Motor Vehicle Repair Shop Regulations - New York State Dmv: Fill & Download for Free

In a free market economy, their should be no reason that Tesla would not be able to sell directly to its customers. However, some states have franchise laws that prohibit direct sales of cars and only allow cars to be sold by dealerships.Tesla uses the direct sales model to reduce costs and the hassle of the buying experience. Anyone who has purchased an ICE vehicle knows what I mean by the hassle of the buying experience.Here is some added information on on direct sales by state:States with total direct sales bansNew Mexico (also bans service centers)In January 2019, the Public Affairs Committee approved the Tesla-friendly Senate Bill 243, but it died on the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee calendar. House Bill 294 died in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.Alabama (also bans service centers)Alabama regards manufacturer-owned new motor vehicle stores and service centers as "unfair and deceptive trade practices".In August 2016 State Senator Tom Whatley introduced Senate Bill 22, assigned to the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee, which would allow a manufacturer of alternative fuel vehicles to sell and lease its vehicles directly to the public. The bill died in committee.South Carolina (also bans service centers)South Carolina bans manufacturer ownership of new car dealerships and manufacturer service/repair of cars they do not own. A bill was introduced in 2019 to allow electric only manufacturers to sell in the state. However, Tesla does offer mobile service in the state.LouisianaLouisiana enacted a law in June 2017 that bans direct to consumer sales of vehicles. A service center is planned in New Orleans.TexasTexas enacted laws make it illegal to buy a car from Tesla in person, at a Tesla Gallery. Thus, all Texas orders are taken via the internet or over the phone. Texas residents can still easily buy a car from Tesla, but the purchase is handled as an out-of-state transaction and must be completed before the vehicle ships to Texas. Tesla recently added the ability to include tax, title, license, and registration in the sale price of the car so the purchaser doesn't have to pay that separately once they receive the vehicle. In 2015, Tesla lobbied the Texas Legislature to modify the law to allow Tesla to sell directly to consumers, and specifically allow Tesla employees to discuss "financing, leasing, or purchasing options" at the firm's existing galleries in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.Texas considered legislation in 2015 to allow Tesla to operate in the state but legislation was not passed.As of 2016, most of the GOP delegates support direct sales while Governor Abbott prefers the current system. According to Texans for Public Justice, Tesla spent $1.3m on lobbyists while dealerships spent $1m.ConnecticutConnecticut does not allow manufacturer direct sales, but does allow direct leasing. Tesla operated a gallery in Greenwich that the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association successfully got shut down via a lawsuit. In March 2018, Tesla was appealing a ruling that they operate the Greenwich gallery as an unlicensed dealership, but later dropped the appeal. The gallery was shut down in March 2019.In December 2019, Tesla started offering leases at their showrooms which allowed them to provide test drives for customers discussing leases.In 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 bills were introduced in the legislature to allow licensing electric vehicle manufacturers as dealers.West VirginiaWest Virginia does not allow Tesla-owned stores or showrooms.In January 2019, House Bill 2219 was introduced that would allow a manufacturer to be licensed and operate as a new motor vehicle dealer if the company is ZEV-only and manufacturing since 2008.WisconsinAuto manufacturers are not allowed to sell directly to the public under Wisconsin law.In late 2017 a legislative bill named "Electric Vehicle Freedom Act" was introduced to allow only electric vehicle manufactures to sell directly. The bill is opposed by the Wisconsin Automobile Dealers & Truck Association.NebraskaNebraska prohibits auto manufacturer direct sales, but Legislative Bill 830 was introduced in 2018 in an attempt to change the law.There is a new bill being pushed into Legislation from Vargas again. LB51 - Change license applications, prohibited acts, and franchise restrictions under the Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Act. On January 8th, 2020 - Title printed. Carryover bill.OklahomaOklahoma currently bans direct sales by auto manufacturers, but legislation was introduced in February 2018 to attempt to allow it.States with limited salesVirginia(2 stores, unclear if more would be denied)[edit]In Virginia Tesla has obtained license from the (DMV) for a single direct sales dealership (Tysons Corner). Upon learning of Tesla's attempt to obtain a second dealership in the state, the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association filed a lawsuit in March 2016 against both Tesla and the DMV to prevent the licensing of the