Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 4. SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Part 1. Dealers

Definitions

61-4-131. Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Broker" means a person:

(a) who engages in the business of offering to procure or procuring a motor vehicle, a trailer, a semitrailer, a pole trailer, a travel trailer, a motorboat, a personal watercraft, a snowmobile, or an off-highway vehicle on behalf of another; or

(b) who represents to the public through solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise that the person is one who offers to procure or procures a motor vehicle, a trailer, a semitrailer, a pole trailer, a travel trailer, a motorboat, a personal watercraft, a snowmobile, or an off-highway vehicle by negotiating purchases, contracts, sales, or exchanges on behalf of another and who does not store, display, or take ownership of a motor vehicle, a trailer, a semitrailer, a pole trailer, a travel trailer, a motorboat, a personal watercraft, a snowmobile, or an off-highway vehicle.

(2) (a) "Dealer", except as provided in subsection (2)(b), includes a new dealer or a used dealer licensed under this part.

(b) For purposes of 61-4-132 through 61-4-135, 61-4-137, and 61-4-150, the term is limited to a new motor vehicle dealer as defined in 61-4-201.

(3) (a) "Designated family member" means the spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother, or sister of a new motor vehicle dealer, as defined in 61-4-201, who:

(i) in the case of a deceased dealer:

(A) is entitled to inherit the dealer's ownership interest in the dealership under the terms of the dealer's will or under the laws of intestate succession of this state; or

(B) has otherwise been designated in writing by a deceased dealer to succeed the deceased in the motor vehicle dealership; or

(ii) in the case of an incapacitated dealer, has been appointed by a court as the legal representative of the dealer's property.

(b) The term includes the appointed and qualified personal representative and the testamentary trustee of a deceased dealer.

(4) (a) "Established place of business" means the geographic location upon which a permanent building is located that is actually occupied either continuously or at regular periods by a person licensed under this part. A building is actually occupied if the licensee's books and records are kept in the building and, except for approved off-premises sales, the licensee's business is transacted within the building.

(b) A licensee's established place of business may also include the geographic location of one or more physical lots upon which vehicles are displayed for sale, as long as the requirements of 61-4-101(6)(e) regulating the distance between display lots and the recordkeeping building are met.

(c) The geographic location of the permanent building actually occupied by the licensee or the geographic location of the physical lots upon which vehicles are displayed for sale may be identified by street address, legal description, or other reasonably identifiable description, as prescribed by the department.

(5) "New", when describing a motor vehicle, power sports vehicle, or trailer, means that the motor vehicle, power sports vehicle, or trailer has not been the subject of a retail sale.

(6) "Parking", when prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.

(7) (a) "Power sports vehicle" includes a motorboat, a personal watercraft, a snowmobile, or an off-highway vehicle.

(b) A motorcycle or quadricycle must be treated as an off-highway vehicle if the motorcycle or quadricycle is not originally equipped for use on a highway.

(c) A sailboat that is 12 feet in length or longer is treated as a motorboat.

(8) (a) "Trailer" has the meaning provided in 61-1-101 but does not include a trailer that has an unloaded weight of less than 500 pounds.

(b) A travel trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is treated as a trailer under this part.

(9) "Used", when describing a motor vehicle, power sports vehicle, or trailer, means that title to the motor vehicle, power sports vehicle, or trailer has been transferred because of a prior retail sale.

History: En. 51-609 by Sec. 1, Ch. 381, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 51-609(1), (3); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 221, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 335, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 168, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 329, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 93, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 323, L. 2017.