Vermont Statutes Title 23 Sec. 453_v2
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 23 Sec. 453_v2
- Commissioner: shall mean in this title only the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. See
- Dealer: means a person, partnership, corporation, or other entity engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used motor vehicles, snowmobiles, motorboats, or all-terrain vehicles. See
- engaged in the business: means having sold or exchanged at least 12 cars or motor trucks, or a combination thereof, in the immediately preceding year, or 24 in the two immediately preceding years. See
- Farm tractor: means a traveling power plant or a self-propelled device that functions as part of crop production, harvesting, feeding, or livestock management or is used for drawing a farm trailer as defined in subdivision (69) of this section. See
- Fees: shall mean earnings due for official services, aside from salaries or per diem compensation. See
- Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
- Motor vehicle: includes all vehicles propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power, except farm tractors, vehicles running only upon stationary rails or tracks, motorized highway building equipment, road making appliances, snowmobiles, tracked vehicles, motor-assisted bicycles, electric bicycles, or electric personal assistive mobility devices. See
- Motorized highway building equipment: shall include all bulldozers, rollers, scrapers, graders, spreaders, pavers, bituminous mixers, compressors, power shovels, excavators, dumpsters, concrete mixers, bucket loaders, snow loaders, rooters, and scarifiers, except road oilers and bituminous distributors, which contain as an integral part thereof and within the same unit facilities for generating motor power for propelling the same and while being used exclusively for the building, repair, or maintenance of highways, or being transported or moved from job to job in connection with the building, repair, or maintenance of highways; or, for purposes of registration only, if owned and operated by a municipality, while being used exclusively for municipal purposes; however, the town road commissioner, or comparable municipal officer, shall report annually to the legislative body of the municipality that the equipment is in good repair; tractors used exclusively as a power unit in drawing road making appliances or in the transportation of same or of such tractor from job to job in connection with the building, repair, or maintenance of highways. See
- Owner: shall include any person, corporation, co-partnership, or association holding legal title to a motor vehicle or having exclusive right to the use or control thereof for a period of 30 days or more. See
- Person: includes any natural person, corporation, association, co-partnership, company, firm, or other aggregation of individuals. See
- road: shall include bridges thereon and their approaches. See
- Road making appliances: shall mean all bulldozers, rollers, scrapers, graders, spreaders, pavers, retreading machines, compressors, power shovels, excavators, rock crushers, concrete mixers, snow loaders, bucket loaders, rooters, portable electric generators, pavement heaters, sweepers, steam boilers, traffic control boards, screening plants, asphalt reclaimers, and scarifiers designed to be and while being drawn by a separate motorized power unit and while being used exclusively for building, repair, or maintenance of roads or highways or while being transported from job to job in connection with the building, repair, or maintenance of roads or highways, except contractor's trailers. See
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States may apply to the District of Columbia and any territory and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. See
- Tractor: shall include a motor vehicle designed or used primarily as a traveling power plant or for drawing other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry any load other than a part of the weight of the vehicles and load so drawn, excepting, however, motorized highway building equipment. See
- Trailer: is a vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle, and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle excepting, however, road making appliances and transportation dollies, and "semi-trailer" is a vehicle without motive power, designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by the towing vehicle, excepting, however, pole dinkeys, transportation dollies, and road making appliances. See
- Trailer coach: shall mean any trailer or semi-trailer designed to be towed by a motor vehicle and designed, equipped, or used for sleeping, eating, or living quarters. See
§ 453. Fees and number plates [Effective until November 1, 2023]
[Subsection (a) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (a) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(a)(1) An application for registration as a dealer in new or used cars or motor trucks shall be accompanied by a fee of $503.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer’s name. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer’s registration certificate three number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. The Commissioner may furnish additional plates according to the volume of the dealer’s sales in the prior year or, in the case of an initial registration, according to the dealer’s reasonable estimate of expected sales, as follows:
(A) under 20 sales: 0 additional plates;
(B) 20-49 sales: 1 additional plate;
(C) 50-99 sales: up to 5 additional plates;
(D) 100-249 sales: up to 12 additional plates;
(E) 250-499 sales: up to 17 additional plates;
(F) 500-749 sales: up to 27 additional plates;
(G) 750-999 sales: up to 37 additional plates;
(H) 1,000-1,499 sales: up to 47 additional plates;
(I) 1,500 or more: up to 57 additional plates.
(2) If the issuance of additional plates is authorized under subdivision (1) of this subsection, up to two plates shall be provided free of charge, and the Commissioner shall collect $55.00 for each additional plate thereafter.