second dealership.In September 2016, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VDMV) recommended ending Tesla direct sales, as at least 11 dealerships were interested in selling Tesla vehicles.The VDMV later allowed Tesla to open another shop (Richmond), as Tesla has no dealerships to compete against; the 11 interested dealerships would not be able to compete on undiscounted prices, as Tesla has the same price online and in shops.Third-party profits could come from servicing as is traditional, but Tesla already has satisfactory servicing.The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association continues to use the legal system in an attempt to prevent Tesla from opening more than a single store and appealed the ruling by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles allowing the second store to be open. However, in June 2019 a judge in the Richmond Circuit Court ruled against the Dealers Association.The Dealers Association also had state Senators remove a governor-appointed Tesla employee from the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board, created in 1995, that regulates car dealers in the state.Ohio(3 store limit)In December 2013, days before Tesla was to open its first store in Ohio, a one line amendment to a draft bill was proposed at the urging of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association that would have prevented Tesla from selling directly to the public in the state. This amendment was dropped a day later.A group of auto dealers then sued the state to try to get Tesla's license rescinded. This suit was dismissed less than two months later. Shortly thereafter a legislative bill was introduced that would ban all manufacturers from owning dealerships, not just those with existing frachisees.A deal reached between Tesla and the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association in March 2014 allowed Tesla to have three stores but blocks all other auto manufacturers. The Ohio Senate approved the bill in April.New Jersey(4 store limit)On March 10, 2014, it was announced that New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and Governor Chris Christie's administration held a meeting to pass a new proposal into law. This new proposal, PRN 2013-138, was announced one day before it was to be put into law. Tesla responded by saying that the proposal "seeks to impose stringent licensing rules that would, among other things, require all new motor vehicles to be sold through middlemen and block Tesla's direct sales model," and that "[Governor Christie's] Administration has decided to go outside the legislative process by expediting a rule proposal that would completely change the law in New Jersey."The law was passed, and "Tesla will no longer be able to sell electric cars in New Jersey, effective April 1". Diarmuid O'Connell, Tesla Vice President of Business Development, said, "Worse, it has done so without any reasonable notice or even a public hearing."Forbes contributor Mark Rogosky said, "The state's new rules protect its auto dealers from having to compete with Tesla's direct sales model"; he points out that this is a direct contrast from what Christie said earlier, "We are for a free-market society that allows your effort and ingenuity to determine your success, not the cold, hard hand of the government." Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for the Christie administration, responded by saying "it was the [Tesla Motors] company, not the governor's office, that was attempting to bypass normal procedures.".In March 2015, a new state law was signed allowing zero-emission vehicle manufacturers to sell at up to four location and require a minimum of 1 service center.2018 session Senate bill No. 3493 was introduced to increased the number of allowed sales locations to 14 by 2023, but increases the mandated retail service facilities to seven. It died in committee.In September 2019, the New Jersey auto dealers association, the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, sued Tesla and the state to stop Tesla from selling cars by its current methods in the state.Maryland(4 store limit)In May 2015, Maryland approved, through House Bill 235, direct Tesla sales to customers beginning in October 2015, though limiting the statewide number of stores to only four. The legislation was crafted specifically for Tesla and allows only four manufacturers of electric or non-fossil fuel burning vehicles without existing franchisees to be licensed to sell direct to the public.Pennsylvania (5 store limit)Pennsylvania enacted a law in 2014 that allows Tesla to open up to five stores.New York (5 store limit)In 2014, New York banned direct sales but grandfathered in five Tesla stores. Tesla operates two galleries in addition to its five stores.There is proposed legislation (Senate bill S6600A and Assembly bill A8248A) to allow more stores. The Eastern New York Coalition of Automotive Retailers is opposed to this as is the Rochester Automobile Dealers Association.Georgia (5 store limit)Since 2015, Georgia law no longer restricts Tesla to 150 car sales per year but limits sales to five locations.North Carolina (6 store limit)Tesla's