Vehicle Identification Number Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 541, 565, 567, 571

[Docket No. 95-85; Notice 2]

RIN 2127-AF69

Vehicle Identification Number Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this final rule, NHTSA combines its vehicle identification

number (VIN) requirements in a single regulation, Part 565. Previously,

the VIN requirements were specified in two separate regulations,

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 115 and Part 565. This action

is part of the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative and seeks

to make NHTSA's VIN requirements easier to understand and to apply. In

accordance with Federal metrication policy, NHTSA also converts English

measurements specified in Part 565 to metric measurements. NHTSA makes

no substantive changes in any regulatory requirements.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective July 8, 1996.

Petitions for Reconsideration: Any petitions for reconsideration of

this final rule must be received by NHTSA no later than July 22, 1996.

[[Page 29032]]

ADDRESSES: Any petitions for reconsideration of this final rule should

refer to the docket and notice number set forth in the heading of this

notice and be submitted to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Leon Delarm, Office of Vehicle

Safety Standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone number 202-366-

4920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Regulatory Reinvention Initiative

Pursuant to the March 4, 1995 directive from the President to the

heads of departments and agencies, ``Regulatory Reinvention

Initiative,'' NHTSA reviewed all its regulations and directives. During

this review, the agency identified not only those rules or portions of

rules that might be deleted or rescinded but also rules that could be

consolidated to avoid duplication or redrafted to make them easier to

read. NHTSA's vehicle identification number requirements were

identified as a candidate for amendment to make the requirements easier

to understand and to apply.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

In a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published October 25,

1995 (60 FR 54658), the agency proposed to transfer the text of Federal

Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 115 (49 CFR 571.115) Vehicle

identification number--basic requirements to Part 565 Vehicle

identification number--content requirements. A vehicle identification

number (VIN) is a seventeen character series of Arabic numbers and

Roman letters which is assigned to a vehicle for identification

purposes. Standard No. 115 specifies general physical requirements for

a VIN plate or label and its installation and Part 565 specifies VIN

content and format.

In the NPRM, NHTSA stated its tentative conclusion that

consolidation of the VIN requirements into one regulation would make it

easier for motor vehicle manufacturers to understand and to apply those

requirements. Many small manufacturers of motor vehicles (including

trailers) apparently find the necessity of consulting two separate VIN

regulations (i.e., Standard No. 115 and Part 565) cumbersome and

confusing. Thus, NHTSA proposed to consolidate all VIN requirements

into one regulation. NHTSA stated it did not intend to make any

substantive changes to its VIN requirements as a result of the proposed

consolidation.

Since VIN requirements are referenced in other NHTSA regulations,

such as Part 541 Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard and

Part 567 Certification, NHTSA also proposed to make conforming changes

to those references.

NHTSA also proposed to convert part 565 measurements from the

English system of measurement to the metric system. The metric

conversions were proposed so NHTSA could continue to implement the

Federal policy that the metric system of measurement is the preferred

system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.

Specifically, NHTSA proposed that English unit measurements of gross

vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) in Table II of part 565 be exactly

converted to the metric system. Thus, the agency proposed that a GVWR

of 10,000 pounds be converted to 4536 kilograms (kg.), the exact

converted figure, instead of 4500 kg, the equivalent converted figure.

To accommodate those persons unfamiliar with the metric system, NHTSA

proposed that part 565 present the English and metric measurements

indefinitely.

Public Comments on the NPRM and NHTSA's Responses

In response to the NPRM, NHTSA received comments from Advocates for

Highway and Auto Safety, Chrysler, Flxible Corporation, Ford, National

Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Navistar, General Motors and

Toyota. Advocates, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and NADA agreed with

NHTSA's proposal to consolidate all VIN requirements in Part 565, and

to provide measurements in both English and metric units.

Several commenters noted typographical errors. Ford, General

Motors, and Navistar each pointed out the same typographical errors in

the proposed text of sections 565.6(a) and 565.6(b). NHTSA agrees with

the recommended corrections and makes them in the final rule. Toyota

stated its belief that there was a discrepancy between proposed section

565.7(b) and proposed section 565.7(d) as to deadlines for

manufacturers to provide VIN information to NHTSA. After reviewing Part

565, NHTSA notes that the reference to ``paragraph (b)'' in proposed

section 565.7(d) was a typographical error, and removes the reference

in the final rule.

