CA Governor Signs Bill to Amend the California Vehicle Code

Auto Finance

On July 25, California Governor Edmund Brown signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 516. The bill amends or repeals various sections of the California Vehicle Code, and adds Section 4456.2. Pursuant to new section 4456.2, the Department of Motor Vehicles (Department) is required to develop a system for dealers and lessor-retailers to electronically report the sale of a vehicle before it is delivered to the purchaser. The bill outlines minimum requirements for the new dealer reporting system, including assignment of a unique report-of-sale number to each transaction, which must be displayed on the report of sale forms and any temporary license plate. The new system must be ready for operational use no later than January 1, 2019. In addition, AB 516 increases the document processing charge that a dealer may impose on the purchaser or lessee of a vehicle. Specified fee changes will also take effect January 1, 2019.