DMV-DIRECT Newsletter July 2016

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Fo r you r dea l e r s h i p’s b i l l i ng c l e r k s , t i t l e p ro c e s s o r s and o f f i c e manage r

DMV Issues New MV-82 Form

DMV has been phasing in a new version of Form MV-82 — Vehicle Registration/Title Application. The layout has been simplified, based on customer input. Billers should become familiar with the revised MV-82 and be prepared to use these new forms, starting in the summer. Dealers may continue to use the old forms until the DMV runs out of stock . The old version will not be reprinted, so when the supply is used up, dealers will automatically be sent the revised versions. Currently, billers/title clerks who wish to start using the new version of the MV-82 can do so through DMV’s website at dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv82.pdf . Specific changes: The most significant changes to the new version are: • The Primary Registrant section is now at the top of the form. • The “NY Dealer Only” section has been combined with “NY Dealer Only Certification” and moved to the bottom of page 1. • All lien holder information is now separate from the New York Dealer section and allows all dealers (including out-of-state) to file a lien on behalf of their customers. Other changes include: • The “Official Use Only” section has been moved to the bottom of page 1, leaving the small office-use box at the top of the page.

• The “instructions” line has been replaced with a new customer-request section at the top of the form. • The dealer lien filing section has been condensed, with space for two liens. In cases where dealers must file three liens, the third can be filed using a MV-900. • The “Vehicle Information” section now precedes the “Different Owners” section. • Longer space to enter “Primary Registrant Name” . • Supplying a telephone number is no longer optional. • Under Additional Vehicle Information, on page 2: - Question 1 has been reworded for clarity. - Question 2 now has a checkbox to indicate a vehicle is used as a contracted carrier, which will allow issuance of livery plates. • The Section 5 Certification now contains more room for names, signatures, and an optional email address.

18-10 Whitestone Expressway, Whitestone, NY 11357 • 718.747.0400

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HOW TO TRANSFER VEHICLE OWNERSHIP FROM THE DECEASED

BEWARE OF VIN-CLONING SCHEMES A customer will often seek to trade in or sell the vehicle of a deceased relative, for whom they’re the next of kin. This can be a complex procedure. If the current title owner is deceased, first determine: • Who is the individual trading in the vehicle? • What is the current value of that vehicle (meaning fair market value — or book value — reduced by any outstanding loans or security interests)? Surviving spouse or child: If the person selling or trading the vehicle is the spouse or a child of the deceased individual, and the vehicle’s value does not exceed $25,000, the transaction can proceed with the following documentation: • DMV Form MV-349.1 (revised 07/2015). • A copy of the death certificate. • A completed original title – signed by the spouse or child with the appropriate title after the transferor’s name (i.e., the vehicle is titled to John Smith and is being traded in by his surviving spouse, Jane Smith, she signs the seller box: “Jane Smith, spouse”). Other next of kin: Obviously, there are some circumstances in which there is no surviving spouse or child. In these cases, DMV will still A “cloned” VIN refers to a VIN that has been replicated and then placed on an identical vehicle (same make, model, year, etc.), in order to hide that the identical vehicle is actually stolen. There have been reported cases across the country of these vehicles being either traded-in to dealerships or sold to unsuspecting individuals. This is yet another reason why it is critical for dealerships to examine the histories of any vehicle they are considering taking as a trade-in. Obtain vehicle histories from reporting sites like Carfax.com, or run VIN searches through DMV-DIRECT. Results will reveal (or very strongly suggest) if multiple vehicles

allow the designated next of kin, whoever that may be, to transfer the vehicle, provided: • The vehicle’s value does not exceed $25,000. • There is no Last Will & Testament that will be offered for probate, and no court has issued or will issue “Letters” (of “Administration” or “Testamentary”). • There is only one vehicle titled in the deceased’s name. In this case, the following documentation is required: • DMV Form MV-349 (revised 04/2016). • A copy of the death certificate. • Letters of Administration or Letters of Testamentary. • A completed original title — signed by the Next of Kin — with “Next of Kin” written after his/her name. Non-eligible vehicles: If the vehicle is valued at more than $25,000, DMV requires the seller to: • Produce a photocopy of the death certificate. • Provide certified copies of the “Letters of Administration” or “Letters of Testamentary” from the Probate Court, as well as the original title. The Administrator or Executor would then sign his or her name on the Title, followed by his or her appropriate title — i.e., “Administrator” or “Executor”.

exist with the same VIN; for example, the report would indicate if there are odometer discrepancies, different owners, conflicting inspection details, etc. Of

course, the sale or trade-in should be voided at that time. Adverse information does not definitively tell a dealer that the stolen vehicle is the one in their store; it could very well be the original. However, it prevents the dealership from unknowingly accepting stolen property, which can trigger exhaustive DMV audits of the dealership’s trade-in policy.

