Notice2026-11651
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Petitions for Exemption From the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard
Primary source
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Published
June 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Abstract
NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate with a change previously approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval: Petitions for Exemption from the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, 49 CFR part 543. This is a reinstatement with change because it decreases the estimated burden hours. The previously approved information collection estimated 2,094 annual burden hours and this reinstatement estimates 1,828 annual burden hours due to a decrease of the estimated number of exemptions per year.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35613-35615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11651]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0859]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Petitions for Exemption From the Vehicle Theft Prevention
Standard
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments on request for reinstatement
with change of a previously approved information collection.
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SUMMARY: NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate
with a change previously approved information collection. Before a
Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must
receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal
agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of
information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously
approved collections. This document describes a collection of
information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval: Petitions for
Exemption from the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, 49 CFR part 543.
This is a reinstatement with change because it decreases the estimated
burden hours. The previously approved information collection estimated
2,094 annual burden hours and this reinstatement estimates 1,828 annual
burden hours due to a decrease of the estimated number of exemptions
per year.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2026-0859 through any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Suite W58-
213, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help
you, please call (202) 366-9826 or (202) 366-9317 before arriving.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket
number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be posted
without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> or the street
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets via internet.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access
to background documents, contact Mr. Walter Lysenko
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0275636e7667702c6e7b71676c696d42666d762c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0374626f7766712d6f7a70666d686c43676c772d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>). Address: National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Lysenko's telephone number is
(202) 366-1810. Please identify the relevant collection of information
by referring to its OMB Control Number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before an agency submits a proposed
collection of information to OMB for approval, it must first publish a
document in the Federal Register providing a 60-day comment period and
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies
concerning each proposed collection of information. The OMB has
[[Page 35614]]
promulgated regulations describing what must be included in such a
document. Under OMB's regulation (at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)), an agency must
ask for public comment on the following: (a) whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) how to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (d) how to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic
submission of responses. In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA
asks for public comments on the following proposed collection of
information for which the agency is seeking approval from OMB.
Title: Petitions for Exemption from the Vehicle Theft Prevention
Standard (49 CFR part 543).
OMB Control Number: 2127-0542.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Request: Request for approval to reinstate with a change a
previously-approved information collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of
approval.
Summary of Information Collection: 49 U.S.C. Chapter 331 requires
the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate a theft prevention
standard to provide for the identification of certain motor vehicles
and their major replacement parts (parts-marking) to impede motor
vehicle theft. Under 49 U.S.C. 33106, manufacturers may petition the
Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation) for an exemption from
the parts-marking requirement for a line of passenger motor vehicles
equipped with an anti-theft device as standard equipment that the
Secretary (NHTSA by delegation) decides is likely to be as effective in
reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the
parts-marking requirements. In accordance with the statute, NHTSA
promulgated 49 CFR part 543 to provide a process through which
manufacturers may seek an exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard.
Under these regulations, each manufacturer may request an exemption for
one vehicle line per model year.
Under the current Part 543, manufacturers choose how they wish to
demonstrate to the agency that the anti-theft device they are
installing in a vehicle line meets the requirements for exemption: by
either the factors listed in Sec. 543.6 (specific content
requirements: detailed lists, data, and explanations) or by the
criteria listed in Sec. 543.7 (performance criteria). Section 543.6
requires manufacturer to submit: (1) A statement that an antitheft
device will be installed as standard equipment on all vehicles in the
line for which an exemption is sought; (2) a list naming each component
in the antitheft system, and a diagram showing the location of each of
those components within the vehicle; (3) a discussion that explains the
means and process by which the device is activated and functions,
including any aspect of the device designed to facilitate or encourage
its activation by motorists, attract attention to the efforts of an
unauthorized person to enter or move the vehicle by means other than a
key, prevent defeating or circumventing the device by an unauthorized
person attempting to enter a vehicle by means other than a key, prevent
the operation of a vehicle which an unauthorized person has entered
using means other than a key, and ensure the reliability and durability
of the device; (4) the reasons for the petitioner's belief that the
antitheft device will be effective in reducing and deterring motor
vehicle theft, including any theft data and other data that are
available to the petitioner and form the basis for that belief; (5) the
reasons for the petitioner's belief that the agency should determine
that the antitheft device is likely to be as effective as compliance
with the parts-marking requirements of Part 541 in reducing and
deterring motor vehicle theft, including any statistical data that are
available to the petitioner and form a basis for petitioner's belief
that a line of passenger motor vehicles equipped with the antitheft
device is likely to have a theft rate equal to or less than that of
passenger motor vehicles of the same, or similar, line which have parts
marked in compliance with Part 541.
