At the time the registrar of motor vehicles grants the application of any person for a license as motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, distributor, motor vehicle auction owner, or motor vehicle salesperson, the registrar shall issue to the person a license. The registrar shall prescribe different forms for the licenses of motor vehicle dealers, motor vehicle leasing dealers, distributors, motor vehicle auction owners, and motor vehicle salespersons, and all licenses shall include the name and post-office address of the person licensed.

The fee for a motor vehicle dealer's license and a motor vehicle leasing dealer's license shall be fifty dollars. In addition to the license fee, the registrar shall collect from each applicant for an initial motor vehicle dealer's license and motor vehicle leasing dealer's license a separate fee in an amount equal to the last assessment required by section 4505.181 of the Revised Code for all motor vehicle dealers and motor vehicle leasing dealers. The registrar shall deposit the separate fee into the state treasury to the credit of the title defect recision fund created in section 1345.52 of the Revised Code. The fee for a salesperson's license shall be ten dollars. The fee for a motor vehicle auction owner's license shall be one hundred dollars for each location. The fee for a distributor's license shall be one hundred dollars for each distributorship. In all cases, the fee shall accompany the application for license.

The registrar may require each applicant for a license issued under this chapter to pay an additional fee, which shall be used by the registrar to pay the costs of obtaining a record of any arrests and convictions of the applicant from the Ohio bureau of identification and investigation. The amount of the fee shall be equal to that paid by the registrar to obtain such record.

If a motor vehicle dealer or a motor vehicle leasing dealer has more than one place of business in the county, the dealer shall make application, in such form as the registrar prescribes, for a certified copy of the license issued to the dealer for each place of business operated. In the event of the loss, mutilation, or destruction of a license issued under sections 4517.01 to 4517.65 of the Revised Code, any licensee may make application to the registrar, in such form as the registrar prescribes, for a duplicate copy thereof. The fee for a certified or duplicate copy of a motor vehicle dealer's, motor vehicle leasing dealer's, distributor's, or auction owner's license, is two dollars, and the fee for a duplicate copy of a salesperson's license is one dollar. All fees for such copies shall accompany the applications.

Beginning on September 16, 2004, all motor vehicle dealers' licenses, motor vehicle leasing dealers' licenses, distributors' licenses, auction owners' licenses, and all salespersons' licenses issued or renewed shall expire biennially on a day within the two-year cycle that is prescribed by the registrar, unless sooner suspended or revoked. Before the first day after the day prescribed by the registrar in the year that the license expires, each licensed motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, distributor, and auction owner and each licensed salesperson, in the year in which the license will expire, shall file an application, in such form as the registrar prescribes, for the renewal of such license. The fee for renewing a motor vehicle dealer's license and a motor vehicle leasing dealer's license shall be fifty dollars. The fee for renewing a salesperson's license shall be ten dollars. The fee for renewing a motor vehicle auction owner's license shall be one hundred dollars for each location. The fee for renewing a distributor's license shall be one hundred dollars for each distributorship. In all cases the license renewal fee shall accompany the renewal application.

Any salesperson's license shall be suspended upon the termination, suspension, or revocation of the license of the motor vehicle dealer for whom the salesperson is acting, or upon the salesperson leaving the service of the motor vehicle dealer; provided that upon the termination, suspension, or revocation of the license of the motor vehicle dealer for whom the salesperson is acting, or upon the salesperson leaving the service of a licensed motor vehicle dealer, the licensed salesperson, upon entering the service of any other licensed motor vehicle dealer, shall make application to the registrar, in such form as the registrar prescribes, to have the salesperson's license reinstated, transferred, and registered as a salesperson for the other dealer. If the information contained in the application is satisfactory to the registrar, the registrar shall have the salesperson's license reinstated, transferred, and registered as a salesperson for the other dealer. The fee for the reinstatement and transfer of license shall be two dollars. No license issued to a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, auction owner, or salesperson, under sections 4517.01 to 4517.65 of the Revised Code shall be transferable to any other person.

Each motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, distributor, and auction owner shall keep the dealer's or auction owner's license or a certified copy thereof posted in a conspicuous place in each place of business. A dealer shall keep a current list of the dealer's licensed salespersons, showing the names, addresses, and serial numbers of their licenses and shall make the list available upon request. Each salesperson shall keep the salesperson's license or a certified copy thereof at the salesperson's place of business and shall provide such license or copy upon demand to any inspector of the bureau of motor vehicles, state highway patrol trooper, police officer, or person with whom the salesperson seeks to transact business as a motor vehicle salesperson.

The notice of refusal to grant a license shall disclose the reason for refusal.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 53, §101.01, eff. 7/1/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 12-03-1996; 09-16-2004