NHTSA is seeking public comment on this interim guidance. You may submit a comment when the link becomes available at Regulations.gov, under NHTSA-2026-1552.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act), 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301, authorizes NHTSA to grant exemptions that permit manufacturers to produce vehicles over a two- or three-year period that do not comply with certain Federal motor vehicle safety standards, often referred to as FMVSS, (49 U.S.C. § 30113, “General exemptions”). This exemption program is implemented through regulations found at 49 CFR part 555 (part 555). The agency issues these exemptions to provide some flexibility to the general requirement to comply with applicable FMVSS by alleviating substantial economic hardship, facilitating the development of new motor vehicle safety or low-emission engine features, or enabling the production of a motor vehicle with an equivalent overall level of safety. NHTSA may grant a part 555 exemption if it determines that at least one of four bases listed in the statute is met and NHTSA determines that the exemption is consistent with the public interest and the Safety Act. The statute also authorizes NHTSA to subject an exemption to terms the agency deems appropriate and requires that NHTSA publish notice of the application and provide the public an opportunity to comment. 

Except for the statutes and regulations cited, the contents of this guidance do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. Rather, the below information is intended to provide guidance to manufacturers interested in requesting an exemption under NHTSA’s General Exemption program. 

This information is divided into two main components: 

1. Guidance to help manufacturers understand the Part 555 program and NHTSA’s approach to processing applications; and 
2. Enhanced application instructions listing information that, based on NHTSA’s experience from other reviews of exemptions, the agency considers likely to be useful when reviewing applications submitted under the program and, if included, may reduce the need for further information requests.

What to Expect in the Review Process

Upon receipt of an application, NHTSA provides an application number to the applicant, publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing receipt of the submission, and places the application in the docket for public availability. If an applicant submits a request for confidential business information treatment of certain elements of the application under 49 CFR part 512, NHTSA will place the redacted version of the application in the docket. Information for which confidentiality has been requested is treated as confidential until a determination under the Freedom of Information Act or other legal authority has been made. See 5 U.S.C. 552, 49 CFR part 7 and 49 CFR part 512.   

Based on whether NHTSA believes the application contains all the information required to evaluate the merits of the application, the Federal Register notice will either request public comment or state that NHTSA will seek public comment in a subsequent Federal Register notice after NHTSA receives additional information from the applicant. Additional information that NHTSA receives will be added to the docket and made available to the public when the comment period is opened.

Once the comment period has ended, NHTSA considers the available information and determines whether to grant or deny the exemption request. If NHTSA determines that the application does not contain adequate justification or information supporting the exemption, NHTSA will deny the request, notify the applicant in writing, and publish a Federal Register notice of the denial with its rationale. Conversely, if NHTSA determines that the application contains adequate justification and information supporting the exemption, NHTSA will grant the request, notify the applicant in writing, and publish a Federal Register notice of the grant and the rationale. If NHTSA denies the exemption request, the requestor may submit another request with new/additional information or arguments. 

As authorized by statute, NHTSA may establish terms and conditions for a granted exemption as the agency deems appropriate. These terms and conditions are applied on a case-by-case basis and tailored to the particular exempted vehicles. When evaluating the merits of an application, NHTSA may consider whether applying terms and conditions are appropriate to ensure that granting the exemption is in the public interest or to ensure that the statutory basis on which the exemption is granted is met. To enable both better oversight and a quicker assessment of the threshold question of whether to grant an exemption, NHTSA is adopting a more dynamic and flexible approach to applying terms and conditions. Specifically, NHTSA intends to develop terms that could be included in part 555 exemption grants, when appropriate, that condition the operation of the vehicles on enhanced and continuing oversight from NHTSA. NHTSA would expect to administer this enhanced oversight through operational authorizations, which could be updated over time.   

