31-16-125. Demo, full use, and manufacturer license plates.

(a) Any licensed dealer who sells or exchanges retail twelve (12) or more vehicles in any twelve (12) consecutive month period shall apply to the county treasurer in the county in which the business is licensed for demo and full use license plates. After presentation of a current dealer's license and payment of fees, the treasurer shall assign the requested number of plates to an approved applicant for use in the business located in the county. The treasurer shall not assign plates to a dealer in excess of the number approved by the department.

(b) The department shall authorize any licensed dealer who sells or exchanges retail twelve (12) or more vehicles in any one (1) calendar year to purchase the following number of demo license plates annually:

(i) If the dealer applied for a renewal certificate based on the total number of retail sales by the dealer during the twelve (12) full calendar months preceding the date of application for renewal:

(A) Three (3) demo plates plus one (1) demo plate for each twenty-five (25) retail vehicle sales or fractional part thereof for the first one thousand (1,000) retail vehicle sales;

(B) One (1) demo plate for each fifty (50) retail vehicle sales or fractional portion thereof from one thousand one (1,001) through one thousand five hundred (1,500) retail vehicle sales;

(C) One (1) demo plate for each one hundred (100) retail vehicle sales or fractional portion thereof in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) retail vehicle sales;

(D) In addition to demo plates otherwise authorized under this paragraph, one (1) plate for each four (4) retail vehicle sales or fractional part thereof if the vehicle is a truck with an unladen weight greater than six thousand (6,000) pounds or a recreational vehicle;

(E) One (1) demo plate if the applicant is an antique vehicle dealer.

(ii) If the dealer applied for a new dealer license, he may purchase demo plates in the same amount specified in paragraph (i) of this subsection, except authorization to purchase demo license plates shall be based on the dealer's reasonable estimate of the number of retail vehicle sales the dealer will make during the first year of business. The department may revise the estimate and reduce or increase the number of demo license plates authorized under this paragraph at any time, but not less than ninety (90) days after the certificate is issued if, from the number of retail sales made, it appears the estimate is substantially inaccurate. No dealer shall hold demo or full use license plates in excess of the number authorized. No refund shall be granted for demo or full use license plates returned under this paragraph.

(c) The department shall authorize and the county treasurer upon application and payment of the fees shall assign one (1) demo plate to any dealer selling fewer than twelve (12) vehicles per calendar year.

(d) The department shall authorize a licensed dealer to purchase full use license plates not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total number of demo plates allowed by subsection (b) of this section.

(e) A banking or lending institution engaged in the business of making loans secured by vehicles, or persons engaged in the business of repossessing vehicles, may acquire demo or full use license plates after presentation of a current dealer's license and upon payment of fees required by dealers and may use the demo or full use license plates solely for the repossession and sale of vehicles.

(f) Licensed Wyoming based manufacturers may apply to the department for one (1) or more manufacturer license plates, or, if the department authorizes, to the county treasurer in a county where the manufacturer has an established place of business. After presentation of a current manufacturer certificate and payment of fees, the department or treasurer, if authorized, shall assign to the manufacturer the number of license plates approved by the department for use in the usual and customary conduct of the manufacturer's business including, demonstrating, testing, transporting or selling a vehicle.

(g) Licensed dealers who have received demo license plates may apply for and receive temporary license permits from the department upon payment of fees.

(h) The department may authorize a dealer to purchase demo license plates in addition to the number authorized under subsection (b) of this section upon a showing of a substantial increase in the dealer's business or for other good cause shown.

(j) Every dealer or manufacturer upon transferring a vehicle by sale, lease or otherwise to any person other than a dealer or manufacturer shall immediately give written notice of the transfer to the department upon the official form provided by the department. The notice shall contain the date of the transfer, the names and addresses of the transferor and transferee, and a description of the vehicles required on the form.

(k) Licensed direct sale manufacturers may apply to the department for one (1) or more manufacturer license plates. After presentation of a current direct sale manufacturer license and payment of fees, the department shall assign to the direct sale manufacturer the number of license plates approved by the department for use in the usual and customary conduct of the manufacturer's business including, demonstrating, testing, transporting or selling a vehicle.