Missouri Revised Statutes § 301.560 - Application requirements, additional — bonds, fees — fund — license number, certificate of numbers — duplicate dealer plates, issues, fees — test driving motor vehicles and vessels, use of plates — proof of educational seminar required, exceptions, contents of seminar

301.560. Application requirements, additional — bonds, fees — fund — license number, certificate of numbers — duplicate dealer plates, issues, fees — test driving motor vehicles and vessels, use of plates — proof of educational seminar required, exceptions, contents of seminar. — 1. In addition to the application forms prescribed by the department, each applicant shall submit the following to the department: (1) Every application other than a renewal application for a motor vehicle franchise dealer shall include a certification that the applicant has a bona fide established place of business. Such application shall include an annual certification that the applicant has a bona fide established place of business for the first three years and only for every other year thereafter. The certification shall be performed by a uniformed member of the Missouri state highway patrol or authorized or designated employee stationed in the troop area in which the applicant's place of business is located; except that in counties of the first classification, certification may be performed by an officer of a metropolitan police department when the applicant's established place of business of distributing or selling motor vehicles or trailers is in the metropolitan area where the certifying metropolitan police officer is employed. When the application is being made for licensure as a boat manufacturer or boat dealer, certification shall be performed by a uniformed member of the Missouri state highway patrol or authorized or designated employee stationed in the troop area in which the applicant's place of business is located or, if the applicant's place of business is located within the jurisdiction of a metropolitan police department in a first class county, by an officer of such metropolitan police department. A bona fide established place of business for any new motor vehicle franchise dealer, used motor vehicle dealer, boat dealer, powersport dealer, wholesale motor vehicle dealer, trailer dealer, or wholesale or public auction shall be a permanent enclosed building or structure, either owned in fee or leased and actually occupied as a place of business by the applicant for the selling, bartering, trading, servicing, or exchanging of motor vehicles, boats, personal watercraft, or trailers and wherein the public may contact the owner or operator at any reasonable time, and wherein shall be kept and maintained the books, records, files and other matters required and necessary to conduct the business. The applicant shall maintain a working telephone number during the entire registration year which will allow the public, the department, and law enforcement to contact the applicant during regular business hours. The applicant shall also maintain an email address during the entire registration year which may be used for official correspondence with the department. In order to qualify as a bona fide established place of business for all applicants licensed pursuant to this section there shall be an exterior sign displayed carrying the name of the business set forth in letters at least six inches in height and clearly visible to the public and there shall be an area or lot which shall not be a public street on which multiple vehicles, boats, personal watercraft, or trailers may be displayed. The sign shall contain the name of the dealership by which it is known to the public through advertising or otherwise, which need not be identical to the name appearing on the dealership's license so long as such name is registered as a fictitious name with the secretary of state, has been approved by its line-make manufacturer in writing in the case of a new motor vehicle franchise dealer and a copy of such fictitious name registration has been provided to the department. Dealers who sell only emergency vehicles as defined in section 301.550 are exempt from maintaining a bona fide place of business, including the related law enforcement certification requirements, and from meeting the minimum yearly sales; (2) The initial application for licensure shall include a photograph, not to exceed eight inches by ten inches but no less than five inches by seven inches, showing the business building, lot, and sign. A new motor vehicle franchise dealer applicant who has purchased a currently licensed new motor vehicle franchised dealership shall be allowed to submit a photograph of the existing dealership building, lot and sign but shall be required to submit a new photograph upon the installation of the new dealership sign as required by sections 301.550 to 301.580. Applicants shall not be required to submit a photograph annually unless the business has moved from its previously licensed location, or unless the name of the business or address has changed, or unless the class of business has changed; (3) Every applicant as a new motor vehicle franchise dealer, a used motor vehicle dealer, a powersport dealer, a wholesale motor vehicle dealer, trailer