If such terms are applied, the first operational authorization would be issued at the same time the grant notice is published in the Federal Register and would contain initial operational conditions. The manufacturer would be able to start manufacturing under the part 555 exemption and begin commercially deploying vehicles immediately under the terms of their initial authorization. A manufacturer could later request changes to their operational authorization, which could include changes to operating locations, existing terms, and vehicle capabilities, and could be granted via a modified authorization. This approach is particularly relevant for exemptions for ADS-equipped vehicles, as it gives NHTSA flexibility to quickly update operational terms and expand the scope of the operational authorization via updates as the ADS continues to develop, mirroring real-world ADS development. While this improvement is primarily to address the complexity of submissions involving novel technologies, such as those for ADS-equipped vehicles, NHTSA will apply this approach to any part 555 application, as appropriate. Before granting an exemption, NHTSA would discuss the conditions with and seek input from the applicant, with the goal of establishing conditions that prioritize safety while not unduly burdening the applicant. Operational authorizations would be placed in the publicly available docket as they are issued. 

When NHTSA grants a request for a General Exemption, the exemption is effective upon publication of the grant notice in the Federal Register and generally exempts vehicles manufactured on and after the effective date, unless the Federal Register notice specifies a later effective date. If the applicant would like to request a later effective date, they should indicate this in their application and specify when they would like their exemption to be effective or request that NHTSA follow-up prior to issuing a grant notice.  

NHTSA will strive to keep the applicant informed of the status of their application throughout this process and will be available to answer questions, as needed. Please contact GeneralExemptions@dot.gov if you need assistance and be sure to reference your application number in all communications.   

Temporary Nature of General Exemptions 

Exemptions granted under part 555 permit manufacturers to manufacture exempted vehicles for a set amount of time, limited by statute. Vehicles manufactured under the exemption are subject to the terms of the grant notice for the life of the vehicle. An exemption granted on the basis of “substantial economic hardship” allows a manufacturer to produce exempted vehicles for up to three years. An exemption granted on any other basis allows a manufacturer to produce exempted vehicles for up to two years. Applications for renewal of the exemption follow the same application process as the existing exemption. If a manufacturer applies for renewal at least 60 days before the end of the exemption’s manufacturing period and the renewal application meets the requirements of 49 CFR § 555.5, the existing exemption does not terminate until NHTSA grants or denies the renewal application. 

NHTSA may terminate or modify an exemption if NHTSA determines that either: 

• the exemption is no longer consistent with the public interest and the objectives of the Vehicle Safety Act; or   
• the exemption was granted on the basis of false, fraudulent, or misleading representations or information. 

Any interested person may petition for the termination or modification of an exemption granted under part 555, and NHTSA will process those petitions according to the procedures in 49 CFR part 552. NHTSA publishes notices in the Federal Register for both applications for termination and modification of an exemption as well as NHTSA’s action in response to it. NHTSA also publishes notices for any terminations or modifications of an exemption that are initiated by NHTSA.

The following is a list of the information that, based on NHTSA’s experience with other reviews of exemptions, the agency considers likely to be useful when reviewing General Exemption applications under 49 U.S.C. § 30113 and 49 CFR part 555. This guidance is intended to clarify the existing minimum content requirements for applications under part 555 and offers guidance on meeting those requirements. It also describes additional content whose inclusion in applications is not required but is helpful to NHTSA. The description of this additional content is intended to aid applicants in preparing better supported applications, thereby increasing the likelihood that NHTSA will grant them. The submission of more thoroughly explained and better supported applications will also enable faster processing by reducing the resources and time NHTSA would otherwise need to evaluate applications. Even if all the information in this guide is provided to NHTSA, the agency may still have follow-up questions or seek clarification from an applicant. However, providing this information upfront is expected to reduce the need to engage in extended follow-up with an applicant. Failure to provide what is required by the regulation or statute may result in NHTSA notifying the manufacturer that the application is incomplete and will be denied unless the manufacturer submits additional information.  

Once prepared, applicants should submit all application materials to GeneralExemptions@dot.gov.   

If you need assistance, contact NHTSA at GeneralExemptions@dot.gov. If your inquiry is in reference to a particular application, include the application number in the email. If your response contains any material that you wish to claim as confidential business information (CBI), you must submit a request for confidential treatment (49 CFR Part 512). Instructions for submission are available upon request. All information submitted as part of applications (except that withheld as CBI) will be made publicly available at Regulations.gov as part of the docket for the exemption request.

