(a) A manufacturer or dealer owning any vehicle of a type otherwise required to be registered under this title may operate or move the same upon the highways when such vehicle is used:

(1) In the motor vehicle business of such manufacturer or dealer; or

(2) For the personal pleasure of such manufacturer or dealer or the members of such person’s family, when operated by such manufacturer or dealer or an immediate member of such person’s family; or, when such manufacturer or dealer is a corporation, for the personal pleasure of not more than 3 officers thereof who are actively engaged in its business, or the members of their families, or for the personal pleasure of the regular employees of such manufacturer, dealer or corporation when operated by such employee; or

(3) For testing such vehicles in the possession of such manufacturer or dealer; or

(4) For demonstrating vehicles in the possession of such manufacturer or dealer.

Such vehicles may be operated by a prospective purchaser, when licensed as an operator or permittee, without registering each such vehicle, upon condition that any such vehicle display thereon, in the manner prescribed by this chapter for regular number plates, a special plate or plates issued to such owner as provided by this section.

(b) The Division shall issue special plates, designated as “in transit” plates, to transporters and owners of special construction equipment. Such “in transit” plates may be used to operate or move like vehicles or equipment upon the highways solely for the purpose of delivering or moving such vehicle to or from the location of any type of construction. All such vehicles moved or operated under this section must comply with Chapter 45 of this title.

(c) This section shall not apply to work or service vehicles owned by a manufacturer, transporter or dealer.

(d) Every manufacturer, transporter or dealer shall keep a written record of the vehicles upon which such special plates are used and the time during which each set of plates is used on a particular vehicle, which record shall be open to inspection by any police officer or any officer or employee of the Department.

(e) No manufacturer or transporter of or dealer in motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers shall cause or permit any such vehicle owned by such person to be operated or moved upon a public highway without the same being registered in accordance with this title and without there being displayed thereon a number plate or plates and a registration plate or plates, as provided by this title, except as otherwise authorized by this section.

(f) Any manufacturer, transporter or retail dealer as defined in Chapter 63 of this title may make application to the Department upon the appropriate form for a certificate and for 1 or more pairs of special plates or single special plates as are appropriate to various types of vehicles of the types subject to registration hereunder. The applicant shall also submit such proof of such applicant’s status as a bona fide manufacturer, transporter or retail dealer as may be required by the Department. Dealer license plates will be limited to retail dealerships based on the number of vehicles sold per year. Retail dealers selling 5 to 10 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 1 dealer plate; retail dealers selling 11-25 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 2 dealer plates; retail dealers selling 26-49 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 4 dealer plates; retail dealers selling 50-99 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 20 dealer plates; retail dealers selling 100 or more vehicles per year may obtain any number of dealer plates at the retail dealer’s discretion. Wholesale dealers selling 5 to 10 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 1 dealer plate; wholesale dealers selling 11-25 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 2 dealer plates; wholesale dealers selling 26-49 vehicles per year may obtain no more than 4 dealer plates; wholesale dealers selling 50 or more vehicles per year may obtain no more than 20 dealer plates.

(g) The Department, upon approving any such application, shall issue to the applicant a certificate containing the applicant’s name and address and other appropriate information.

(h) The Department, upon approving any such application, shall also issue special plates of a design, size, material and color determined by the Department. Each plate or pair of plates so issued, however, shall contain a number or symbol distinguishing the same from other plates issued under this chapter.

(i) Notwithstanding this section, the Department upon approving an application filed by a licensed automotive recycler may issue 1 or more special plates as provided for in subsection (a) of this section.

(j) Dealer plates may be transferred from 1 dealer to another by completing a seller’s affidavit to transfer a dealer tag or tags and submitting it with the appropriate fee. The seller’s affidavit shall include the seller’s and buyer’s names, the plate number and the date of the transfer. A dealer may not acquire more plates than they are otherwise permitted by subsection (f) of this section.

(k) All special plates issued hereunder shall expire at midnight on December 31 of each year and may be extended for the ensuing year by the person to whom such plates were issued upon application to the Department and payment of the fees provided by this title.

36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § ?16; Code 1935, § ?5554; 43 Del. Laws, c. 244, § ?10; 21 Del. C. 1953, § ?2124; 53 Del. Laws, c. 132; 58 Del. Laws, c. 364; 65 Del. Laws, c. 76, §§ ?1, 2; 65 Del. Laws, c. 318, § ?2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 580, § ?1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 41, § ?1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 44, § ?1;