dealer, or boat dealer shall furnish with the application a corporate surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit as defined in section 400.5-102, issued by any state or federal financial institution in the penal sum of fifty thousand dollars on a form approved by the department. The bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall be conditioned upon the dealer complying with the provisions of the statutes applicable to new motor vehicle franchise dealers, used motor vehicle dealers, powersport dealers, wholesale motor vehicle dealers, trailer dealers, and boat dealers, and the bond shall be an indemnity for any loss sustained by reason of the acts of the person bonded when such acts constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of the dealer's license. The bond shall be executed in the name of the state of Missouri for the benefit of all aggrieved parties or the irrevocable letter of credit shall name the state of Missouri as the beneficiary; except, that the aggregate liability of the surety or financial institution to the aggrieved parties shall, in no event, exceed the amount of the bond or irrevocable letter of credit. Additionally, every applicant as a new motor vehicle franchise dealer, a used motor vehicle dealer, a powersport dealer, a wholesale motor vehicle dealer, or boat dealer shall furnish with the application a copy of a current dealer garage policy bearing the policy number and name of the insurer and the insured. The proceeds of the bond or irrevocable letter of credit furnished by an applicant shall be paid upon receipt by the department of a final judgment from a Missouri court of competent jurisdiction against the principal and in favor of an aggrieved party. The proceeds of the bond or irrevocable letter of credit furnished by an applicant shall be paid at the order of the department and in the amount determined by the department to any buyer or interested lienholder up to the greater of the amount required for the release of the purchase money lien or the sales price paid by the buyer where a dealer has failed to fulfill the dealer's obligations under an agreement to assign and deliver title to the buyer within thirty days under a contract entered into pursuant to subsection 5 of section 301.210. The department shall direct release of the bond or irrevocable letter of credit proceeds upon presentation of a written agreement entered into pursuant to subsection 5 of section 301.210, copies of the associated sales and finance documents, and the affidavit or affidavits of the buyer or lienholder stating that the certificate of title with assignment thereof has not been passed to the buyer within thirty days of the date of the contract entered into under subsection 5 of section 301.210, that the dealer has not fulfilled the agreement under the contract to repurchase the vehicle, that the buyer or the lienholder has notified the dealer of the claim on the bond or letter of credit, and the amount claimed by the purchaser or lienholder. In addition, prior to directing release and payment of the proceeds of a bond or irrevocable letter of credit, the department shall ensure that there is satisfactory evidence to establish that the vehicle which is subject to the written agreement has been returned by the buyer to the dealer or that the buyer has represented to the department that the buyer will surrender possession of the vehicle to the dealer upon payment of the proceeds of the bond or letter of credit directed by the department. Excepting ordinary wear and tear or mechanical failures not caused by the buyer, the amount of proceeds to be paid to the buyer under the bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall be reduced by an amount equivalent to any damage, abuse, or destruction incurred by the vehicle while the vehicle was in the buyer's possession as agreed between the buyer and the dealer. The dealer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to contest the claim on the bond or letter of credit, including the amount of the claim and the amount of any adjustment for any damage, abuse, or destruction, by filing a petition with the court within thirty days of the notification by the buyer or lienholder. If the dealer does not fulfill the agreement or file a petition to request judicial relief from the terms of the agreement or contest the amount of the claim, the bond or letter of credit shall be released by the department and directed paid in the amount or amounts presented by the lienholder or buyer; (4) Payment of all necessary license fees as established by the department. In establishing the amount of the annual license fees, the department shall, as near as possible, produce sufficient total income to offset operational expenses of the department relating to the administration of sections 301.550 to 301.580. All fees payable pursuant to the provisions of sections 301.550 to 301.580, other than those fees collected for the issuance of dealer plates or certificates of number collected pursuant to subsection 6 of this section, shall be collected by the department for deposit in the state treasury to the credit of the "Motor Vehicle Commission Fund", which is hereby created. The motor vehicle commission fund shall be