All foreign manufacturers, assemblers, and importers of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment (hereinafter, “foreign manufacturers”) must designate an agent for service of process before offering a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for importation into the United States, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30164 and 49 C.F.R. Part 551, Subpart D.
Submission Details
Online submission
NHTSA has extended the electronic submission procedures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice. Foreign manufacturers may use the vPIC manufacturer portal to file an agent designation. For online submission instructions, please refer to the New Manufacturers Handbook.
Upon our preliminary review of the online submission, submitters will receive an email with instructions for sending a signed copy of the designation form. Please do not send a signed copy of the designation form until you have received an email from ManufacturerInfo@dot.gov on how to complete the review process.
Submission by mail
Foreign manufacturers may continue to send a hard copy of signed agent designation forms to:
NHTSA
Executive Secretariat
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
West Building, 41-306
Washington, DC 20590
To facilitate the review process, please include the manufacturer’s and agent's email addresses. NHTSA suggests using express mail services to avoid delays.
Contact Information
For questions about the agent designation process, including the requirements of Part 551, Subpart D, please contact the NHTSA Part 551 Office at NHTSAAgentInquiries@dot.gov.
When inquiring about existing agent designation, please include the manufacturer’s full legal name in the email subject line. If available, please provide the online submission ID in the body of the email.
Additional Resources
For additional information on the agent designation submission and review process, such as updating the manufacturer’s information or replacing an existing U.S. agent, please refer to the vPIC Frequently Asked Questions page.
For additional assistance in using the online vPIC manufacturer portal, please contact the NHTSA Manufacturer Helpdesk at ManufacturerInfo@dot.gov or 888-399-3277.
Last updated: November 6, 2024