§ 453 - Fees and number plates - Vermont Statutes

§ 453. Fees and number plates

(a) An application for dealer's registration shall be accompanied by a fee of $370.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer's name. The commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer's registration certificate five sets of number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. In his or her discretion, he or she may furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $40.00 per set.

(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 manufacturing, buying, selling, or exchanging new or secondhand farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $40.00. 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, only be displayed 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 manufacturing, buying, selling or exchanging new or secondhand motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $90.00. 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, only be displayed upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.

(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the manufacturing, buying, selling, or exchanging of motorcycles or mopeds, the registration fee shall be $45.00, which shall include three sets of number plates. The commissioner may, in his or her discretion, furnish further sets of plates at a fee of $10.00 for each set.

(e) If a dealer is engaged only in the manufacturing, buying, selling or exchanging of trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $90.00 which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, only be displayed 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.

(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.

(g) The commissioner of motor vehicles shall not issue a dealer's certificate of registration to a new or used car dealer, 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 $5,000.00 and $15,000.00, based on the number of new or used units sold in the previous year; such schedule 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 chapter 219 of Title 32. 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 chapter 219 of Title 32 and not remitted to the commissioner. (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.)