Scenario: Your customer is excited about the vehicle they’ve purchased/leased from your dealership — but upon delivery, they object to the license plate number. Now what? WHAT TO DO WHEN A CUSTOMER REFUSES THEIR LICENSE PLATES

This may seem an odd case to have to prepare for. But believe it or not, dealerships get in serious trouble with the DMV for mishandling such instances. A customer may refuse delivery of a vehicle because they have a particular superstition or cultural preference that makes them wary of certain numbers or letters or sequences of either. It’s a sensitive situation — the dealer wants to complete the transaction, respect their customer’s beliefs, and avoid violating any DMV rules all at once. With a little patience on both ends, these requests can be accommodated, if the dealer and customer work together. The cardinal rule (no matter what) is this: You must issue your license plates in numerical order. You cannot simply put them “back in the box” and issue the next set of plates. If you have another customer requesting new plates that are being delivered at the same time, you can offer to swap those between customers. You will still need to bill out these vehicles in the proper sequence , but at least there’s no delay in delivery to either party. If the next set of plates (or the next few sets) within the currently open box also contains an offending digit, you cannot open a new box and give the customer a plate from that batch. But here’s what you can do: • Recommend that the customer apply for customized plates. This is the cleanest solution to the dilemma, as they get to decide what numbers and letters will go on their plates. • If the customer doesn’t want to apply or pay for customized plates, ask them to accept delivery the next day; by then, you’ll have presumably issued the problematic plates to other customers. In most

cases, they will happily agree to this, particularly if it means getting a plate they can accept. • If the customer doesn’t want to wait until the next day (or if waiting won’t do any good — i.e., no number in the entire box is usable), send someone from your staff to a registration/titling service like DMV-DIRECT— or to a local DMV office — to get new plates issued, after all paperwork is signed. (Check to make sure they’re not issuing plates containing letters or numbers your customer is seeking to avoid.) Issuing license plates, in-transit permits, etc. in an order other than the sequence in which they were sent to you by the DMV is a serious violation of DMV rules. It can result in major fines and expulsion from the Plate Issuance program, therefore causing business interruption. More questions? Call DMV-DIRECT at 718.747.0400.

SEASONAL REMINDER—KEEP YOUR DEALERSHIP PROPERLY STOCKED! Now that summer is here, it is important to keep in mind that the Albany DMV office has just as many staff vacations as the rest of us. For that reason, DMV-DIRECT recommends keeping a close eye on your most critical supplies. • Make sure you have a three-month supply of Inspection Stickers on hand. • As soon as you complete a MV-50 book, return it immediately for a new one. • Be vigilant about your stockpile of license plates and in-transit permits, and order replacements as early as you can.

It goes without saying that you don’t want to run out of any of these. Summertime may mean short-staffed offices, but it also means more customers in the dealership!

GNYADA’s Summer Billers’Workshop*

August 3, 2016 10am – 4pm

Center for Automotive Education & Training 15-30 Petracca Place, Whitestone, NY 11357

Our next Billers’ Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3. Instructed by DMV-DIRECT General Manager Jean Marie Rugg, this invaluable seminar helps dealership billers improve every angle of their transaction processing. The day includes walkthroughs of essential registration and title documents, calculating sales tax, processing in-transit permits, completing lien notices, and much more. Register now to be sure you get your seat! Either go online to gnyada.com/education/seminars or email Carole Rogner at Carole@gnyada.com.

* open to any employee in your dealership who is responsible for processing DMV work.

News is published by a subsidiary of GNYADA, a not-for-profit organization representing franchised new car dealers in the New York metropolitan area. We are located at 18-10 Whitestone Expressway, Whitestone, NY 11357

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