Automotive Translation

Manufacturers and suppliers

Owner's manuals, service and repair information, technical bulletins, parts catalogues, warranty terms and supplier specifications move between languages constantly in a global supply chain. These are technical documents with a safety dimension: torque values, fluid specifications and warning statements must survive translation unchanged. We keep part numbers and codes untouched, translate warnings without softening them, and use a term list so a component has one name across manuals, bulletins and catalogues.

Recalls and safety reports

When a vehicle or equipment manufacturer conducts a safety recall abroad, or a foreign government orders one, the manufacturer reports it to NHTSA within a short deadline, and a foreign government determination that is not in English goes in with an English translation. Speed matters, so foreign recall notices and orders are delivered on expedited turnaround when asked.

Dealers

A used-car dealer who negotiates a sale in Spanish must display the Spanish Buyers Guide and give the contract disclosures in Spanish. The FTC publishes the official Spanish Buyers Guide, so use that; what dealers need translated is their own contract terms, warranty documents and finance disclosures, which must match the English. Spanish-language advertising also needs its disclosures in Spanish.

Importing a vehicle

Individuals and importers bringing a vehicle into the US file EPA and DOT declarations at entry, and often need the foreign title, registration certificate and conformity documents translated for CBP, the importer of record or the state motor vehicle agency. Foreign registration documents are dense: vehicle category codes, engine data, first registration date. We translate each field and keep the VIN and codes exactly as printed.

Drivers

For a foreign driver's licence used to apply for a US one, see driver's license translation.

Warranty and service information for dealers abroad

Manufacturers and distributors that sell vehicles or parts into other markets translate warranty booklets, maintenance schedules and technical service bulletins for dealers and owners there. Warranty terms are contracts: coverage periods, mileage limits and exclusions must be translated exactly, with units shown as the market uses them only when you supply the converted values. Technical bulletins must reach every language at the same revision, so send the bulletin number and revision with each one and we match the translation to it. Diagnostic trouble codes, part numbers and tool numbers are never translated.