)

  • Continue acting as your agent until you formally replace us as described under § 551.52

  • Not assign our duties to another party unless formally replaced as agent (§ 551.51)

  • Notify you immediately of any communication from NHTSA or DOT

Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: Who must designate a U.S. agent with NHTSA?

All foreign manufacturers, assemblers and importers of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, before offering any vehicle or equipment for importation into the United States. Until an agent is appointed, the manufacturer may not import (49 CFR Part 551, Subpart D).

 

Q: Who can serve as the agent?

An individual, a domestic firm or a domestic corporation that is a permanent resident of the United States.

 

Q: What does the designation contain?

Two documents: a Designation by Foreign Manufacturer and an Acceptance by Agent. Both must be original, in English, signed in ink and dated, with each signer's name and title. The manufacturer signs on or before the date the agent signs.

 

Q: What does it mean that the agent accepts service of process?

Service on the agent counts as service on the manufacturer. That is why the agent must be a real, reachable U.S. resident or firm.

 

Q: Can the agent hand the role to someone else?

No. The agent's acceptance acknowledges that it may not assign its functions to another person or entity.

 

Q: How do I change agents?

By filing a new designation using the same procedure as the original.

 

Q: How does the process work with you?

We prepare the designation letter and countersign it. You file through NHTSA's vPIC Manufacturer Portal. After NHTSA's preliminary review, you print the submission, both parties ink-sign it, and you email it to NHTSA. We guide you through the process steps; we don't advise on which safety standards apply.

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Scope of Service

Our NHTSA / DOT U.S. Agent service covers NHTSA and U.S. DOT regulatory correspondence and service of process only. Our address is registered with NHTSA under 49 CFR §551.45 as your U.S. Agent and cannot be used for any other purpose.

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Our address may not be used as:

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  • A manufacturer, importer, or “Distributed by” address on vehicle or motor vehicle equipment labels, certification labels, or product literature (49 CFR Part 567 — Certification)

  • The U.S. importer of record, Registered Importer (RI), or shipping address for CBP and HS-7 entries

  • The address used for FMVSS certification labeling under 49 CFR Part 567

  • A warranty, recall remedy, or service address for U.S. consumers

  • A business mailing address for purposes unrelated to NHTSA / DOT regulatory correspondence

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What to do instead

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For product certification labeling, importer-of-record designation, Registered Importer arrangements, or recall fulfillment, please engage a U.S.-based importer, distributor, 3PL partner, or regulatory consultant separately from your U.S. Agent designation.

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