[Subsection (a) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (a) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(a)(1) An application for registration as a dealer in new or used cars or motor trucks shall be accompanied by a fee of $603.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer’s name. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer’s registration certificate three number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. The Commissioner may furnish additional plates according to the volume of the dealer’s sales in the prior year or, in the case of an initial registration, according to the dealer’s reasonable estimate of expected sales, as follows:
(A) under 20 sales: 0 additional plates;
(B) 20-49 sales: 1 additional plate;
(C) 50-99 sales: up to 5 additional plates;
(D) 100-249 sales: up to 12 additional plates;
(E) 250-499 sales: up to 17 additional plates;
(F) 500-749 sales: up to 27 additional plates;
(G) 750-999 sales: up to 37 additional plates;
(H) 1,000-1,499 sales: up to 47 additional plates;
(I) 1,500 or more: up to 57 additional plates.
(2) If the issuance of additional plates is authorized under subdivision (1) of this subsection, up to two plates shall be provided free of charge, and the Commissioner shall collect $66.00 for each additional plate thereafter.
[Subsection (b) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (b) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(b) Application by a “dealer in farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $78.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in his or her discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $12.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a farm tractor or other self-propelled farm implement.
[Subsection (b) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (b) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(b) Application by a “dealer in farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $94.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in the Commissioner’s discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $12.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a farm tractor or other self-propelled farm implement.
[Subsection (c) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (c) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(c) Application by a “dealer in motorized highway building equipment and road making appliances,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $123.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in his or her discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $30.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.
[Subsection (c) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (c) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(c) Application by a “dealer in motorized highway building equipment and road making appliances,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $148.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in the Commissioner’s discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $30.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.
[Subsection (d) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (d) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, the registration fee shall be $62.00, which shall include three number plates. The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $10.00 for each set.
[Subsection (d) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (d) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, the registration fee shall be $75.00, which shall include three number plates. The Commissioner may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $10.00 for each set.
[Subsection (e) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (e) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(e) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $123.00, which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer coach. The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, furnish further plates at a fee of $10.00 for each such plate.
[Subsection (e) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (e) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(e) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $148.00, which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer coach. The Commissioner may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, furnish further plates at a fee of $10.00 for each such plate.
[Subsection (f) effective until November 1, 2023; see also subsection (f) effective November 1, 2023 set out below.]
(f) In any year that number plates are reused and validation stickers are issued, the Commissioner shall not be required to issue new number plates to persons renewing registrations under this section.
[Subsection (f) effective November 1, 2023; see also subsection (f) effective until November 1, 2023 set out above.]
(f) In any year that number plates are reused the Commissioner shall not be required to issue new number plates to persons renewing registrations under this section.
(g) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a dealer’s certificate of registration to a dealer in new or used motor vehicles, unless the dealer has provided the Commissioner with a surety bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit issued by an entity authorized to transact business in the same state. The amount of such surety bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall be between $20,000.00 and $35,000.00, based on the number of new or used units sold in the previous year; such schedule is to be determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. In the case of a certificate of deposit, it shall be issued in the name of the dealer and assigned to the Commissioner or his or her designee. The bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall serve as indemnification for any monetary loss suffered by the State or by a purchaser of a motor vehicle by reason of the dealer’s failure to remit to the Commissioner any fees collected by the dealer under the provisions of chapters 7 and 21 of this title or by a dealer’s failure to remit to the Commissioner any tax collected by the dealer under 32 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 219. This State or the motor vehicle owner who suffers such loss or damage shall have the right to claim against the surety upon the bond or against the letter of credit or certificate of deposit. The bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall remain in effect for the pending registration year and one year thereafter. The liability of any such surety or claim against the letter of credit or certificate of deposit shall be limited to the amount of the fees or tax collected by the dealer under chapters 7 and 21 of this title or 32 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 219 and not remitted to the Commissioner.
(h) Applications by a snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle dealer shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed in sections 3204, 3305, and 3504 of this title, respectively. (Amended 1961, No. 286, § 4; 1967, No. 129, § 6; 1977, No. 81, § 3, eff. April 27, 1977; 1981, No. 87, § 16; 1987, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1989, No. 51, § 29; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. May 15, 2002; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19c, eff. Sept. 1, 2010; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 29; 2015, No. 50, § 2; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 2023, No. 41, § 7, eff. November 1, 2023; 2023, No. 78, § G.119, eff. January 1, 2024.)
