US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

49 U.S.C. § 33101

Definitions

In this chapter—
(1)
“chop shop” means a building, lot, facility, or other structure or premise at which at least one person engages in receiving, concealing, destroying, disassembling, dismantling, reassembling, or storing a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle part that has been unlawfully obtained—
(A)
to alter, counterfeit, deface, destroy, disguise, falsify, forge, obliterate, or remove the identity of the vehicle or part, including the vehicle identification number or a derivative of that number; and
(B)
to distribute, sell, or dispose of the vehicle or part in interstate or foreign commerce.
(2)
section 33104 of this title “covered major part” means a major part selected under for coverage by the vehicle theft prevention standard prescribed under section 33102 or 33103 of this title.
(3)
“existing line” means a line introduced into commerce before .
(4)
“first purchaser” means the person making the first purchase other than for resale.
(5)
“line” means a name that a manufacturer of motor vehicles applies to a group of motor vehicle models of the same make that have the same body or chassis, or otherwise are similar in construction or design.
(6)
“major part” means—
(A)
the engine;
(B)
the transmission;
(C)
each door to the passenger compartment;
(D)
the hood;
(E)
the grille;
(F)
each bumper;
(G)
each front fender;
(H)
the deck lid, tailgate, or hatchback;
(I)
each rear quarter panel;
(J)
the trunk floor pan;
(K)
the frame or, for a unitized body, the supporting structure serving as the frame; and
(L)
any other part of a passenger motor vehicle that the Secretary of Transportation by regulation specifies as comparable in design or function to any of the parts listed in subclauses (A)–(K) of this clause.
(7)
“major replacement part” means a major part that is—
(A)
an original major part in or on a completed motor vehicle and customized or modified after manufacture of the vehicle but before the time of its delivery to the first purchaser; or
(B)
not installed in or on a motor vehicle at the time of its delivery to the first purchaser and the equitable or legal title to the vehicle has not been transferred to a first purchaser.
(8)
section 32901(a) of this title “model year” has the same meaning given that term in .
(9)
“new line” means a line introduced into commerce after .
(10)
“passenger motor vehicle” includes a multipurpose passenger vehicle or light duty truck when that vehicle or truck is rated at not more than 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
(11)
“vehicle theft prevention standard” means a minimum performance standard for identifying major parts of new motor vehicles and major replacement parts by inscribing or affixing numbers or symbols on those parts.

Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e)108 Stat. 1076Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(44)108 Stat. 4383Pub. L. 104–287, § 6(d)(1)(B)110 Stat. 3399(, , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

33101(1)

15:2021(11).

Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 601(11); added Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 301(b), 106 Stat. 3394.

33101(2)

15:2021(6).

Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 601(2)–(7), (9), (10); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2755, 2756.

33101(3)

15:2021(3).

33101(4)

15:2021(5).

33101(5)

15:2021(2).

33101(6)

15:2021(7).

33101(7)

15:2021(8).

Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 601(1), (8); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2755; restated Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 301(a), (c), 106 Stat. 3393, 3394.

33101(8)

15:2021(9).

33101(9)

15:2021(4).

33101(10)

15:2021(1).

33101(11)

15:2021(10).

Section 302(1) of the Act of October 25, 1992Public Law 102–519106 Stat. 3394Public Law 92–51386 Stat. 947In clause (2), the words “section 33102(c)(1)” are substituted for “section 2022(d)(1)(B)” to correct an erroneous cross-reference. (, ), restated section 602(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (, ) as section 602(d)(1) without making a corresponding change in the cross-reference restated in this section.

section 2023(a)(1)(A) of this titleIn clause (3), the words “before ” are substituted for “before the beginning of the 2-year period specified in ” for clarity. See the revision notes for section 33104 of the revised title.

In clause (5), the words “of motor vehicles” are added for consistency in this chapter.

Clause (6)(I) is substituted for “rear quarter panels” for clarity and consistency.

In clause (7)(A), the word “completed” is omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement.

section 2023(a)(1)(A) of this titleIn clause (9), the words “after ” are substituted for “on or after the beginning of the 2-year period specified in ” for clarity and consistency.

Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(44)(A)

Public Law 102–519106 Stat. 3394Public Law 92–51386 Stat. 947This corrects a cross-reference in 49:33101(2) by eliminating the reference to 49:33102(c)(1). Section 302(1) of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 (, ) restated section 602(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (, ) as section 602(d)(1) without making a change in the cross-reference in section 601(6) to section 602(d)(1)(B).

Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(44)(B)

This makes a conforming amendment for consistency with the style of title 49.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–287Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(44)(B)1996— made technical amendment to directory language of . See 1994 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(44)(B)Pub. L. 104–2871994—Par. (2). , as amended by , inserted “of this title” before period at end.

Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(44)(A), substituted “section 33104” for “sections 33102(c)(1) and 33104”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–287, § 6(d)110 Stat. 3398, , , provided that the amendment made by section 6(d)(1)(B) is effective .

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–429section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429section 321 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .