CHAPTER 5.  LICENSING AND DISPLAY OF TAGS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOTOR VEHICLES

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1. What are the requirements for licensing Federal Government-owned or -leased motor vehicles?
2. What are the requirements for the display of Federal Government tags?

1. What are the requirements for licensing Federal Government-owned or -leased motor vehicles?

   1. Official Federal Government license plates, or tags, must be used on all Federal Government-owned or -leased motor vehicles unless specifically exempted by FMR 102-34.175.

   2. Official Federal Government tags must be obtained from Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (UNICOR).

   3. Federal Government motor vehicles based or housed outside the District of Columbia need not be registered in the States, territories, or possessions in which they are used.  However, motor vehicles which are exempt from the display of official Federal Government tags and other identification shall be registered and inspected in accordance with the laws of the State, territory, or possession involved.  Those vehicles regularly based or housed in the District of Columbia are to be registered and inspected in accordance with the provisions of FMR 102-34.290.

2. What are the requirements for the display of Federal Government tags?

   1. Each vehicle will display official Federal Government identification tags mounted on the front and rear of the motor vehicle except in those instances where use of other tags are approved.  In addition, each motor vehicle acquired for official purposes (except vehicles exempted by FMR 102-34) shall display the legends "For Official Use Only," "U.S. Government" and "U.S. Department of Transportation."

   2. Motor vehicles rented from private or commercial sources for a period of less than 6 months and used primarily for off-highway work need not display the legends described above.  However, motor vehicles leased for periods of 6 months or longer shall display official Federal Government tags and the prescribed legends.  Sedans and station wagons acquired for periods of 60 consecutive days or more must be identified by displaying the legends on the left side of the rear window, not more than one-and-one-half inches from the bottom of the window.

   3. Whenever a motor vehicle is permanently removed from Federal Government service, all U.S. Department of Transportation identification and any other Federal government identification shall be removed from the motor vehicle before transferring the title or delivering the motor vehicle.

   4. Unlimited exemptions from the requirement to display official Federal Government tags and other identification are granted to the organizational activities of Federal agencies as explained in FMR 102-34.195.  In addition, exemptions may be authorized by the Secretary of Transportation or designee upon written certification that conspicuous identification will interfere with the purpose for which the motor vehicle is used.  Approval by GSA will not be required.