§ 453. Fees and number plates [Effective November 1, 2023]
[Subsection (a) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (a) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(a)(1) An application for registration as a dealer in new or used cars or motor trucks shall be accompanied by a fee of $503.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer’s name. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer’s registration certificate three number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. The Commissioner may furnish additional plates according to the volume of the dealer’s sales in the prior year or, in the case of an initial registration, according to the dealer’s reasonable estimate of expected sales, as follows:
(A) under 20 sales: 0 additional plates;
(B) 20-49 sales: 1 additional plate;
(C) 50-99 sales: up to 5 additional plates;
(D) 100-249 sales: up to 12 additional plates;
(E) 250-499 sales: up to 17 additional plates;
(F) 500-749 sales: up to 27 additional plates;
(G) 750-999 sales: up to 37 additional plates;
(H) 1,000-1,499 sales: up to 47 additional plates;
(I) 1,500 or more: up to 57 additional plates.
(2) If the issuance of additional plates is authorized under subdivision (1) of this subsection, up to two plates shall be provided free of charge, and the Commissioner shall collect $55.00 for each additional plate thereafter.
[Subsection (a) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (a) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(a)(1) An application for registration as a dealer in new or used cars or motor trucks shall be accompanied by a fee of $603.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer’s name. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer’s registration certificate three number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. The Commissioner may furnish additional plates according to the volume of the dealer’s sales in the prior year or, in the case of an initial registration, according to the dealer’s reasonable estimate of expected sales, as follows:
(A) under 20 sales: 0 additional plates;
(B) 20-49 sales: 1 additional plate;
(C) 50-99 sales: up to 5 additional plates;
(D) 100-249 sales: up to 12 additional plates;
(E) 250-499 sales: up to 17 additional plates;
(F) 500-749 sales: up to 27 additional plates;
(G) 750-999 sales: up to 37 additional plates;
(H) 1,000-1,499 sales: up to 47 additional plates;
(I) 1,500 or more: up to 57 additional plates.
(2) If the issuance of additional plates is authorized under subdivision (1) of this subsection, up to two plates shall be provided free of charge, and the Commissioner shall collect $66.00 for each additional plate thereafter.
[Subsection (b) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (b) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(b) Application by a “dealer in farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $78.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in his or her discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $12.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a farm tractor or other self-propelled farm implement.
[Subsection (b) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (b) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(b) Application by a “dealer in farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $94.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in the Commissioner’s discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $12.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a farm tractor or other self-propelled farm implement.
[Subsection (c) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (c) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(c) Application by a “dealer in motorized highway building equipment and road making appliances,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $123.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in his or her discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $30.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.
[Subsection (c) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (c) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(c) Application by a “dealer in motorized highway building equipment and road making appliances,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $148.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in the Commissioner’s discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $30.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.
[Subsection (d) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (d) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, the registration fee shall be $62.00, which shall include three number plates. The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $10.00 for each set.
[Subsection (d) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (d) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, the registration fee shall be $75.00, which shall include three number plates. The Commissioner may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $10.00 for each set.
[Subsection (e) effective until January 1, 2024; see also subsection (e) effective January 1, 2024 set out below.]
(e) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $123.00, which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer coach. The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, furnish further plates at a fee of $10.00 for each such plate.
[Subsection (e) effective January 1, 2024; see also subsection (e) effective until January 1, 2024 set out above.]
(e) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $148.00, which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer coach. The Commissioner may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, furnish further plates at a fee of $10.00 for each such plate.
(f) In any year that number plates are reused, the Commissioner shall not be required to issue new number plates to persons renewing registrations under this section.
(g) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a dealer’s certificate of registration to a dealer in new or used motor vehicles, unless the dealer has provided the Commissioner with a surety bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit issued by an entity authorized to transact business in the same state. The amount of such surety bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall be between $20,000.00 and $35,000.00, based on the number of new or used units sold in the previous year; such schedule is to be determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. In the case of a certificate of deposit, it shall be issued in the name of the dealer and assigned to the Commissioner or his or her designee. The bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall serve as indemnification for any monetary loss suffered by the State or by a purchaser of a motor vehicle by reason of the dealer’s failure to remit to the Commissioner any fees collected by the dealer under the provisions of chapters 7 and 21 of this title or by a dealer’s failure to remit to the Commissioner any tax collected by the dealer under 32 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 219. This State or the motor vehicle owner who suffers such loss or damage shall have the right to claim against the surety upon the bond or against the letter of credit or certificate of deposit. The bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall remain in effect for the pending registration year and one year thereafter. The liability of any such surety or claim against the letter of credit or certificate of deposit shall be limited to the amount of the fees or tax collected by the dealer under chapters 7 and 21 of this title or 32 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 219 and not remitted to the Commissioner.
