2019 New York Laws
VAT - Vehicle and Traffic
Title 4 - Registration of Vehicles
Article 16 - Registration of Dealers and Transporters
417-A - Mandatory Disclosures by Sellers Prior to Resale.
§ 417-a. Mandatory disclosures by sellers prior to resale. 1. Certificate of prior use by dealer. (a) Upon the sale or transfer of title by a dealer of any second-hand passenger motor vehicle, the dealer shall execute and deliver to the buyer an instrument in writing in a form prescribed by the commissioner which shall set forth the nature of the principal prior use of such vehicle when the dealer knows or has reason to know that such use was as a taxicab, rental vehicle, police vehicle, or vehicle which has been repurchased pursuant to either section one hundred ninety-eight-a or one hundred ninety-eight-b of the general business law, a similar statute of another state, or an arbitration or alternative dispute procedure.(b) Upon the sale or transfer of title by a dealer of any passenger motor vehicle that the dealer knows or has reason to know was previously used as a driver education vehicle, the dealer shall execute and deliver to the buyer an instrument in writing in a form prescribed by the commissioner acknowledging such prior use. 2. Certificate of prior nonconformity by manufacturer or dealer. Upon the sale or transfer of title by a manufacturer, its agent or any dealer of any second-hand motor vehicle, previously returned to a manufacturer or dealer for nonconformity to its warranty or after final determination, adjudication or settlement pursuant to section one hundred ninety-eight-a or one hundred ninety-eight-b of the general business law, the manufacturer or dealer shall execute and deliver to the buyer an instrument in writing in a form prescribed by the commissioner setting forth the following information in ten point, all capital type: "IMPORTANT: THIS VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER BECAUSE IT DID NOT CONFORM TO ITS WARRANTY AND THE DEFECT OR CONDITION WAS NOT FIXED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AS PROVIDED BY NEW YORK LAW." Such notice that a vehicle was returned to the manufacturer or dealer because it did not conform to its warranty shall also be conspicuously printed on the motor vehicle's certificate of title. 3. Violation. The failure of a dealer to deliver to the buyer the instrument required by this section or the delivery of an instrument containing false or misleading information shall constitute a violation of this section. 4. Private Remedy. A consumer injured by a violation of this section may bring an action to recover damages. Judgment may be entered for three times the actual damages suffered by a consumer or one hundred dollars, whichever is greater. A court also may award reasonable attorneys' fees to a prevailing plaintiff buyer. 5. a. Action by the attorney general. Upon any violation of this section, an application may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the state of New York to a court or justice having jurisdiction to issue an injunction, and upon notice to the defendant of not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of the violation. If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or justice that the defendant has violated this section, an injunction may be issued by the court or justice, enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. In any such proceeding, the court may make allowances to the attorney general as provided in paragraph six of subdivision (a) of section eighty-three hundred three of the civil practice law and rules, and direct restitution. b. Whenever the court shall determine that a violation of this section has occurred, it may impose a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation. In connection with an application made under this subdivision, the attorney general is authorized to take proof and to make a determination of the relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil practice law and rules.
