(a) Discretionary refusal.--Subject to subsection (b), the department may refuse to issue a license or renew a license because of any of the following:

(1) The applicant has made a material misstatement in the application for license or license renewal.

(2) The existence of any of the grounds under section 6218(a) (relating to revocation or suspension of license).

(3) The department is not satisfied that the financial responsibility, character, reputation, integrity and general fitness of the applicant command the confidence of the public and warrant the belief that the business for which the license application is filed will be operated lawfully, honestly, fairly and in accordance with this chapter and the general laws of this Commonwealth. In so determining, the department shall consider the applicant's:

(i) owners, partners or members and any managers, if the applicant is a partnership, association or limited liability company; and

(ii) officers and directors, if the applicant is a corporation.

(b) Mandatory refusal.--

(1) The department may not issue a license to an applicant under this chapter until the expiration of at least one year from the effective date of any revocation of the applicant's license or the department's refusal to issue a license or license renewal to the applicant.

(2) The department may not issue a license or renew a license if, within ten years of the date of license application or license renewal application, the applicant or the applicant's affiliate, owner, partner, member, officer, director, employee or agent has pleaded guilty to, has entered a plea of nolo contendere to or has been convicted of a violation under section 6271 (relating to operating without license) or subsection A of section 37 of the former act of June 28, 1947 (P.L.1110, No.476), known as the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), if an applicant's license was previously revoked under this chapter or the former Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act, the department may not issue another license to the applicant if, within ten years of the date of license application, the applicant or the applicant's affiliate, owner, partner, member, officer, director, employee or agent has pleaded guilty to, has entered a plea of nolo contendere to or has been convicted of any violation of this chapter or the former Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act.

(4) If an applicant's license was previously revoked under the former Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act solely on the basis of the conduct of the applicant's spouse, paragraph (3) is not applicable.

(c) License fee.--

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if the department rejects a license application or license renewal application, it shall return the license fee that accompanied the application.

(2) The department may retain all or part of the license fee if the license application or license renewal application was rejected based wholly or partially on false information furnished by the applicant in the application.