§ 453. Fees and number plates

(a)(1) An application for registration as a dealer in new or used cars or motor trucks shall be accompanied by a fee of $503.00 for each certificate issued in such dealer's name. The Commissioner shall furnish free of charge with each dealer's registration certificate three number plates showing the distinguishing number assigned such dealer. The Commissioner may furnish additional plates according to the volume of the dealer's sales in the prior year or, in the case of an initial registration, according to the dealer's reasonable estimate of expected sales, as follows:

(A) under 20 sales: 0 additional plates;

(B) 20-49 sales: 1 additional plate;

(C) 50-99 sales: up to 5 additional plates;

(D) 100-249 sales: up to 12 additional plates;

(E) 250-499 sales: up to 17 additional plates;

(F) 500-749 sales: up to 27 additional plates;

(G) 750-999 sales: up to 37 additional plates;

(H) 1,000-1,499 sales: up to 47 additional plates;

(I) 1,500 or more: up to 57 additional plates.

(2) If the issuance of additional plates is authorized under subdivision (1) of this subsection, up to two plates shall be provided free of charge, and the Commissioner shall collect $55.00 for each additional plate thereafter.

(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 selling or exchanging new or used farm tractors or other self-propelled farm implements, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $78.00. 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, be displayed only 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 selling or exchanging new or used motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances, for such dealer registration shall annually be accompanied by a fee of $123.00. 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, be displayed only upon motorized highway building equipment or road making appliances.

(d) If a dealer is engaged only in the business of selling or exchanging motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, the registration fee shall be $62.00, which shall include three 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 business of selling or exchanging trailers, semi-trailers, or trailer coaches, the registration fee shall be $123.00 which shall include three number plates; such number plates may, however, be displayed only 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 dealer in new or used motor vehicles, 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 $20,000.00 and $35,000.00 based on the number of new or used units sold in the previous year; such schedule is 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 32 V.S.A. chapter 219. 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 32 V.S.A. chapter 219 and not remitted to the Commissioner.

(h) Applications by a snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle dealer shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed in sections 3204, 3305, and 3504 of this title, respectively. (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; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19c, eff. Sept. 1, 2010; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 29; 2015, No. 50, § 2; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 26.)