61-4-101. Dealer's license -- types of licenses and terms -- plates -- bonds -- zoning. (1) Except as provided in 61-4-125, a person may not engage in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, accepting on consignment, or acting as a broker of a new motor vehicle or used motor vehicle, new or used recreational vehicle, trailer (except a trailer having an unloaded weight of less than 500 pounds), motorcycle, quadricycle, or special mobile equipment that is not registered in the person's name, unless the person is the holder of a dealer's license issued by the department under this part.
     (2) (a) The department is authorized to issue a dealer's license for one or more specified vehicle types to any person it determines is qualified to hold a license under the provisions of this section. A dealer's license may be issued for, and restricted to, one or more of the following vehicle types:
     (i) new motor vehicle;
     (ii) used motor vehicle;
     (iii) new recreational vehicle;
     (iv) used recreational vehicle;
     (v) trailer or special mobile equipment; or
     (vi) motorcycle or quadricycle.
     (b) The department shall design and issue dealer and demonstrator plates as provided in 61-4-102 and 61-4-129.
     (c) With the exception of a licensed new motor vehicle dealer, a dealer licensed for a particular type of vehicle may sell, trade, or accept on consignment only vehicles of the type for which the license is authorized, unless the dealer's license specifically refers to more than one vehicle type, such as a motorcycle or quadricycle license. A new motor vehicle dealer is authorized to sell, trade, or accept on consignment new motor vehicles or used motor vehicles.
     (d) Subject to the provisions of 61-4-124, a dealer's license issued by the department is valid until:
     (i) voluntarily returned to the department for surrender and cancellation upon the cessation of the dealer's business operations; or
     (ii) suspended or revoked for a violation of this chapter or any other laws relating to the sale of motor vehicles.
     (3) (a) An applicant for a dealer's license shall submit a written application for a dealer's license to the department, specifying the type or types of dealer's license sought. The application must be signed by the applicant and contain a verification by the applicant, under penalty of law, that the information contained in the application is true and correct. Any information provided in the license application process is subject to independent verification by the department or an authorized representative of the department.
     (b) After examining a license application and conducting an investigation necessary to verify the information contained in the application and if the department is satisfied that the applicant qualifies for the issuance of a license under the provisions of this chapter, the department may issue the license. The department may refuse, after examination and investigation, to issue a license to an applicant who is not qualified for licensure or whose prior financial or other activities or criminal record, as determined by the department:
     (i) poses a threat to the effective regulation of dealers, wholesalers, or auto auctions;
     (ii) poses a threat to the public interest of the state; or
     (iii) creates a danger of illegal or deceptive practices being used in the conduct of the proposed dealership, wholesaler, or auto auction.
     (4) To be qualified for licensure as a dealer, an applicant shall provide to the department the following:
     (a) the name under which the applicant intends to conduct business and the name, address, date of birth, and social security number of any person who possesses or will possess an ownership interest in the business for which the license is sought. If the applicant is a corporation, the personal information required in this subsection (4)(a) must be provided for each corporate officer and the person designated by the corporation to manage or oversee the dealership.
     (b) for each person subject to the provisions of subsection (4)(a), information concerning whether the person has:
     (i) an ownership interest in a vehicle dealership or a wholesaler business in Montana or another jurisdiction and, if so, the name and address of each dealership or wholesaler; and
     (ii) been found guilty of, or pleaded guilty to, a felony in this or any other jurisdiction and, if so, shall provide a summary of the conduct resulting in the felony charge, including the dates of the conduct and any court proceedings pertaining to the conduct and the name and address of any court in which the matter was heard;
     (c) the name, address, and telephone number of the insurance carrier from whom the applicant has acquired general liability insurance, naming the department as a certificate holder of the policy, and the name, address, and telephone number of the local insurance agent for the carrier and the applicant's policy number. The insurance must cover any vehicle bearing dealer or demonstrator license plates that is offered for demonstration or loan to, or otherwise operated by, a customer in the regular course of the applicant's business and must be for a minimum of 1 year;
     (d) the geographic location of the physical lot or lots upon which vehicles will be displayed for sale and of a permanent nonresidential building that will be maintained to store the actual physical or electronic records resulting from the purchase, sale, trade, or consignment of vehicles for which licensure is sought. An applicant may use more than one location to display vehicles for sale if the maximum distance between each display lot does not exceed 200 feet and if the distance between a display lot and the building in which vehicle sales records are stored does not exceed 1,000 feet.
     (e) for each geographic location specified in the application, evidence of the applicant's compliance with applicable local land use planning, zoning, and business permitting requirements, if any. Evidence of compliance may be documented by means of a written verification of compliance signed by the authorized representative of the local land use planning or zoning board or the local business permitting agency.
     (f) a diagram or plat showing the geographic location, lot dimensions, and building and sign placement for the applicant's proposed established place of business, along with two or more photographs of the geographic location, building premises, and sign, as prescribed by the department;
     (g) a certification by the applicant that the applicant is a bona fide dealer in new motor vehicles, used motor vehicles, used recreational vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, quadricycles, or special mobile equipment;
     (h) if the applicant is seeking a new motor vehicle dealer's license:
     (i) the name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor with whom the applicant has a written new motor vehicle franchise or sales agreement and the name and make of all motor vehicles to be handled by the applicant;
     (ii) the geographic location or locations, specified in writing, upon which the applicant will provide and maintain a permanent building to display and sell new motor vehicles and offer and maintain a bona fide service department for the repair, service, and maintenance of the motor vehicles; and
     (iii) verification that the applicant otherwise meets the requirements of part 2 of this chapter; and
     (i) if the applicant is applying for a new recreational vehicle dealer's license, certification that the person is recognized by a manufacturer, importer, or distributor as a dealer in new recreational vehicles.
     (5) If an applicant for a new motor vehicle or used motor vehicle, new or used recreational vehicle, or trailer dealer's license wants to maintain more than one established place of business, the applicant shall file a separate license application for each proposed place of business and otherwise qualify for licensure at each place separately.
     (6) Each application under this section must be accompanied by an application fee of $5 and one or more of the following license fees based on the type of dealer's license being sought:
     (a) $25 for a new motor vehicle dealer's license;
     (b) $25 for a used motor vehicle dealer's license;
     (c) $25 for a new or used recreational vehicle dealer's license; or
     (d) $25 for a motorcycle or trailer dealer's license.
     (7) The applicant for a dealer's license shall also file with the application a bond of $50,000 for a license as a new motor vehicle dealer, a used motor vehicle dealer, a new or used recreational vehicle dealer, or a trailer dealer. Applicants for a motorcycle dealer's license shall file a bond in the sum of $15,000. All bonds must be conditioned that the applicant shall conduct the business in accordance with the requirements of the law. The bond may extend to any other type of dealer license issued to the applicant at the same geographic location if all types of licenses are indicated on the face of the bond. All bonds must be approved by the department, must be filed in its office, and must be renewed annually.

     History: En. Subd. 5, Sec. 1, Ch. 158, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1759.4, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 72, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 245, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 256, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 354, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 226, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 244, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 535, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 53-118(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 73, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 443, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 282, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 27, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 523, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 383, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 724, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 482, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 220, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 221, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 84, Ch. 51, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 409, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 201, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 385, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 299, L. 2003.