49-1627. USE OF DEALER AND MANUFACTURER LICENSE PLATE. (1) Any dealer or manufacturer license plate issued may, during the calendar year for which issued, be transferred from one (1) vehicle to another owned or operated by such manufacturer or dealer, in pursuance of his business as a manufacturer or dealer.

(2) Dealer plates shall not be used on vehicles under the following circumstances:

(a) On work or service vehicles not held in stock for sale;

(b) On leased or rented vehicles owned by the licensed manufacturer or dealer;

(c) On a laden vehicle designed for transportation of cargo, unless the manufacturer or dealer has complied with section 49-434, Idaho Code, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section;

(d) On vehicles which have been sold;

(e) On vehicles used by the licensee for furtherance of another business;

(f) On vehicles owned by a licensed wholesaler used for personal use;

(g) On vehicles owned by a licensed wholesaler, operated by their licensed salesmen, used for personal use.

(3) Dealer and manufacturer plates may be used on laden vehicles operated by the manufacturer, dealer or his licensed vehicle salesman, in connection with the manufacturer’s or dealer’s business. A dealer plate may be used on a laden trailer in connection with a manufacturer’s or dealer’s business to move vehicles or trailers from a manufacturer to a dealer, from dealership to dealership or from a dealership to off-site locations in promotion of the dealer’s business as long as the power unit is properly licensed under chapter 4, title 49, Idaho Code. A dealer plate may be used on a vehicle assigned for personal use on a full-time basis to the dealer, or licensed full-time vehicle salesman. This personal use exception applies only to the manufacturer, dealer, or licensed full-time vehicle salesman personally, and any other persons, including members of their families, are excluded. A prospective purchaser of a vehicle may have possession of the vehicle with a dealer plate for not more than ninety-six (96) hours or may operate the vehicle when accompanied by the manufacturer, dealer or a licensed vehicle salesman.

(4) Licensed part-time vehicle salesmen may use a dealer plate on a vehicle that is offered for sale only to demonstrate the vehicle to a purchaser, but not for personal use. Other employees or authorized persons, not licensed as a vehicle salesman, may use a dealer plate when testing the mechanical operation of a vehicle or for the necessary operation in pursuance of the dealer’s business, including the delivery and pickup of vehicles owned or purchased by that manufacturer or dealer.

(5) Laden dealer and manufacturer plates may be displayed on any power unit in the dealer’s or manufacturer’s inventory to operate vehicles laden with vehicles that are in the dealer’s or manufacturer’s inventory in pursuance of the dealer’s or manufacturer’s business. Such use shall be limited to moving vehicles from a manufacturer to a dealer, from dealership to dealership, or from a dealership to off-site locations in furtherance of the dealer’s business. Such uses may include travel to licensed temporary supplemental lot locations, to and from auctions or to a new licensed location.

(a) Laden dealer and manufacturer plates shall not be used for personal use by the dealer or manufacturer or a licensed full—time or part—time salesman of the dealership.

(b) Laden dealer and manufacturer plates shall be valid up to a maximum of twenty–six thousand (26,000) pounds combined gross vehicle weight.

(c) Fees will be as provided in section 49-434(1), Idaho Code, for commercial vehicles at a weight limit of twenty–six thousand (26,000) pounds combined gross vehicle weight.

(d) The dealer or manufacturer may increase the weight limit through the purchase of a temporary weight increase permit, as provided for in section 49-432(2), Idaho Code.

(6) Vehicle manufacturers and dealers shall keep a written record of the vehicles upon which dealer’s number plates are used for personal use on a full-time basis, and the time during which each plate is used. The record shall be open to inspection by any peace officer or any officer or employee of the department.

(7) No manufacturer or dealer shall cause or permit any vehicle owned by them to be operated or moved upon a public highway without displaying upon the vehicle a license plate issued to that person, either under the provisions of this section or section 49-428, Idaho Code, except as otherwise authorized in section 49-431, Idaho Code.

History:

[49-1627, added 1988, ch. 265, sec. 400, p. 784; am. 2006, ch. 223, sec. 1, p. 664; am. 2011, ch. 72, sec. 3, p. 154.]