Flxible Corporation expressed concern that metrication of the

measurements in the VIN requirements (but retaining English

measurements for the present) may result in both English and metric

units being displayed on VIN tags, necessitating larger tags. There

appears to have been a misunderstanding about the proposal. In

commenting, Flxible may have been assuming that this rulemaking would

somehow have affected its obligation under 49 CFR Part 567,

Certification, to state a vehicle's GVWR on its certification label.

Nothing that NHTSA proposed for Part 565 would amend Part 567 or

otherwise result in manufacturers providing information in addition to

the seventeen digits specified as the VIN. NHTSA notes that its

proposal to metricate Part 565 would only amend Table II. Table II

specifies GVWR classes for motor vehicles. Previously, the Table II

GVWR classes were only described according to English measurements. The

NPRM proposed that the weight classes be described in the regulation

according to both metric and English measurements. While a vehicle's

GVWR class, as determined under Table II, must be encoded in its VIN,

the class is not required by Part 565 to be directly placed on the

vehicle. The GVWR class is not currently required by Part 565 to be

placed on the vehicle in English units and will not be required as a

result of this rulemaking to be placed on the vehicle in both units.

Final Rule

NHTSA is adopting its proposal without change, except that it has

corrected the previously discussed typographical errors noted by Ford,

General Motors, Navistar and Toyota.

Effective Date

In the NPRM, NHTSA tentatively decided that there was good cause

shown for concluding that an effective date earlier than 180 days after

issuance would be in the public interest. The agency proposed that, if

adopted, the effective date for the final rule be 30 days after its

publication in the Federal Register. NHTSA received no comments on this

issue. Accordingly, the agency has decided that there is good cause

shown for concluding that an effective date earlier than 180 days after

issuance is in the public interest. The final rule will take effect 30

days after its publication in the Federal Register.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

1. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

This final rule was not reviewed under E. O. 12866 (Regulatory

Planning and Review). NHTSA has analyzed the

[[Page 29033]]

impact of this rulemaking action and determined that it is not

``significant'' within the meaning of the Department of

Transportation's regulatory policies and procedures. The rule does not

impose any costs or yield any savings, but consolidates the agency's

requirements for manufacturers to assign vehicle identification numbers

(VINs) to motor vehicles. The changes make it easier for manufacturers

to understand and apply the VIN requirements. The agency makes no

substantive changes as a result of the consolidation. Since there are

no impacts, preparation of a full regulatory evaluation is not

warranted.

2. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The agency has considered the effects of this regulatory action

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that the final

rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities. As explained above, the rule does not impose

any new costs or provide any savings. It will make it easier for motor

vehicle manufacturers, many of which are small businesses, to

understand and apply the agency's requirements for vehicle

identification numbers. For these reasons, small businesses, small

governmental organizations, and small organizations which purchase

motor vehicles or rely on VINs for other recordkeeping or

administrative matters, will not be affected by the rule. Accordingly,

a final regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.

3. Paperwork Reduction Act

The information collection requirements in this rule have been

submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

pursuant to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

3501 et seq.). This collection of information has been assigned OMB

Control Number 2127-0510 (``Consolidated VIN Requirements and Motor

Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard'') and has been approved for use

through June 30, 1996. NHTSA has undertaken measures for OMB approval

to extend this collection of information.

4. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

This final rule has been analyzed in accordance with the principles

and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612. The agency has

determined that the rule does not have sufficient Federalism

implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism Assessment. No

State laws will be affected.

5. National Environmental Policy Act

The agency has considered the environmental implications of this

final rule in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 and determined that the final rule will not have any significant

impact on the quality of the human environment.

6. Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice Reform)

This final rule will not have any retroactive effect. Under 49

U.S.C. 30103, whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in

effect, a State may not adopt or maintain a safety standard applicable

to the same aspect of performance which is not identical to the Federal

standard, except to the extent that State requirement imposes a higher

level of performance and applies only to vehicles procured for the

State's use. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial review

of final rules establishing, amending or revoking Federal motor vehicle

safety standards. This section does not require submission of a

petition for reconsideration or other administrative procedures before

parties may file suit in court.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 541

Crime, Labeling, Motor vehicles, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

49 CFR Part 565

Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR Part 567

Labeling, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

49 CFR Part 571

Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,

Tires.

In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA is amending 49 CFR parts

541, 565, 567, and 571 as set forth below.