administered by the Missouri department of revenue. The provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary notwithstanding, money in such fund shall not be transferred and placed to the credit of the general revenue fund until the amount in the motor vehicle commission fund at the end of the biennium exceeds two times the amount of the appropriation from such fund for the preceding fiscal year or, if the department requires permit renewal less frequently than yearly, then three times the appropriation from such fund for the preceding fiscal year. The amount, if any, in the fund which shall lapse is that amount in the fund which exceeds the multiple of the appropriation from such fund for the preceding fiscal year. 2. In the event a new vehicle manufacturer, boat manufacturer, motor vehicle dealer, wholesale motor vehicle dealer, boat dealer, powersport dealer, wholesale motor vehicle auction, trailer dealer, or a public motor vehicle auction submits an application for a license for a new business and the applicant has complied with all the provisions of this section, the department shall make a decision to grant or deny the license to the applicant within eight working hours after receipt of the dealer's application, notwithstanding any rule of the department. 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6 of this section, upon the initial issuance of a license by the department, the department shall assign a distinctive dealer license number or certificate of number to the applicant and the department shall issue one number plate or certificate bearing the distinctive dealer license number or certificate of number and two additional number plates or certificates of number within eight working hours after presentment of the application and payment by the applicant of a fee of fifty dollars for the first plate or certificate and ten dollars and fifty cents for each additional plate or certificate. Upon renewal, the department shall issue the distinctive dealer license number or certificate of number as quickly as possible. The issuance of such distinctive dealer license number or certificate of number shall be in lieu of registering each motor vehicle, trailer, vessel or vessel trailer dealt with by a boat dealer, boat manufacturer, manufacturer, public motor vehicle auction, wholesale motor vehicle dealer, wholesale motor vehicle auction or new or used motor vehicle dealer. The license plates described in this section shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. *4. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, the department shall assign the following distinctive dealer license numbers to: 5. Upon the sale of a currently licensed motor vehicle dealership the department shall, upon request, authorize the new approved dealer applicant to retain the selling dealer's license number and shall cause the new dealer's records to indicate such transfer. If the new approved dealer applicant elects not to retain the selling dealer's license number, the department shall issue the new dealer applicant a new dealer's license number and an equal number of plates or certificates as the department had issued to the selling dealer. 6. In the case of motor vehicle dealers, the department shall issue one number plate bearing the distinctive dealer license number and may issue one additional number plate to the applicant upon payment by the dealer of a fifty dollar fee for the number plate bearing the distinctive dealer license number and ten dollars and fifty cents for the additional number plate. The department may issue a third plate to the motor vehicle dealer upon completion of the dealer's fifteenth qualified transaction and payment of a fee of ten dollars and fifty cents. In the case of new motor vehicle manufacturers, powersport dealers, recreational motor vehicle dealers, and trailer dealers, the department shall issue one number plate bearing the distinctive dealer license number and may issue two additional number plates to the applicant upon payment by the manufacturer or dealer of a fifty dollar fee for the number plate bearing the distinctive dealer license number and ten dollars and fifty cents for each additional number plate. Boat dealers and boat manufacturers shall be entitled to one certificate of number bearing such number upon the payment of a fifty dollar fee. Additional number plates and as many additional certificates of number may be obtained upon payment of a fee of ten dollars and fifty cents for each additional plate or certificate. New motor vehicle manufacturers shall not be issued or possess more than three hundred forty-seven additional number plates or certificates of number annually. New and used motor vehicle dealers, powersport dealers, wholesale motor vehicle dealers, boat dealers, and trailer dealers are limited to one additional plate or certificate of number per ten-unit qualified transactions annually. New and used recreational motor vehicle dealers are limited to two additional plates or certificate of number per ten-unit qualified transactions annually for their first fifty transactions and one additional plate or certificate of number per ten-unit qualified transactions thereafter. An applicant seeking the issuance of an initial license shall