---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 33118"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "33118"
heading: "Preemption of State and local law"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/33118"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 331 — Theft Prevention"
---

# §33118. Preemption of State and local law


When a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) theft prevention standard prescribed under section [33102](/usc/49/33102.md) or [33103](/usc/49/33103.md) of this title is in effect, a [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) or political subdivision of a [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) may not have a different [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) theft prevention standard for a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) or [major replacement part](/usc/49/33101.md?p=7).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1093.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 33118 | 15:2031. | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 614; added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2763; Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 306(a), 106 Stat. 3397. |

The words “may not have” are substituted for “no . . . shall have any authority either to establish, or to continue in effect” to eliminate unnecessary words.