PART 541--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 541 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102, 33103, 33105; delegation of

authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

2. In Sec. 541.4, paragraph (b)(7) is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 541.4 Definitions.

* * * * *

(b) Other definitions. * * *

(7) VIN means the vehicle identification number required by part

565 of this chapter.

3. Part 565 is revised to read as follows:

PART 565--VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REQUIREMENTS

Sec.

565.1 Purpose and scope.

565.2 Applicability.

565.3 Definitions.

565.4 General requirements.

565.5 Motor vehicles imported into the United States.

565.6 Content requirements.

565.7 Reporting requirements.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30141, 30146,

30166, and 30168; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Sec. 565.1 Purpose and scope.

This part specifies the format, content and physical requirements

for a vehicle identification number (VIN) system and its installation

to simplify vehicle identification information retrieval and to

increase the accuracy and efficiency of vehicle recall campaigns.

Sec. 565.2 Applicability.

This part applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger

vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers (including trailer kits), incomplete

vehicles, and motorcycles. Vehicles imported into the United States

under 49 CFR 591.5(f), other than by the corporation responsible for

the assembly of that vehicle or a subsidiary of such a corporation, are

excluded from requirements of Sec. 565.4(b), Sec. 565.4(c),

Sec. 565.4(g), Sec. 565.4(h), Sec. 565.5 and Sec. 565.6.

Sec. 565.3 Definitions.

(a) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Definitions. Unless

otherwise indicated, all terms used in this part that are defined in 49

CFR 571.3 are used as defined in 49 CFR 571.3.

(b) Body type means the general configuration or shape of a vehicle

distinguished by such characteristics as the number of doors or

windows, cargo-carrying features and the roofline (e.g., sedan,

fastback, hatchback).

(c) Check digit means a single number or the letter X used to

verify the accuracy of the transcription of the vehicle identification

number.

(d) Engine type means a power source with defined characteristics

such as fuel utilized, number of cylinders, displacement, and net brake

horsepower. The specific manufacturer and make shall be represented if

the engine powers a passenger car or a multipurpose passenger vehicle,

or truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4536 kg. (10,000 lbs.)

or less.

(e) Incomplete vehicle means an assemblage consisting, as a

minimum, of

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frame and chassis structure, power train, steering system, suspension

system and braking system, to the extent that those systems are to be

part of the completed vehicle, that requires further manufacturing

operations, other than the addition of readily attachable components,

such as mirrors or tire and rim assemblies, or minor finishing

operations such as painting, to become a completed vehicle.

(f) Line means a name that a manufacturer applies to a family of

vehicles within a make which have a degree of commonality in

construction, such as body, chassis or cab type.

(g) Make means a name that a manufacturer applies to a group of

vehicles or engines.

(h) Manufacturer means a person--

(1) Manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles or motor vehicle

equipment; or

(2) Importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale.

(i) Model means a name that a manufacturer applies to a family of

vehicles of the same type, make, line, series and body type.

(j) Model Year means the year used to designate a discrete vehicle

model, irrespective of the calendar year in which the vehicle was

actually produced, so long as the actual period is less than two

calendar years.

(k) Plant of manufacture means the plant where the manufacturer

affixes the VIN.

(l) Series means a name that a manufacturer applies to a

subdivision of a ``line'' denoting price, size or weight identification

and that is used by the manufacturer for marketing purposes.

(m) Trailer kit means a trailer that is fabricated and delivered in

complete but unassembled form and that is designed to be assembled

without special machinery or tools.

(n) Type means a class of vehicle distinguished by common traits,

including design and purpose. Passenger cars, multipurpose passenger

vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete vehicles and motorcycles

are separate types.

(o) VIN means a series of Arabic numbers and Roman letters that is

assigned to a motor vehicle for identification purposes.

Sec. 565.4 General requirements.

(a) Each vehicle manufactured in one stage shall have a VIN that is

assigned by the manufacturer. Each vehicle manufactured in more than

one stage shall have a VIN assigned by the incomplete vehicle

manufacturer. Vehicle alterers, as specified in 49 CFR 567.7, shall

utilize the VIN assigned by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

(b) Each VIN shall consist of seventeen (17) characters.

(c) A check digit shall be part of each VIN. The check digit shall

appear in position nine (9) of the VIN, on the vehicle and on any

transfer documents containing the VIN prepared by the manufacturer to

be given to the first owner for purposes other than resale.

