DOT
DOT approval is an official marking from the United States that shows that a vehicle part or technical component meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). It is mandatory for legal use in road traffic, especially in the USA.
Vehicle parts with a DOT marking – such as lighting, tires, windows or reflectors – meet certain safety-related specifications that have been tested and approved by the US authorities. The requirements are often based on the SAE standards, which define technical standards for design and performance.
Important for the European market:
DOT approval is not automatically valid in the EU. Products with a DOT approval mark may not be installed without further ado in vehicles that are approved within the scope of European approval regulations (e.g. according to ECE). National or European approval marks such as ECE markings, parts certificates or an ABE (general operating permit) are required here.
Practical example:
An LED worklight with DOT marking may be used in road traffic in the USA. In Germany, on the other hand, it may only be used outside of public road traffic – for example in off-road, forestry or agricultural applications – unless it has ECE approval.