If a motor scooter can travel at a speed of more than 20 mph, it can be imported as an off-road racing vehicle. An importer must complete Box 8 of an HS-7 declaration form with Customs, stating that a scooter was not manufactured for use on the road and provide an additional statement, such as a label from the manufacturer, confirming that the scooter was not built for use on roads or highways and that it would be used for racing. An imported off-road racing scooter can have one or more headlights, but it cannot have mirrors or turn signals.
An importer of a scooter that has lights, turn signals and mirrors must declare the scooter as a motor vehicle on an HS-7 declaration form with Customs. If the scooter can travel at more than 20 mph, the NHTSA will classify it as a motor vehicle, and it must comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards and have a manufacturer's label that confirms compliance with these standards.
Two reasons why a scooter receives a noncompliance rating include lack of the manufacturer's compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards in the manufacturing of the scooter and lack of a speed rating of more than 20 mph. If a scooter is not manufactured according to the federal standards, it must be declared on Box 3 of an HS-7 declaration form with Customs. A DOT registered importer or registered importer contact person must bring the scooter into compliance after import. If a scooter lacks the capability to travel more than 20 mph, an importer must declare this on Box 8 of an HS-7 form as an off-road vehicle --- even if it does have lights, turning signals and mirrors --- for compliance after import.