(d) The VINs of any two vehicles manufactured within a 30-year

period shall not be identical.

(e) The VIN of each vehicle shall appear clearly and indelibly upon

either a part of the vehicle, other than the glazing, that is not

designed to be removed except for repair or upon a separate plate or

label that is permanently affixed to such a part.

(f) The VIN for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles and

trucks of 4536 kg or less GVWR shall be located inside the passenger

compartment. It shall be readable, without moving any part of the

vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions

by an observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen) whose eye-point is located

outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar. Each

character in the VIN subject to this paragraph shall have a minimum

height of 4 mm.

(g) Each character in each VIN shall be one of the letters in the

set: [ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRSTUVWXYZ] or a numeral in the set: [0123456789]

assigned according to the method given in Sec. 565.5.

(h) All spaces provided for in the VIN must be occupied by a

character specified in paragraph (g) of this section.

(i) The type face utilized for each VIN shall consist of capital,

sanserif characters.

Sec. 565.5 Motor vehicles imported into the United States.

(a) Importers shall utilize the VIN assigned by the original

manufacturer of the motor vehicle.

(b) A passenger car certified by a Registered Importer under 49 CFR

part 592 shall have a plate or label that contains the following

statement, in characters with a minimum height of 4 mm, with the

identification number assigned by the original manufacturer provided in

the blank: SUBSTITUTE FOR U.S. VIN: ____________ SEE PART 565. The

plate or label shall conform to Sec. 565.4 (h) and (i). The plate or

label shall be permanently affixed inside the passenger compartment.

The plate or label shall be readable, without moving any part of the

vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions

by an observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen) whose eye-point is located

outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar. It shall be

located in such a manner as not to cover, obscure, or overlay any part

of any identification number affixed by the original manufacturer.

Passenger cars conforming to Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 115

are exempt from this paragraph.

Sec. 565.6 Content requirements.

The VIN shall consist of four sections of characters which shall be

grouped accordingly:

(a) The first section shall consist of three characters that occupy

positions one through three (1-3) in the VIN. This section shall

uniquely identify the manufacturer, make and type of the motor vehicle

if its manufacturer produces 500 or more motor vehicles of its type

annually. If the manufacturer produces less than 500 motor vehicles of

its type annually, these characters along with the third, fourth and

fifth characters of the fourth section shall uniquely identify the

manufacturer, make and type of the motor vehicle. These characters are

assigned in accordance with Sec. 565.7(a).

(b) The second section shall consist of five characters, which

occupy positions four through eight (4-8) in the VIN. This section

shall uniquely identify the attributes of the vehicle as specified in

Table I. For passenger cars, and for multipurpose passenger vehicles

and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4536 kg. (10,000 lbs.)

or less, the first and second characters shall be alphabetic and the

third and fourth characters shall be numeric. The fifth character may

be either alphabetic or numeric. The characters utilized and their

placement within the section may be determined by the manufacturer, but

the specified attributes must be decipherable with information supplied

by the manufacturer in accordance with Sec. 565.7(c). In submitting the

required information to NHTSA relating to gross vehicle weight rating,

the designations in Table II shall be used. The use of these

designations within the VIN itself is not required. Tables I and II

follow:

Table I--Type of Vehicle and Information Decipherable

Passenger car: Line, series, body type, engine type and restraint

system type.

Multipurpose passenger vehicle: Line, series, body type, engine type,

gross vehicle weight rating.

Truck: Model or line, series, chassis, cab type, engine type, brake

system and gross vehicle weight rating.

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Bus: Model or line, series, body type, engine type, and brake system

Trailer, including trailer kits and incomplete trailer: Type of

trailer, body type, length and axle configuration.

Motorcycle: Type of motorcycle, line, engine type, and net brake

horsepower.

Incomplete Vehicle other than a trailer: Model or line, series, cab

type, engine type and brake system.

Note to Table I: Engine net brake horsepower when encoded in the

VIN shall differ by no more than 10 percent from the actual net brake

horsepower; shall in the case of motorcycle with an actual net brake

horsepower of 2 or less, be not more than 2; and shall be greater than

2 in the case of a motorcycle with an actual brake horsepower greater

than 2.

Table II--Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Classes

Class A--Not greater than 1360 kg. (3,000 lbs.)

Class B--Greater than 1360 kg. to 1814 kg. (3,001-4,000 lbs.)

