VA MVDB reminds dealers to be clear about where vehicles are sold

VA MVDB reminds dealers to be clear about where vehicles are sold

Virginia multi-franchise dealers are reminded that it is unlawful to advertise new cars of one brand as being available at a dealership of another brand. The issue came to light at a recent Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB) meeting involving newspaper advertisements.

The MVDB took no action on the matter because the newspaper took responsibility for the mistake. The Boards executive director noted, however, that despite most franchised dealers taking care to ensure their advertising is clear as to where new vehicles are available for sale, MVDB will continue to look at the issue carefully.

Additionally, MVDBs Dealer Practices Committee considered six cases involving independent dealers who had record keeping violations resulting in heavy civil penalty fines and license suspensions.

The MVDBs Licensing Committee considered a case involving a salesperson with a criminal background who had his license granted at a previous dealership on the condition that he notify the Board of any change so that the Board could ensure that future dealer employers knew of his criminal background. When he failed to notify the Board that he changed jobs, the Board suspended his sales license for 60 days.