[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 6]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR565.3]



[Page 172]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

                            OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 565_VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents

 

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 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, provided that the production period does not exceed 

24 months.

    (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.



[61 FR 29033, June 7, 1996, as amended at 70 FR 23939, May 6, 2005]