NJ A4050

New motor vehicle dealer applicants may establish a place of business for either servicing or display of motor vehicles, rather than requiring both functions at the same location as under current law.

Applicants can choose to service vehicles at their main location, in a separate space on the same property, or at an off-site facility within the relevant market area of their established place of business.

The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may issue a 90-day provisional license upon substantial completion of a new motor vehicle dealer application, even if franchise agreements or permanent signage installation are still pending; this provisional period may be extended once for an additional 90 days.

The definition of "new motor vehicle dealer" is revised to mean an authorized dealer of a "motor vehicle franchisor" rather than an agent, distributor, or authorized dealer of a manufacturer; a new definition of "motor vehicle franchisor" is added to cover entities that manufacture, assemble, distribute, or import at least 10 new motor vehicles annually.

The bill applies immediately to all pending and future new motor vehicle dealer license applications, including those currently in administrative proceedings before the Chief Administrator or Office of Administrative Law.