Note: The knowing and willful submission of false, fictitious or fraudulent information will subject the applicant to the civil and criminal penalties of 18 U.S.C. 1001.

General Information

Please verify and provide the following: 

Prerequisites

Before beginning your application, ensure you have met the applicable vehicle identification number and Manufacturer Identification requirements under 49 CFR 565 and 49 CFR 566. Visit https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/ for more information, or to access the New Manufacturers Handbook, search manufacturer records, or submit documents for these requirements.

Contact Information

• Point of contact information 
  • Full name, title, mailing address, phone number, and email address(es) of the person(s) NHTSA should contact with questions regarding the application 
• Required applicant information (see 49 CFR 555.5) 
  • Full company name and mailing address of the applicant 
  • A legal description of the organization (individual, partnership, corporation, etc.) 
  • The name of the State or country under the laws of which the manufacturer is organized

Vehicle Information 

• Make
• Model name or designation
• Vehicle Type (passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, bus, trailer, incomplete vehicle, low speed vehicle, motorcycle, or school bus) 
• Identify if the vehicles will be operated by an Automated Driving System (ADS) at any time. An ADS is the hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether it is limited to a specific operational design domain 

Note: Bold text indicates required information.

Basis for Application

Applicants may identify more than one basis from the list below.

Duration and Quantity 

Applicants must provide: 

• The desired length of time of the exemption’s manufacturing period in years, not to exceed limits for the applicable basis (see 49 CFR 555.5).  
  • If the applicant would like to request a later effective date (e.g. to facilitate pre-production or other preliminary activities), they may specify in their application when they would like their exemption to be effective. Alternatively, applicants may request that NHTSA follow-up with them to obtain this information prior to issuing a grant notice.  
• The requested quantity of vehicles to be produced during the exemption’s manufacturing period, not to exceed limits for the applicable basis (see 49 CFR 555.6).

Note: Bold text indicates required information.

Other Helpful Information 

In addition, NHTSA suggests that applicants provide the below information: 

• A description of the intended use for the vehicles after manufacture (e.g., sale, lease, and/or operation by the manufacturer) and a list of all entities/partners and their roles in the intended deployment or commercialization plans (e.g., vehicle operators, research partners, transportation and logistics platforms). 
• If the vehicles will be operated by an Automated Driving System (ADS) at any time, the name(s) of the ADS developer(s) and, if known, any expected ADS fleet operator(s). 
• Actual or estimated dimensions and specifications (e.g., vehicle length, width, height, passenger capacity, designated seating capacity, curb weight). 
• Interior and exterior photos or renderings of the vehicle from relevant angles. 
• Any exemptions issued by other Federal agencies related to the vehicle (or its use) obtained or sought by the applicant.

FMVSS and Bumper Standards   

For each applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) and bumper standard for which exemption is requested: 

• State the specific text or substance of the standard from which the exemption is requested (see 49 CFR 555.5). 
  • Other helpful information: Describe in detail all aspects of the vehicle design, operation, and/or performance that do not conform to the standard 
• Describe how the exempted vehicle would differ from one that complies with the standard (see 49 CFR 555.6)  
  • Other helpful information: Include differences in design, operation, and/or performance measures. You may use the format below to prepare your response in summary form and provide additional detail in the later sections of your application.

Basis-specific information, as applicable 

• For substantial economic hardship, provide evidence that the applicant tried in good faith to comply with the referenced standard (see 49 CFR 555.6(a)).   
• For development of a new safety feature, provide a description of how the level of safety or impact protection of the feature is equivalent to or exceeds the level of safety or impact protection established in the referenced standard (see 49 CFR 555.6(b)). 
• For development of a low-emission vehicle, provide a description of how the exemption would not unreasonably degrade the safety or impact protection of the vehicle (see 49 CFR 555.6(c)). 
• For equal or greater overall safety level, address how the vehicle provides an equivalent or greater level of safety without meeting the referenced standard (see 49 CFR 555.6(d)).