(h) Applications by a snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle dealer shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed in sections 3204, 3305, and 3504 of this title, respectively. (Amended 1961, No. 286, § 4; 1967, No. 129, § 6; 1977, No. 81, § 3, eff. April 27, 1977; 1981, No. 87, § 16; 1987, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1989, No. 51, § 29; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. May 15, 2002; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19c, eff. Sept. 1, 2010; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 29; 2015, No. 50, § 2; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 2023, No. 41, § 7, eff. November 1, 2023; 2023, No. 78, § G.119, eff. January 1, 2024.)
§ 453. Fees and number plates [Effective January 1, 2024]
(a)(1) An application for registration as a dealer in new or used cars or motor trucks shall be accompanied by a fee of $603.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer’s name. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer’s registration certificate three number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. The Commissioner may furnish additional plates according to the volume of the dealer’s sales in the prior year or, in the case of an initial registration, according to the dealer’s reasonable estimate of expected sales, as follows:
(A) under 20 sales: 0 additional plates;
(B) 20-49 sales: 1 additional plate;
(C) 50-99 sales: up to 5 additional plates;
(D) 100-249 sales: up to 12 additional plates;
(E) 250-499 sales: up to 17 additional plates;
(F) 500-749 sales: up to 27 additional plates;
(G) 750-999 sales: up to 37 additional plates;
(H) 1,000-1,499 sales: up to 47 additional plates;
(I) 1,500 or more: up to 57 additional plates.
(2) If the issuance of additional plates is authorized under subdivision (1) of this subsection, up to two plates shall be provided free of charge, and the Commissioner shall collect $66.00 for each additional plate thereafter.
(b) Application by a “dealer in farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $94.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in the Commissioner’s discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $12.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a farm tractor or other self-propelled farm implement.
(c) Application by a “dealer in motorized highway building equipment and road making appliances,” which shall mean a person actively engaged in the business of selling or exchanging new or used motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $148.00. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each such dealer registration certificate two sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer and in the Commissioner’s discretion may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $30.00 per set; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.
(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, the registration fee shall be $75.00, which shall include three number plates. The Commissioner may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $10.00 for each set.
(e) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $148.00, which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, be displayed only upon a trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer coach. The Commissioner may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, furnish further plates at a fee of $10.00 for each such plate.
(f) In any year that number plates are reused, the Commissioner shall not be required to issue new number plates to persons renewing registrations under this section.
(g) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a dealer’s certificate of registration to a dealer in new or used motor vehicles, unless the dealer has provided the Commissioner with a surety bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit issued by an entity authorized to transact business in the same state. The amount of such surety bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall be between $20,000.00 and $35,000.00, based on the number of new or used units sold in the previous year; such schedule is to be determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. In the case of a certificate of deposit, it shall be issued in the name of the dealer and assigned to the Commissioner or his or her designee. The bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall serve as indemnification for any monetary loss suffered by the State or by a purchaser of a motor vehicle by reason of the dealer’s failure to remit to the Commissioner any fees collected by the dealer under the provisions of chapters 7 and 21 of this title or by a dealer’s failure to remit to the Commissioner any tax collected by the dealer under 32 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 219. This State or the motor vehicle owner who suffers such loss or damage shall have the right to claim against the surety upon the bond or against the letter of credit or certificate of deposit. The bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall remain in effect for the pending registration year and one year thereafter. The liability of any such surety or claim against the letter of credit or certificate of deposit shall be limited to the amount of the fees or tax collected by the dealer under chapters 7 and 21 of this title or 32 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 219 and not remitted to the Commissioner.
(h) Applications by a snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle dealer shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed in sections 3204, 3305, and 3504 of this title, respectively. (Amended 1961, No. 286, § 4; 1967, No. 129, § 6; 1977, No. 81, § 3, eff. April 27, 1977; 1981, No. 87, § 16; 1987, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1989, No. 51, § 29; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. May 15, 2002; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19c, eff. Sept. 1, 2010; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 29; 2015, No. 50, § 2; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 2023, No. 41, § 7, eff. November 1, 2023; 2023, No. 78, § G.119, eff. January 1, 2024.)