first store in North Carolina was in Raleigh. In 2016 the state would not grant Tesla a dealer license for a second location in Charlotte. A previous legislative bill that would allow six Tesla stores was shelved in 2017.In July 2019 a bill was passed allowing Tesla to operate a maximum of six stores, unlimited galleries and repair centers.States for which Tesla gained the right to mostly unrestricted direct sales:New Hampshire (2013 law change)In 2013, New Hampshire passed legislation to allow auto manufacturers with no existing franchise dealer in the state to engage in direct sales.Minnesota (2013 law interpretation)The Minnesota Department of Public Safety ruled in 2013 that the original dealer law "does not prohibit a manufacturer from becoming licensed as a dealer in Minnesota".The dealership association in the state failed in their attempt to get the law changed to block Tesla.Washington (2014 law)A 2014 Washington state law outlawed direct sales but grandfathered in Tesla.Massachusetts (2014 court ruling)After an almost two year court battle with the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association, a September 2014 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court allowed Tesla to begin selling directly in the state. The court ruled the law only protected franchise dealers from abuse by manufacturers they already buy from; since no franchise dealers were selling Teslas at the time of the suit, the court ruled the Association had no standing to sue.Missouri (2017 court ruling)A Missouri circuit court ruled in August 2016 to end direct sales, confirmed in late December 2016, and delayed in early January while the Missouri Department of Revenue appeals the former verdict.]In December 2017 an appeals court reversed the circuit court's decision, saying the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association did not have standing to sue. However, the Dealers Association is backing new legislation that would allow it to sue.Wyoming (2017 law change)Wyoming banned direct sales until a law change in 2017 that created a direct sale manufacturer's license.Electric cars were seen as a way to promote the use of coal mined in the state.Arizona (2017 court ruling)Arizona blocked direct sales until June 2017 when an administrative law judge ruled that the Arizona Department of Transportation interpreted the law incorrectly. This was after a years-long legal battle by Tesla.Indiana (2017 law change)Indiana allows a service center and manufacturer sales for 30 months, ending direct Tesla sales by the end of 2017. A legislative proposal had further restrictions, opposed by Tesla.The Roads and Transportation committee approved a modification that grandfathered Tesla, but maintained the ban on all new direct sales by other automakers.Rhode Island (2017)In December 2017, Tesla was granted a license by the state of Rhode Island after DMV lawyers concluded that the law blocking direct auto sales only applied to manufactures that have franchise dealers. Tesla planned to begin sales in 2018 in Warwick, but this was pushed back to 2019.Utah (2018 law change)As of March 21, 2018, Utah Governor Herbert signed a bill into law allowing Tesla direct sales in the state.Michigan (2020 legal settlement)After a change of political leadership in Michigan's executive branch, on January 22, 2020, Tesla and the state of Michigan agreed to settle Tesla's 2016 federal lawsuit against the state for unfair vehicle sales and service restrictions. The agreement allows Tesla to sell and service cars within the state. Previously Tesla could not sell or service vehicles in Michigan. Tesla may deliver vehicles within the state, but they must be titled outside of Michigan and transferred to a new title after purchase. Tesla may not own a service center directly, but a wholly owned subsidiary may own a service centeColorado (2020 law change)Tesla opened its first and only Colorado store in Boulder in 2009. A 2010 revision to the state dealership law removed the word "franchised". This closed the loophole that Tesla had used to open a direct dealership but grandfathered in the existing singleThis limitation was supported by the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.The store moved from Boulder to the Park Meadows shopping mall in Lone Tree in 2011. Showrooms/galleries have since been opened in Aspen, Vail, and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver, though these have since closed. There is a service center in Denver and a service center and showroom in Littleton. A large service center and store was built in Superior, Colorado in Boulder County, targeted for spring 2019 opening,, and opened in February 2020.A bill to allow direct sales died in the House in 2019, for which the Colorado Auto Dealers Association claimed credit. 2006 New Mexico Statutes, Section 57-16-5-V prohibits manufacturers like Tesla to be licensed as a dealer, directly or indirectly performing warranty or other services. Despite Tesla owners' pleas to change the law, they still currently depend on out-of-state centers such as Arizona and Colorado for Tesla sales and services.Hope you find this information useful.