Class C--Greater than 1814 kg. to 2268 kg. (4,001-5,000 lbs.)

Class D--Greater than 2268 kg. to 2722 kg. (5,001-6,000 lbs.)

Class E--Greater than 2722 kg. to 3175 kg. (6,001-7,000 lbs.)

Class F--Greater than 3175 kg. to 3629 kg. (7,001-8,000 lbs.)

Class G--Greater than 3629 kg. to 4082 kg. (8,001-9,000 lbs.)

Class H--Greater than 4082 kg. to 4536 kg. (9,001-10,000 lbs.)

Class 3--Greater than 4536 kg. to 6350 kg. (10,001-14,000 lbs.)

Class 4--Greater than 6350 kg. to 7257 kg. (14,001-16,000 lbs.)

Class 5--Greater than 7257 kg. to 8845 kg. (16,001-19,500 lbs.)

Class 6--Greater than 8845 kg. to 11793 kg. (19,501-26,000 lbs.)

Class 7--Greater than 11793 kg. to 14968 kg.(26,001-33,000 lbs.)

Class 8--Greater than 14968 kg. (33,001 lbs. and over)

(c) The third section shall consist of one character, which

occupies position nine (9) in the VIN. This section shall be the check

digit whose purpose is to provide a means for verifying the accuracy of

any VIN transcription. After all other characters in VIN have been

determined by the manufacturer, the check digit shall be calculated by

carrying out the mathematical computation specified in paragraphs (c)

(1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value

and assign to each letter the value specified for it in Table III, as

follows:

Table III--Assigned Values

A = 1

B = 2

C = 3

D = 4

E = 5

F = 6

G = 7

H = 8

J = 1

K = 2

L = 3

M = 4

N = 5

P = 7

R = 9

S = 2

T = 3

U = 4

V = 5

W = 6

X = 7

Y = 8

Z = 9

(2) Multiply the assigned value for each character in the VIN by

the position weight factor specified in Table IV, as follows:

Table IV--VIN Position and Weight Factor

1st ................8

2d .................7

3d..................6

4th ................5

5th ................4

6th ................3

7th ................2

8th................10

9th.......(check digit)

10th .................. 9

11th....................8

12th....................7

13th....................6

14th....................5

15th....................4

16th....................3

17th....................2

(3) Add the resulting products and divide the total by 11.

(4) The numerical remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is

10 the letter ``X'' shall be used to designate the check digit. The

correct numeric remainder, zero through nine (0-9) or the letter ``X,''

shall appear in VIN position nine (9).

(5) A sample check digit calculation is shown in Table V as

follows:

Table V.--Calculation of a Check Digit

VIN Position................................ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Sample VIN.................................. 1 G 4 A H 5 9 H ..

. 5 G 1 1 8 3 4 1

Assigned Value.............................. 1 7 4 1 8 5 9 8 ..

. 5 7 1 1 8 3 4 1

Weight Factor............................... 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Multiply Assigned value times weight factor. 8 49 24 5 32 15 18 80 0 45 56 7 6 40 12 12 2

Add products: 8+49+24+5+32+15+18+80+0+45+56+7+6+40+12+12+2 = 411

Divide by 11: 411/11 = 37 4/11

The remainder is 4; this is the check digit to be inserted in position nine (9) of the VIN

(d) The fourth section shall consist of eight characters, which

occupy positions ten through seventeen (10-17) of the VIN. The last

five (5) characters of this section shall be numeric for passenger cars

and for multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle

weight rating of 4536 kg. (10,000 lbs.) or less, and the last four (4)

characters shall be numeric for all other vehicles.

(1) The first character of the fourth section shall represent the

vehicle model year. The year shall be designated as indicated in Table

VI as follows:

Table VI.--Year Codes for VIN

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Year Code

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1980...................................................... A

1981...................................................... B

1982...................................................... C

1983...................................................... D

1984...................................................... E

1985...................................................... F

1986...................................................... G

1987...................................................... H

1988...................................................... J

1989...................................................... K

1990...................................................... L

1991...................................................... M

1992...................................................... N

1993...................................................... P

1994...................................................... R

1995...................................................... S

1996...................................................... T

1997...................................................... V

1998...................................................... W

1999...................................................... X

2000...................................................... Y

2001...................................................... 1

2002...................................................... 2

2003...................................................... 3

2004...................................................... 4

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2005...................................................... 5

2006...................................................... 6

2007...................................................... 7

2008...................................................... 8

2009...................................................... 9

2010...................................................... A

2011...................................................... B

2012...................................................... C

2013...................................................... D

------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) The second character of the fourth section shall represent the

plant of manufacture.

