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What's behind the label? The importance of vehicle safety certification

  • Vehicle Certification
  • Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Guidance
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Canadian Regulations
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  • Reports & Guides
    • Canada Regulatory Compliance Guide
    • Commercial Vehicle Certification Guide
    • F/CMVSS 111 Resources
    • Federal Excise Tax Guide
    • Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Guide
    • OEM Chassis Considerations Guide
    • State Mud Flap Requirements Guide
    • Truck Equipment Handbook
    • U.S./Canada Federal Lighting Guide
    • Vehicle Specification Process Guide
    • VIN Compliance Manual
    • View All Reports & Guides
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  • Whitepapers
    • What's behind the label? The importance of vehicle safety certification
    • Power takeoffs: The what, where and some of the why
    • How ADAS and other new vehicle technologies may affect future commercial vehicle upfits
    • Implications of rerating vehicle GVWR and GAWRs
    • View all Whitepapers
  • Articles
    • Applying FET to spare/replacement parts and accessories
    • GCWR: What it means and where to find it
    • What label do I use? Part 3: Specialized final-stage certification label
    • View all Articles
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Vehicle safety certification is more than a label on the driver’s door. It is the manufacturer’s legal declaration that a vehicle complies with all applicable Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and it plays an important role in safety, compliance and risk management across the vehicle life cycle. NTEA’s new resources help fleets, dealers, leasing companies, and other industry stakeholders better understand certification responsibilities, common misconceptions, and the risks associated with uncertified or improperly modified vehicles.

What’s behind the label? The importance of vehicle safety certification
This in-depth NTEA publication explains the fundamentals of vehicle safety certification, including what certification is, who is responsible, how it applies across the build process, and why compliance with federal safety standards matters in both the U.S. and Canada. It also addresses common questions about certification, outlines the risks tied to uncertified vehicles, and provides guidance on what to look for when working with upfitters and other manufacturers. Available at no cost to NTEA members only.

Quick-reference certification overview
For those seeking a shorter, high-level summary, this downloadable resource highlights the most important takeaways from the full publication. It outlines why proper certification is critical for vehicle dealerships, fleets and leasing companies; identifies potential risks of non-compliance; and summarizes practical steps organizations can take to help verify properly certified vehicles. This resource is available to members and nonmembers at no cost.

Full member publication  Quick-reference overview

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