2018 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 56 - Motor Vehicles
CHAPTER 15 - REGULATION OF MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND DEALERS
Section 56-15-60. Fulfillment of warranty agreements; dealers' claims for compensation.

(A)(1) Every manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division must fulfill properly a warranty agreement and compensate adequately and fairly each of its motor vehicle dealers for labor and parts. All warranty claims, service claims, or incentive claims made by motor vehicle dealers pursuant to this section and Section 56-15-50 for labor and parts must be paid within thirty days following their approval. All claims must be either approved or disapproved within thirty days after their receipt. Any claim not specifically disapproved in writing within thirty days of receipt shall be construed as approved and payment must follow within thirty days. The motor vehicle dealer who submits a disapproved claim must be notified in writing of its disapproval within that period, and the notice must state the specific grounds upon which the disapproval is based.

(2) A claim disapproval must be based on a material defect. A manufacturer shall not disapprove claims:

(a) for which the motor vehicle dealer has received preauthorization from the manufacturer or its representative; or

(b) based on the motor vehicle dealer's incidental failure to comply with a specific claim processing requirement that results in a clerical or administrative error.

(3) In the event of neglect, oversight, or mistake by the motor vehicle dealer, the dealer may submit an amended claim for labor and parts up to sixty days from the date on which the manufacturer provided written notice to the motor vehicle dealer of the material defect or deviation. The motor vehicle dealer must substantiate the claim in accordance with the manufacturer's reasonable written procedures.

(4) Any special handling of claims required by the manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, but not uniformly required of all dealers of that make, may be enforced only after thirty days' notice in writing of good and sufficient reason.

(B) An audit for sales incentives, service incentives, rebates, or other forms of incentive compensation may include only the twelve-month period immediately following the date of the termination of the incentive compensation program. This limitation is not effective in the case of fraudulent claims.

(C) If an audit or other authorized means of review by the manufacturer or franchisor discloses a material defect in the claim, the manufacturer or franchisor may demand reimbursement for funds previously paid to a dealer for warranty service provided the audit is completed within twelve months of filing a claim.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-150.156; 1972 (57) 2419; 2000 Act No. 287, Section 3; 2013 Act No. 44, Section 4, eff June 7, 2013.