Tag Archives: Dealer Bond
Nebraska Boat Dealer Bonds
11/15/2011Boat dealers will be required to be licensed and to also post a surety bond in the amount of $50,000 from a corporate surety company. The bond will be conditioned on the terms of the license and the licensee’s responsibility to be in compliance with applicable law. The licensee will also need to indemnify the lien holders on the boat for losses incurred as specified in the bill’s provisions.
$25,000 New York Mobility Vehicle Dealer Bond
10/02/2011SB 2913/AB 4298: License Bond – Mobility Dealers
Mobility dealers would be subjected to existing licensing and bond requirements for motor vehicle dealers. Anyone who sells more than five mobility vehicles in a year is considered a Mobility dealer. These vehicles are specially equipped to transport a person with a disability and include mechanical devices such as a wheel chair or ramps. Under current law a 10K bond must be posed by motor vehicle dealers if they sold less than 200 vehicles in a calendar year. A 25K will be required if the dealer sells more than 200 vehicles in a calendar year.
CT reduces bond amount required for Used Auto Dealers
07/18/2011SB 703/ HB 6212: License Bond – Used Automobile Dealers.
This bill will reduce the bond requirement for used automobile dealers from $50,000 to $20,000.
Louisiana Marine Product Dealers
07/12/2011SB 175: Motor Vehicles
This will provide for an appeal process towards the new law’s repurchasing requirements for marine product dealers that cease to do business. An appeal bond must be posted to compensate the prevailing party for compliance with the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission’s decision.
Indiana Motor Vehicle Dealer Bonds
04/29/2011HB 1376: License Bond – Motor Vehicle Dealers
Motor Vehicle Dealers must post a surety bond in the amount of $25,000 in favor of the State according to HB 1376. The existing law had already required a license for this type of business. This bond must be obtained in order to instill the payment of fines, penalties, costs and fees that the Secretary of State assessed. This bond will secure the payment of damages owed to persons obtaining a judgment against the dealer for violations of the law. This became effective on July 1, 2009.
The Growing Need for Motor Vehicle Dealer Bonds
03/30/2010On a national and global scale, more and more vehicles are being purchased and driven than ever before. With the ever increasing amount of vehicle owners on the road, both the value of new and used cars, and the risks associated with car buying have increased alongside. It goes without saying that as more vehicles are being sold at higher prices than ever before, opportunities have arisen and been exploited by dishonest motor vehicle dealers around the country that have sought to take advantage of customers.
Whether it be a used-car dealer masking a vehicle defect from a customer, or a new vehicle dealer taking advantage of car buyers via overly excessive prices, threats certainly exist for today’s new and used car buyers. Additionally, the growing number of “chop shops”(garages that illegally modify/resell stolen vehicles) nationwide is additional cause for concern. While these types of instances are clearly the minority, unfortunately it’s always the corrupt few that cause the greater masses of honest business owners to endure necessary control measures.
How can these threats be mitigated?
Amidst this growing threat to consumers, states and municipalities have responded with new, stricter laws governing the sale of automobiles (new and used). Such laws have been designed to protect consumers from misrepresentation and fraudulent activity by auto dealers. As is the case with many other commercial bonds, these laws require motor vehicle dealers to become licensed in their state of operation and also to obtain either a used car dealer bond or a motor vehicle bond (also known as an auto dealer bond) in order to ensure they comply with the applicable laws.
What exactly does a motor vehicle dealer bond guarantee?
As you’d likely infer, the state or municipality requiring the surety bond is the obligee, while the vehicle dealer is the principal. These types of surety bonds guarantee that new and used vehicle dealers will provide purchasers of vehicles with a clear title to the vehicle, and that dealers will not partake in fraudulent activities that could mislead or deceive customers. These guarantees apply to not only the auto dealers but their sales force as well.
Recent Amendments to Motor Vehicle Bond Requirements in CO, ID, and PA
03/12/2009Similar to last year, the Surety and Fidelity Association of American (SFAA) noticed a trend of amended state bills that change specific requirements pertaining to motor vehicle bonds (type of commercial bond also referred to as “auto dealer bonds”). These new bills are either requiring an increase in the motor vehicle bond amount, or an extension of its application to include additional vehicle types as well. The five states with recent enactments by state legislature are Colorado, Idaho, and Pennsylvania.
In Colorado, Senate Bill 144 (SB 144) requires that all motor vehicle repair shops operating in the state must obtain a surety bond twice the amount of the retail value of a vehicle whenever they choose to seek title for any abandoned vehicle.
Idaho has two new requirements pertaining to motor vehicle regulation. House Bill 365 mandates that all dealers of motor-driven cycles comply with the $20,000 surety bond requirement, which currently is in existence for vehicle dealers operating in the state. Additionally, Idaho House Bill 440 requires all dealers of truck campers to obtain a $10,000 license bond.
The enactment of Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1019 (SB 1019), makes it a requirement for all state recreational vehicle dealers to obtain a license bond in the amount of $30,000, in order to act as a security against any possible claims. Specifically, this license bond will protect against claims brought up by an agency of the commonwealth for money past due, such as fees, licenses, unpaid taxes, payment of criminal penalties, civil fines/penalty, etc.