15 U.S.C. § 1232

Current through P.L. 118-47 (published on www.congress.gov on 03/23/2024)

Section 1232 - Label and entry requirements

Every manufacturer of new automobiles distributed in commerce shall, prior to the delivery of any new automobile to any dealer, or at or prior to the introduction date of new models delivered to a dealer prior to such introduction date, securely affix to the windshield, or side window of such automobile a label on which such manufacturer shall endorse clearly, distinctly and legibly true and correct entries disclosing the following information concerning such automobile-

(a) the make, model, and serial or identification number or numbers;

(b) the final assembly point;

(c) the name, and the location of the place of business, of the dealer to whom it is to be delivered;

(d) the name of the city or town at which it is to be delivered to such dealer;

(e) the method of transportation used in making delivery of such automobile, if driven or towed from final assembly point to place of delivery;

(f) the following information:

(1) the retail price of such automobile suggested by the manufacturer;

(2) the retail delivered price suggested by the manufacturer for each accessory or item of optional equipment, physically attached to such automobile at the time of its delivery to such dealer, which is not included within the price of such automobile as stated pursuant to paragraph (1);

(3) the amount charged, if any, to such dealer for the transportation of such automobile to the location at which it is delivered to such dealer; and

(4) the total of the amounts specified pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3);

(g) if one or more safety ratings for such automobile have been assigned and formally published or released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, information about safety ratings that-

(1) includes a graphic depiction of the number of stars, or other applicable rating, that corresponds to each such assigned safety rating displayed in a clearly differentiated fashion indicating the maximum possible safety rating;

(2) refers to safety rating categories that may include frontal impact crash tests, side impact crash tests, and rollover resistance tests (whether or not such automobile has been assigned a safety rating for such tests);

(3) contains information describing the nature and meaning of the crash test data presented and a reference to additional vehicle safety resources, including http://www.safecar.gov; ¹ and

(4) is presented in a legible, visible, and prominent fashion and covers at least-

(A) 8 percent of the total area of the label; or

(B) an area with a minimum length of 41/2 inches and a minimum height of 31/2 inches; and

(h) if an automobile has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, or safety ratings for such automobile have not been assigned in one or more rating categories, a statement to that effect.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "http://www.safercar.gov;".

15 U.S.C. § 1232

Pub. L. 85-506, §3, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 326; Pub. L. 109-59, title X, §10307(a), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1941; Pub. L. 112-141, div. C, title I, §313141314,, 126 Stat. 772.

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS2012-Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 112-141 inserted "safety rating categories that may include" after "refers to".2005-Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 109-59, §10307(a)(2), inserted "and" at end.Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 109-59, §10307(a)(1), (3), (4), added subsecs. (g) and (h).

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

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.

EFFECTIVE DATESection effective on the later of Oct. 1, 1958, or the first day of the introduction of any new model of automobile in any line of automobile beginning after July 7, 1958, see section 5 of Pub. L. 85-506 set out as a note under section 1231 of this title.

REGULATIONS Pub. L. 109-59, title X, §10307(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1942, provided that: "The Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations to ensure that the labeling requirements under subsections (g) and (h) of section 3 of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act [ 15 U.S.C. 1232(g), (h) ], as added by subsection (a), are implemented by September 1, 2007."

automobile: The term "automobile" includes any passenger car or station wagon.
commerce: The term "commerce" shall mean commerce among the several States of the United States or with foreign nations, or in any Territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, or among the Territories or between any Territory and any State or foreign nation, or between the District of Columbia and any State or Territory or foreign nation. New automobiles delivered to, or for further delivery to, ultimate purchasers within the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territories of the Pacific, the Canal Zone, Wake Island, Midway Island, Kingman Reef, Johnson Island, or within any other place under the jurisdiction of the United States shall be deemed to have been distributed in commerce.
dealer: The term "dealer" shall mean any person resident or located in the United States or any Territory thereof or in the District of Columbia engaged in the sale or the distribution of new automobiles to the ultimate purchaser.
final assembly point: The term "final assembly point" means-(1) in the case of a new automobile manufactured or assembled in the United States, or in any Territory of the United States, the plant, factory, or other place at which a new automobile is produced or assembled by a manufacturer and from which such automobile is delivered to a dealer in such a condition that all component parts necessary to the mechanical operation of such automobile are included with such automobile, whether or not such component parts are permanently installed in or on such automobile; and(2) in the case of a new automobile imported into the United States, the port of importation.
manufacturer: The term "manufacturer" shall mean any person engaged in the manufacturing or assembling of new automobiles, including any person importing new automobiles for resale and any person who acts for and is under the control of such manufacturer, assembler, or importer in connection with the distribution of new automobiles.
new automobile: The term "new automobile" means an automobile the equitable or legal title to which has never been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser.
Administration: the terms "Administration" and "Administrator" mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively; and