California DMV Reminds Motorists of New 2013 Laws

Manteca Bulletin
December 19, 2012

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is putting the public on alert that new laws affecting California drivers will take effect with the new year. Along with new fees and safety standards, state legislators also approved new consumer protections against "buy here pay here" auto dealerships. As of Jan. 1, used-car dealers that finance buyers directly will no longer have the authority to force borrowers to remit payments in person, except in the case of the down payment. AB 1447 also narrows down the circumstances under which "buyer here pay here" dealers can use electronic tracking technology to locate a vehicle and forbids them from disabling a vehicle with starter interrupt technology unless the buyer was informed in writing at the time of sale. A separate measure, AB 1534, meanwhile, stipulates that "buy here pay here" dealers affix and prominently display the reasonable market value of used cars offered for retail sale. Additionally, the buyer must be given a copy of the information that the dealer used to determine the value of the vehicle.
Web Link

External web links may expire.

Return to Headlines