indicate on his or her initial application the applicant's proposed annual number of sales in order for the director to issue the appropriate number of additional plates or certificates of number. A motor vehicle dealer, trailer dealer, boat dealer, powersport dealer, recreational motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle manufacturer, boat manufacturer, or wholesale motor vehicle dealer obtaining a distinctive dealer license plate or certificate of number or additional license plate or additional certificate of number, throughout the calendar year, shall be required to pay a fee for such license plates or certificates of number computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the full fee prescribed for the original and duplicate number plates or certificates of number for such dealers' licenses, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the licensing period for which the dealer or manufacturers shall be required to be licensed. In the event of a renewing dealer, the fee due at the time of renewal shall not be prorated. Wholesale and public auctions shall be issued a certificate of dealer registration in lieu of a dealer number plate. In order for dealers to obtain number plates or certificates under this section, dealers shall submit to the department of revenue on August first of each year a statement certifying, under penalty of perjury, the dealer's number of sales during the reporting period of July first of the immediately preceding year to June thirtieth of the present year. 7. The plates issued pursuant to subsection 3 or 6 of this section may be displayed on any motor vehicle owned by a new motor vehicle manufacturer. The plates issued pursuant to subsection 3 or 6 of this section may be displayed on any motor vehicle or trailer owned and held for resale by a motor vehicle dealer for use by a customer who is test driving the motor vehicle, for use by any customer while the customer's vehicle is being serviced or repaired by the motor vehicle dealer, for use and display purposes during, but not limited to, parades, private events, charitable events, or for use by an employee or officer, but shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle or trailer hired or loaned to others or upon any regularly used service or wrecker vehicle. Motor vehicle dealers may display their dealer plates on a tractor, truck or trailer to demonstrate a vehicle under a loaded condition. Trailer dealers may display their dealer license plates in like manner, except such plates may only be displayed on trailers owned and held for resale by the trailer dealer. 8. The certificates of number issued pursuant to subsection 3 or 6 of this section may be displayed on any vessel or vessel trailer owned and held for resale by a boat manufacturer or a boat dealer, and used by a customer who is test driving the vessel or vessel trailer, or is used by an employee or officer on a vessel or vessel trailer only, but shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle owned by a boat manufacturer, boat dealer, or trailer dealer, or vessel or vessel trailer hired or loaned to others or upon any regularly used service vessel or vessel trailer. Boat dealers and boat manufacturers may display their certificate of number on a vessel or vessel trailer when transporting a vessel or vessels to an exhibit or show. 9. If any law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that any license plate or certificate of number issued under subsection 3 or 6 of this section is being misused in violation of subsection 7 or 8 of this section, the license plate or certificate of number may be seized and surrendered to the department. 10. (1) Every application for the issuance of a used motor vehicle dealer's license shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant, within the last twelve months, has completed an educational seminar course approved by the department as prescribed by subdivision (2) of this subsection. Wholesale and public auto auctions and applicants currently holding a new or used license for a separate dealership shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to current new motor vehicle franchise dealers or motor vehicle leasing agencies or applicants for a new motor vehicle franchise or a motor vehicle leasing agency. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to used motor vehicle dealers who were licensed prior to August 28, 2006. (2) The educational seminar shall include, but is not limited to, the dealer requirements of sections 301.550 to 301.580, the rules promulgated to implement, enforce, and administer sections 301.550 to 301.580, and any other rules and regulations promulgated by the department. (L. 1988 H.B. 1512 § 6, A.L. 1989 H.B. 211, A.L. 1993 S.B. 35, A.L. 1995 S.B. 70, A.L. 1997 H.B. 207, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1838 merged with H.B. 2008 merged with H.B. 2009 merged with S.B. 895. A.L. 2006 S.B. 747, A.L. 2007 S.B. 82 merged with S.B. 91, A.L. 2010 S.B. 583, A.L. 2012 H.B. 1402, A.L. 2018 S.B. 707, A.L. 2019 H.B. 926 merged with S.B. 368, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1963) *Subsection 4 became effective 12-01-08, because director of revenue did not provide notification of earlier date.