• DOT/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HS-7
  • Purpose:
    • It is used to declare whether a vehicle being imported complies with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards.
  • When it’s required:
    • The HS-7 form must be filed at the time a vehicle is imported into the United States.
  • Compliance declaration:
    • Importers use this form to declare whether the vehicle complies with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
  • Age of vehicles:
    • As a general rule, motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable FMVSS to be imported permanently into the United States.
  • Non-conforming vehicles:
    • If a vehicle doesn’t conform to U.S. standards, the importer must contract with a DOT-registered importer (RI) to modify the vehicle and certify that it conforms to all applicable FMVSS.
  • Additional requirements:
    • For non-conforming vehicles, the importer must also post a DOT bond for one and a half times the vehicle’s dutiable value, in addition to the normal CBP entry bond.
  • Documentation:
    • Copies of the DOT bond and the contract with the RI must be attached to the HS-7 form for non-conforming vehicles.
  • Other standards:
    • The form also helps ensure compliance with bumper standards (for vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1978) and theft-prevention standards (for vehicles beginning with model year 1987).