Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HB295 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Rep. Baumbach & Sen. Sokola & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Lambert       Reps. Morrison, Osienski, Parker Selby; Sen. Huxtable           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE BILL NO. 295       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEALER PROCESSING FEES.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. Baumbach & Sen. Sokola & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Lambert       Reps. Morrison, Osienski, Parker Selby; Sen. Huxtable     

SPONSOR: Rep. Baumbach & Sen. Sokola & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Lambert
Reps. Morrison, Osienski, Parker Selby; Sen. Huxtable

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. Baumbach & Sen. Sokola & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Lambert 

 Reps. Morrison, Osienski, Parker Selby; Sen. Huxtable 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE BILL NO. 295 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEALER PROCESSING FEES. 

   

  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:   Section 1. Amend 6301, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline and redesignating accordingly as follows:    6301. Definitions [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 161, 5].   As used in this chapter:   (4) Dealer processing fee means an amount charged by a dealer for any of the following:   a. The preparation of written documentation concerning the buying, selling, or exchange of the vehicle.   b. Obtaining the title and license plates for the vehicle.   c. Obtaining a release of lien.   d. Filing title documents with the Department.   e. Retaining documents concerning the buying, selling, or exchange of the vehicle.   f. Complying with federal or State privacy laws.   g. Other administrative services concerning the buying, selling, or exchange of the vehicle.   Section 2. Amend 6305, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:    6305. Bill of sale.   Every motor vehicle dealer shall complete, in duplicate, a bill of sale for each sale or exchange of a motor vehicle. The original shall be retained for a period of 5 years. A duplicate copy shall be delivered to the purchaser at the time of sale or exchange. The bill of sale shall be signed by both buyer and seller. A bill of sale shall include the following:   (1) The name and address of the person to whom the vehicle was sold or  traded;  traded.   (2) The date of the sale or  trade;   trade.   (3) The name and address of the motor vehicle dealer selling or trading the  vehicle;  vehicle.   (4) The make, model, year, vehicle identification number and body style of the  vehicle;  vehicle.   (5) The sale price of the  vehicle;   vehicle.   (6) The amount of any deposit made by the  buyer;  buyer.   (7) A description of any Delaware titled vehicle used as a trade-in and the amount credited the buyer for the  trade-in;  trade-in.   (8) The amount of the document fee, title fee, registration fee , dealer processing fee,  or any other fee for which the buyer is responsible and the dealer has  collected; each fee shall be individually listed and identified; and  collected.   Each fee shall be individually listed and identified. A dealer processing fee may not exceed $475, and the bill of sale must provide a written disclosure, in at least 10-point type or larger, of the amount of the fee and what services are included in the fee.   (9) The amount of any balance due at settlement.      

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

 Section 1. Amend 6301, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline and redesignating accordingly as follows: 

  6301. Definitions [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 161, 5]. 

 As used in this chapter: 

 (4) Dealer processing fee means an amount charged by a dealer for any of the following: 

 a. The preparation of written documentation concerning the buying, selling, or exchange of the vehicle. 

 b. Obtaining the title and license plates for the vehicle. 

 c. Obtaining a release of lien. 

 d. Filing title documents with the Department. 

 e. Retaining documents concerning the buying, selling, or exchange of the vehicle. 

 f. Complying with federal or State privacy laws. 

 g. Other administrative services concerning the buying, selling, or exchange of the vehicle. 

 Section 2. Amend 6305, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

  6305. Bill of sale. 

 Every motor vehicle dealer shall complete, in duplicate, a bill of sale for each sale or exchange of a motor vehicle. The original shall be retained for a period of 5 years. A duplicate copy shall be delivered to the purchaser at the time of sale or exchange. The bill of sale shall be signed by both buyer and seller. A bill of sale shall include the following: 

 (1) The name and address of the person to whom the vehicle was sold or  traded;  traded. 

 (2) The date of the sale or  trade;   trade. 

 (3) The name and address of the motor vehicle dealer selling or trading the  vehicle;  vehicle. 

 (4) The make, model, year, vehicle identification number and body style of the  vehicle;  vehicle. 

 (5) The sale price of the  vehicle;   vehicle. 

 (6) The amount of any deposit made by the  buyer;  buyer. 

 (7) A description of any Delaware titled vehicle used as a trade-in and the amount credited the buyer for the  trade-in;  trade-in. 

 (8) The amount of the document fee, title fee, registration fee , dealer processing fee,  or any other fee for which the buyer is responsible and the dealer has  collected; each fee shall be individually listed and identified; and  collected.   Each fee shall be individually listed and identified. A dealer processing fee may not exceed $475, and the bill of sale must provide a written disclosure, in at least 10-point type or larger, of the amount of the fee and what services are included in the fee. 

 (9) The amount of any balance due at settlement. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   Currently Delaware has no cap on dealer processing fees which permits motor vehicle dealers to arbitrarily charge whatever amounts they wish leading to great discrepancy of these fees among dealers and a lack of protection for consumers. Currently Pennsylvania has a $449 statutory cap on dealer processing fees and Maryland has a $500 statutory cap. This Act defines dealer processing fee, sets a statutory cap of $475 on the dealer processing fee, and requires the dealer to disclose in the bill of sale, in 10-point type or larger, the amount of the fee and what is covered in the fee. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.      

 SYNOPSIS 

 Currently Delaware has no cap on dealer processing fees which permits motor vehicle dealers to arbitrarily charge whatever amounts they wish leading to great discrepancy of these fees among dealers and a lack of protection for consumers. Currently Pennsylvania has a $449 statutory cap on dealer processing fees and Maryland has a $500 statutory cap. This Act defines dealer processing fee, sets a statutory cap of $475 on the dealer processing fee, and requires the dealer to disclose in the bill of sale, in 10-point type or larger, the amount of the fee and what is covered in the fee. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.