FMVSS 500: Low-Speed Vehicles explained.

What FMVSS 500 says it is for

The eCFR heads this section "Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles." Under 49 CFR part 571, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are the numbered standards that set safety performance requirements for motor vehicles and equipment. The text below is quoted from 571.500 as current through October 29, 2026.

This standard specifies requirements for low-speed vehicles.

The purpose of this standard is to ensure that low-speed vehicles operated on the public streets, roads, and highways are equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle safety.

How the standard is organized

The eCFR text of 571.500 has these top-level sections:

• S1: Scope
• S2: Purpose
• S3: Applicability
• S5: Requirements
• S6: General test conditions
• S7: Test procedure

In all, the text has 18 numbered headings. Use the finder above to search them; for example, a search for "test" lists the headings that mention tests.

Key requirements, quoted from the text

These are excerpts from the requirements sections of 571.500, in the order the standard presents them. Long paragraphs are shortened where marked with [...]; the eCFR has the complete text, tables and figures, which this page omits.

S3 Applicability. This standard applies to low-speed vehicles. S4. [Reserved]

S5 Requirements. (a) When tested in accordance with test conditions in S6 and test procedures in S7, the maximum speed attainable in 1.6 km (1 mile) by each low-speed vehicle shall not more than 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour). (b) Each low-speed vehicle shall be equipped with: (1) Headlamps, (2) Front and rear turn signal lamps, (3) Taillamps, (4) Stop lamps, (5) Reflex reflectors: one red on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one red on the rear, (6) An exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior mirror, (7) A parking brake, (8) A windshield that conforms to the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on glazing materials (49 CFR 571.205). (9) A VIN that conforms to the requirements of part 565 Vehicle Identification Number of this chapter, and (10) A Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to Sec. 571.209 of this part, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, Seat belt assemblies, installed at each designated seating position. [...]

S6 General test conditions. Each vehicle must meet the performance limit specified in S5(a) under the following test conditions.

S6.1.1 Ambient temperature. The ambient temperature is any temperature between 0 °C (32 °F) and 40 °C (104 °F).

S6.1.2 Wind speed. The wind speed is not greater than 5 m/s (11.2 mph).

S6.2.1 Pavement friction. Unless otherwise specified, the road test surface produces a peak friction coefficient (PFC) of 1.02 when measured using a ASTM F2493 standard reference test tire, in accordance with ASTM E1337-19, at a speed of 64.4 km/h (40.0 mph), without water delivery (incorporated by reference; see § 571.5).

S6.2.2 Gradient. The test surface has not more than a 1 percent gradient in the direction of testing and not more than a 2 percent gradient perpendicular to the direction of testing.

S6.2.3 Lane width. The lane width is not less than 3.5 m (11.5 ft).

S7 Test procedure. Each vehicle must meet the performance limit specified in S5(a) under the following test procedure. The maximum speed performance is determined by measuring the maximum attainable vehicle speed at any point in a distance of 1.6 km (1.0 mile) from a standing start and repeated in the opposite direction within 30 minutes.

Limits of this page

This page quotes the text of 49 CFR 571.500 as published in the eCFR, current through October 29, 2026. It omits tables, figures, cross-referenced test procedures in other parts, and the preambles and rulemaking history that explain the rule. It does not tell you whether a given vehicle, part or product complies, how to run a test, or what a manufacturer must certify. Compliance questions go to the manufacturer's engineers, qualified counsel or NHTSA. The eCFR is an editorial compilation, not the official legal edition of the Federal Register.

Sources

Sources opened and read November 2, 2026.

• eCFR: 49 CFR 571.500, Standard No. 500; Low-speed vehicles. (current through October 29, 2026) (read November 2, 2026)
• eCFR: 49 CFR part 571, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (current through October 29, 2026) (read November 2, 2026)