(3) The third through the eighth characters of the fourth section

shall represent the number sequentially assigned by the manufacturer in

the production process if the manufacturer produces 500 or more

vehicles of its type annually. If the manufacturer produces less than

500 motor vehicles of its type annually, the third, fourth and fifth

characters of the fourth section, combined with the three characters of

the first section, shall uniquely identify the manufacturer, make and

type of the motor vehicle and the sixth, seventh, and eighth characters

of the fourth section shall represent the number sequentially assigned

by the manufacturer in the production process.

Sec. 565.7 Reporting requirements.

The information collection requirements contained in this part have

been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and

have been assigned OMB Control Number 2127-0510.

(a) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has

contracted with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to coordinate

the assignment of manufacturer identifiers. Manufacturer identifiers

will be supplied by SAE at no charge. All requests for assignments of

manufacturer identifiers should be forwarded directly to: Society of

Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Avenue, Warrendale, Pennsylvania

15096, Attention: WMI Coordinator. Any requests for identifiers

submitted to NHTSA will be forwarded to SAE. Manufacturers may request

a specific identifier or may request only assignment of an

identifier(s). SAE will review requests for specific identifiers to

determine that they do not conflict with an identifier already assigned

or block of identifiers already reserved. SAE will confirm the

assignments in writing to the requester. Once confirmed by SAE, the

identifier need not be resubmitted to NHTSA.

(b) Manufacturers of vehicles subject to this part shall submit,

either directly or through an agent, the unique identifier for each

make and type of vehicle it manufactures at least 60 days before

affixing the first VIN using the identifier. Manufacturers whose unique

identifier appears in the fourth section of the VIN shall also submit

the three characters of the first section that constitutes a part of

their identifier.

(c) Manufacturers of vehicles subject to the requirements of this

part shall submit to NHTSA the information necessary to decipher the

characters contained in its VINs. Amendments to this information shall

be submitted to the agency for VINs containing an amended coding. The

agency will not routinely provide written approvals of these

submissions, but will contact the manufacturer should any corrections

to these submissions be necessary.

(d) The information required under paragraph (c) of this section

shall be submitted at least 60 days prior to offering for sale the

first vehicle identified by a VIN containing that information, or if

information concerning vehicle characteristics sufficient to specify

the VIN code is unavailable to the manufacturer by that date, then

within one week after that information first becomes available. The

information shall be addressed to: Administrator, National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC

20590, Attention: VIN Coordinator.

PART 567--[AMENDED]

4. The authority citation for part 567 is revised to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166, 32502,

32504, 33101-33014, and 33109; delegation of authority at 49 CFR

1.50.

5. In Sec. 567.4, paragraphs (k) introductory text and (l) are

revised to read as follows:

Sec. 567.4 Requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles.

* * * * *

(k) In the case of passenger cars admitted to the United States

under 49 CFR part 592 to which the label required by this section has

not been affixed by the original producer or assembler of the passenger

car, a label meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall be

affixed by the importer before the vehicle is imported into the United

States, if the car is from a line listed in Appendix A of 49 CFR Part

541. This label shall be in addition to, and not in place of, the label

required by paragraphs (a) through (j), inclusive, of this section.

* * * * *

(l)(1) In the case of a passenger car imported into the United

States under 49 CFR 591.5(f) which does not have an identification

number that complies with 49 CFR 565.4 (b), (c), and (g) at the time of

importation, the Registered Importer shall permanently affix a label to

the vehicle in such a manner that, unless the label is riveted, it

cannot be removed without being destroyed or defaced. The label shall

be in addition to the label required by paragraph (a) of this section,

and shall be affixed to the vehicle in a location specified in

paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) The label shall contain the following statement, in the English

language, lettered in block capitals and numerals not less than 4 mm

high, with the location on the vehicle of the original manufacturer's

identification number provided in the blank: ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SUBSTITUTING FOR U.S. VIN IS LOCATED

____________.

PART 571--[AMENDED]

6. The authority citation for part 571 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;

delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Sec. 571.115 [Removed and Reserved]

7. Section 571.115 is removed, and reserved.

Issued on: May 31, 1996.

Ricardo Martinez,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 96-14241 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P