Connecticut General Statutes 14-52b – Surrender of new car dealer license in event of cancellation, termination or failure to renew franchise by manufacturer. Manufacturer to operate as a dealer on a temporary basis. Issuance of used car dealer’s li…
(a) In the event a manufacturer licensed in accordance with the provisions of § 14-67a cancels, terminates or fails to renew any franchise, as defined in § 42-133r, with a new car dealer, as defined in § 14-51, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, upon receipt of written notice of such action by the manufacturer, shall, unless the dealer holds one or more additional franchises, demand that such new car dealer surrender such license to the commissioner. If such action is contested by such dealer in accordance with the provisions of sections 42-133r to 42-133ee, inclusive, the commissioner shall not demand surrender of such license, and no replacement motor vehicle dealer shall be named for the dealer’s point or location, except in accordance with subdivision (10) of § 42-133cc, until the proceedings to contest such action by the manufacturer are finally determined after all means of administrative, judicial and appellate review have been exhausted and the decision is adverse to the dealer.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-52b
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Commissioner: includes the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and any assistant to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles who is designated and authorized by, and who is acting for, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under a designation. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Dealer: includes any person actively engaged in buying, selling or exchanging motor vehicles or trailers who has an established place of business in this state and who may, incidental to such business, repair motor vehicles or trailers, or cause them to be repaired by persons in his or her employ. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Manufacturer: means (A) a person, whether a resident or nonresident, engaged in the business of constructing or assembling new motor vehicles of a type required to be registered by the commissioner, for operation upon any highway, except a utility trailer, which are offered for sale in this state, or (B) a person who distributes new motor vehicles to new car dealers licensed in this state. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, limited liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or requires. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Vehicle: includes any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other means. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no person, firm or corporation licensed as a manufacturer in accordance with the provisions of § 14-67a may be the holder of a new or used car dealer’s license issued in accordance with the provisions of § 14-52, except a manufacturer may operate as a dealer on a temporary basis in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (8) of § 42-133cc. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to any firm or corporation that is owned or controlled by a manufacturer, as determined by the commissioner. Any applicant for a new or used car dealer license that is denied a license under the provisions of this subsection shall be entitled to a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may issue a used car dealer’s license to a person, firm or corporation, owned or controlled by a manufacturer, engaged primarily in the business of rental of motor vehicles and industrial and construction equipment, provided: (1) Motor vehicles offered for sale by any such person, firm or corporation are limited to motor vehicles that have been previously used exclusively and regularly in the conduct of the business or motor vehicles traded in by purchasers of such previously used motor vehicles, (2) any warranty repairs performed by such person, firm or corporation are limited to motor vehicles that such person, firm or corporation owns, has previously owned, or has taken in trade, and (3) any retail financing provided or arranged by such person, firm or corporation is limited to vehicles sold by such person, firm or corporation.
(d) The commissioner may extend the period of a license issued to a manufacturer to operate a dealership on a temporary basis, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and subdivision (8) of § 42-133cc, for not more than one additional year, up to a maximum period of two years, if the commissioner is satisfied that such manufacturer has made and is continuing to make bona fide efforts to sell and transfer the dealership to a person, firm or corporation that is qualified to hold a new or used dealer’s license.