U.S. Motor Vehicle Export Documentation


The documentation necessary is the U.S. Customs Shipper’s Export Declaration, which any freight forwarder can supply and help complete. The shipper must also provide to the Customs officer proof that the shipper has lawful ownership of the vehicle. This can take several forms: (1) an original (or certified copy) and two copies of a “Certificate of Title” issued by a state government (e.g., California Department of Motor Vehicles) which cites the Vehicle Identification Number; or (2) a certified original and two copies of a bill of sale or sales invoice which cites the Vehicle Identification Number.

The typical light truck or passenger car can be exported under the general export license procedure, which requires no separate application. However, if the vehicle has a military purpose the shipper must apply to U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), [formerly the Bureau of Export Administration] for a special license.

The ITA’s U.S. Export Assistance Center nearest to the U.S. port of export can provide assistance, or the shipper can contact BIS’s export counselors by phone or by submitting a contact form for export inquiries (East Coast:  tel: 202-482-4811; Contact form; West Coast:  tel: 949-660-0144; Contact form).  Additional BIS resources can be found on BIS’s Contact Us and About Learn & Support webpages.

Also, check out U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s webpage, Exporting a Motor Vehicle.

When exporting, particularly for the first time, it is often helpful to consult with a customs broker/freight forwarder. While the United States Government cannot recommend any private sector firm, a searchable membership directory can be found on website of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America.

The Environmental Protection Agency webpage, EPA Requirements for Importers and Exporters, includes information regarding importing and exporting vehicles and engines.

 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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