Section 543.7 requires manufacturers to submit a statement that the
entire line of vehicles is equipped with an immobilizer, as standard
equipment, that meets one of the following: (1) The performance
criteria of (subsections 8 through 21) of C.R.C, c. 1038.114, Theft
Protection and Rollaway Prevention (in effect March 30, 2011), as
excerpted in appendix A of this part; (2) National Standard of Canada
CAN/ULC-S338-98, Automobile Theft Deterrent Equipment and Systems:
Electronic Immobilization (May 1998); (3) United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) Regulation No. 97 (ECE R97), Uniform
Provisions Concerning Approval of Vehicle Alarm System (VAS) and Motor
Vehicles with Regard to Their Alarm System (AS) in effect August 8,
2007; or (4) UN/ECE Regulation No. 116 (ECE R116), Uniform Technical
Prescriptions Concerning the Protection of Motor Vehicles Against
Unauthorized Use in effect on February 10, 2009. Manufacturers must
also submit documentation to demonstrate that the device conforms with
the performance criteria and a statement that the immobilizer device is
durable and reliable.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: NHTSA requires this information to make a determination of
whether an anti-theft device a manufacturer is installing in a vehicle
line is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor
vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements and
therefore meets the requirements for the grant of an exemption from
Part 541 parts-marking.
Affected Public: Motor vehicle manufacturers of passenger motor
vehicles and light-duty trucks subject to the Federal Motor Vehicle
Theft Prevention Standard.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately nine per year.
The number of submissions under Part 543 varies from year to year,
because the submission of an exemption petition is voluntary. The
Agency's estimation is based on recent history with petitions for
exemptions received. Currently, there are approximately 21 vehicle
manufacturers that have one or more car lines exempted. NHTSA received
34 petitions for exemption from the parts-marking requirements for MYs
2021-2024 (an average of nine petitions), and six petitions received
for the most recent year: five respondents filing under Sec. 543.6 and
one respondent filing under Sec. 543.7. We anticipate that the number
of petitions received in each of the next three years will be the same
as the average number of petitions received for the previous four
years. In 2024, there was one petition submitted under Sec. 543.7 and
eight submitted under Sec. 543.6 for a total of nine petitions.
Because each manufacturer is limited to requesting an exemption for one
vehicle line per model year, NHTSA estimates that each petition will be
submitted by a different vehicle manufacturer. Therefore, we estimate
the total number
[[Page 35615]]
of responses and respondents will be nine per year.
Frequency: As needed.
Number of Responses: Approximately nine per year.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,828 hours per year.
Based on information provided by manufacturers, NHTSA estimates
that 226 hours will be required for exemptions requested under Sec.
543.6, and 20 hours for exemptions requested under Sec. 543.7. The
agency expects that nine manufacturers will choose to file for an
exemption under Sec. 543.6 and three manufacturers will choose to file
for an exemption under Sec. 543.7. The estimated total annual burden
hours are shown below:
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Average time
Average number per petition Total annual
of petitions submittal hours
per year (hrs)
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Preparation and Submittal of Petition for Exemption under Sec. 8 226 1,808
543.6..........................................................
Preparation and Submittal of Petition for Exemption under Sec. 1 20 20
543.7..........................................................
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:........................ .............. .............. 1,828
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The labor cost associated with the burden hours for this collection is derived by (1) applying appropriate
average hourly labor rate for ``Compliance Officers,'' Occupation Code 13-1041, published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics,[\1\] (2) dividing by 0.701 [\2\] (70.1%) to obtain the total compensation rate for private
industry workers, and (3) multiplying by the estimated labor hours for each exemption type.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
NHTSA estimates that there will be no costs to respondents other
than costs associated with burden hours.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29A.
Issued on May 12, 2026.
Jane Doherty,
Acting Associate Administrator, Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2026-11651 Filed 6-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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