Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 02, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) Admission free of duty. Automobiles and other vehicles, aircraft, boats, teams and saddle horses, together with their accessories, taken abroad for noncommercial use and returned by a returning resident will be admitted free of duty upon being satisfactorily identified.
(b) Identification of articles taken abroad. Upon the request of the owner or his agent, the port director will cause any article described in paragraph (a) of this section to be examined before it is taken abroad, and will issue a certificate of registration therefor on CBP Form 4455, or its electronic equivalent. On the return of the article, the certificate may be accepted as satisfactory identification of the described article for the purpose of admitting the article free of duty. In lieu of CBP Form 4455, or its electronic equivalent, the following may be accepted as satisfactory identification of such articles taken abroad:
(1) For an automobile, the State registration card;
(2) For an aircraft, the certificate of registration issued by the Federal Aviation Administration; and
(3) For a pleasure boat, the yacht license or motorboat identification certificate.
(c) Repairs, alterations, and accessories. Repairs made abroad to articles described in paragraph (a) of this section, if incidental to use abroad, are not subject to duty. Repairs not incidental to use abroad, and alterations and additions made abroad, will be assessed with duty upon their value at the rate at which the article itself would be dutiable if imported. Accessories for articles described in paragraph (a) of this section which are acquired abroad are dutiable as if separately imported. Any accessories, repairs, alterations, or additions, which accompany the returning resident at the time of his return to the United States must be included in his baggage declaration.
(d) Entry. Entry on a baggage declaration or regular entry (see § 148.5) will be required if:
(1) The owner or his agent is unable to produce a proper registration card or certificate to cover the article;
(2) A claim for free entry of repairs, alterations, additions, or accessories is to be made under the $800 or $1,600 returning resident's exemption for articles acquired abroad; or
(3) Duty is to be collected.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 19. Customs Duties § 19.148.32 Vehicles, aircraft, boats, teams and saddle horses taken abroad - last updated January 02, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-19-customs-duties/cfr-sect-19-148-32/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)