The competent authority for motor vehicle safety certification in the United States is the Department of Transportation (DOT), which includes departments such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Marine Administration (MARAD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Office of the Attorney General (OST).

The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a US government agency responsible for implementing and enforcing the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and other motor vehicle safety related laws. Under this authority, NHTSA issues and enforces Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) applicable to motor vehicles and specific motor vehicle components. The purpose of implementing the US Vehicle Safety Act is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries caused by traffic accidents. The Vehicle Safety Law requires that each FMVSS regulation must be enforceable, meet motor vehicle safety requirements, and be stated in objective language.