Other information

• Include any applicable operational safety considerations (e.g., maximum operational speed, time/weather restrictions, operator requirements, etc.) related to the basis-specific information provided in the table.
• A table of applicable FMVSSs for each vehicle type can be found in Appendix 15 of the New Manufacturers Handbook. 

Note: Bold text indicates required information.

Basis for Application – Detailed Requirements

Public Interest 

• You must provide a detailed description of the reasons why the granting of the exemption would be in the public interest and, as applicable, consistent with the objectives of the Vehicle Safety Act and bumper standards. This may include: 
  • A description of potential public interests that could range from safety, innovation, environmental, accessibility, or labor impacts to interests relating to the improvement of transportation efficiency. 
  • A description of any public outreach performed and the response from the community, e.g., via letters of support, survey results, focus groups. 
  • For ADS-equipped vehicles, information specified in the next section of this guide. 

Note: Bold text indicates required information.

ADS-Equipped Vehicles 

If the vehicle(s) will be operated by an Automated Driving System (ADS) at any time, NHTSA suggests that additional information be submitted to help NHTSA determine whether granting the exemption under any of the four bases would be in the public interest (addressed in Public Interest section) and to inform the application of an operational oversight condition and the initial operational authorization (discussed in Part 555 Guidance section). Applicants may also use this information to support equivalent or greater level of safety arguments (addressed in Basis for Application section). While NHTSA has found the information outlined below to be helpful, it is not an exhaustive list. You are invited to provide any relevant information beyond what is listed below.

Vehicle and ADS Information  

• If the application is for a renewal, a description of any hardware or software changes to the vehicle model or its ADS since the previous granted exemption. 
• Documentation or a discussion of the vehicle’s operational design domain (ODD) for its initial intended deployment, (e.g., maximum speed, road type, geographical, time-of-day restrictions) including any environmental (temperature, snow, rain, fog, hail, high winds, cloud cover, dust, etc.) or other conditions that may affect the performance of the vehicle’s ADS (presence of vulnerable road users, children, school and work zones, animals, etc.). Consider referencing related standards and best practices, for example, AVSC00002202004, ISO 34503, and BSI PAS 1883. Include how the ODD may change or be expanded over the duration of the exemption sought, as applicable. 
• A description of how the vehicle and ADS will be monitored and controlled to ensure operation within its operational design domain. This may include discussion of engineering controls for detecting and responding to ODD exit, minimal risk maneuvers, remote operations or assistance, and other operational constraints and/or requirements designed and implemented to mitigate safety risk. 
• The SAE Automation Level(s) while operating the vehicles in the ways described in the exemption application. Discuss the roles of both the human driver and the ADS, as applicable, for each operational mode and use case described in the application. 
• A description of the extent (e.g., vehicle miles traveled, number of vehicles, locations, use cases, trips, driverless and supervised operations) to which this ADS or a substantially similar ADS (e.g., prior/newer generation) has been previously tested using this vehicle model or another vehicle model. List any incidents resulting in deaths or injuries. List any incidents occurring within the last 5 years on public roads resulting in property damage. 
• Documentation that outlines policies and technical approaches for ensuring the safety of the vehicle and ADS over the complete product lifecycle. This includes but is not limited to information on the applicant’s safety case and overall safety management system (as applicable). Consider referencing related standards and best practices implemented by the applicant, for example, AVSC-D-02-2024, AVSC00007202107, UL 4600, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, MIL-STD-882E. Further considerations may include, but are not limited to: 
  • Processes used to gather and assess evidence of safety claims 
  • Discussion of metrics, performance thresholds, and safety performance indicators used to determine a system is acceptably safe 
  • Verification and validation methodology 
  • Results of any 3rd party assessments 
• Describe the maximum control authority for the system when engaged, including commanded speed, acceleration, braking, steering angle, permissible gear selection states while engaged, and limits on specialized maneuvers (e.g., reversing, parking). In addition, provide the following vehicle braking system information: 
  • A description of the vehicle’s braking system architecture, including any redundant or backup systems 
  • The maximum deceleration rate that the ADS can apply while braking 
  • The minimum stopping distance that the ADS can achieve while braking from its maximum operating speed 
• Descriptions or visual representations of sensor types (e.g., cameras, radar, lidar) and their locations on the vehicle, as well as the near field and far field limitations in ADS perception sensor coverage. You may also include a description of external sensors/communications, if applicable (e.g., V2I, V2X). 
• A discussion of how the software or hardware of the vehicles will be updated during their operational life. Consider describing what safety or change control processes are in place for updating system components such as maps, ADS software, and ADS hardware. 
• A description of the ADS’ response competencies related to law enforcement interactions, construction, and other traffic control interactions, both temporary and permanent. 
• Descriptions of the ADS’ current and planned competency in emergency scenarios, including: 
  • Crash detection and response, including adequacy of minimal risk conditions depending on crash scenario and crash partner (e.g., vehicle type, vulnerable road user). 
  • The designed/intended maneuvers and/or other responses to achieve a stable stopped condition – i.e., a minimal/mitigated risk condition (MRC) – or takeover following a crash, system failure, ODD exit, or other scenario requiring an appropriate disengagement or other intervention. 
  • Planned operational steps following achievement of an MRC (including interactions requiring remote assistance). 
• ADS and vehicle interactions with first responders, including ability of first responders to move the vehicle.  
• A summary of how applicable traffic safety laws are identified (including both initially and during operation), how an ADS’ compliance with traffic safety laws is monitored, and any conditions under which the ADS may allow the vehicle to violate traffic laws. 
• A description of any system fallback strategies or designs (e.g., minimal risk conditions), as well as any protocols for their execution or activation. 
• An overview of vehicle features or operational processes that are in place to facilitate safe and predictable interactions with members of the public, including communication strategies to convey information to non-operator occupants and other road users as well as measures to promote the predictability of the ADS’ behavior. 
• If an applicant’s vehicle will be operated by an ADS developed by another entity: 
  • Identify the ADS developer and the nature of the relationship with the applicant. 
  • Provide information described above. 
  • Provide a detailed description of the manner in which the applicant is able to assure the safety and competency of the ADS.

Operational Information

• A detailed description of how the vehicles will be used, including proposed deployment use cases and associated geographic locations, road types, maximum posted speed limits, operating times, whether fares, freight charges, or delivery fees will be collected, etc. 
• A detailed description of your first planned operations involving the vehicles. This may include, but is not limited to, maps or aerial views of all areas, locations, travel pathways, and/or routes. Roads, starting points, stops along routes, and other relevant points of interest should be clearly labeled, as applicable (.kmz and Google Earth files are preferred). 
• Identification of the entities that will be responsible for ongoing maintenance, repairs, and calibration of the ADS and its components. 
• A description of your efforts to interface with State, local, and tribal governments, especially efforts to obtain required authorizations to operate the vehicle in automated mode on public roads. Consider describing any required authorizations not yet obtained or whether local or State government authorization is not required. Provide copies of law enforcement interaction plans, if available. 
• A description of the roles and responsibilities of each user, whether in-vehicle or remote. This may include a driver, passenger, DDT fallback-ready user, driverless operation dispatcher, remote assistant, and/or fallback test driver. For each type of user, consider including the following: 
  • A list and any depictions of controls and displays available to the user 
  • Whether the user is able to take immediate control of the vehicle should the need arise. If so, consider describing this process, including how the ADS is engaged/disengaged, as well as what controls are available during manual operation 
  • A list and description of any predetermined situations where the user will assume control or provide input to the vehicle’s operation, including remote assistance and remote driving 
  • If the applicant will employ the user or intends to partner with a 3rd party employing the user, a description of training and assessment programs, oversight and monitoring plans, staffing levels (e.g., ratio of on-duty remote assistants to number of operating vehicles), pre-trip checklists, incident response protocols, and any other management, technical, and/or operational plans describing how the vehicles will be monitored and supported during on-road operations 
• A description of other data intended to be collected during on-road operations to monitor the safety and performance of the vehicle, the analysis and reporting of such data, and how it will be used to affect operations.

Last updated July 30, 2026