2021 Wyoming Statutes
Title 31 - Motor Vehicles
Chapter 16 - Motor Vehicle Franchises
Section 31-16-101 - Definitions.

31-16-101. Definitions.

(a) As used in this act:

(i) "Coerce" means compelling another to do what he is not otherwise required to do or not to do what he otherwise has a right to do;

(ii) "Department" means the department of transportation;

(iii) "Designated family member" means:

(A) The spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister of the owner of a new motor vehicle dealership who, in the case of the owner's death, is entitled to inherit the ownership interest in the new motor vehicle dealership under the terms of the owner's will or applicable intestate laws;

(B) A person who has been nominated by the owner of a new motor vehicle dealership as the successor to the dealership in any written instrument filed with the manufacturer; or

(C) In the case of an incapacitated owner of a new motor vehicle dealership, the person who has been appointed by a court as the legal representative of the incapacitated owner's property.

(iv) "Director" means the director of the department;

(v) "Distributor" means a person who has a franchise from a manufacturer of vehicles to distribute vehicles in this state, and who in whole or in part sells or distributes new vehicles to vehicle dealers or who maintains distributor representatives;

(vi) "Distributor branch" means a branch office maintained by a distributor for the same purposes for which a factory branch is maintained;

(vii) "Distributor representative" means a person engaged as a representative of a distributor or distributor branch for the purpose of making or promoting the sale of its vehicles or for supervising or contacting its dealers or prospective dealers;

(viii) "Factory branch" means a branch office maintained by a manufacturer for the sale of vehicles to distributors, for the sale of vehicles to vehicle dealers or for directing or supervising, in whole or in part, its representatives;

(ix) "Factory representative" means a person engaged as a representative of a manufacturer or by a factory branch for the purpose of making or promoting a sale of its vehicles, or for supervising or contacting its dealers or prospective dealers;

(x) "Franchise or dealer's selling agreement", hereinafter referred to as the "sales and services agreement", means a contract or agreement between a vehicle dealer and a manufacturer or its distributor or factory branch by which the dealer is authorized to engage in the business of selling any specified make of new vehicles;

(xi) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle, excluding a motor home and which:

(A) Is intended for registration and use on the public highways; and

(B) Has at least three (3) wheels.

(xii) "New vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is in the possession of a manufacturer or has been sold by a manufacturer for distribution in the United States to the holders of a valid sales and service agreement, franchise or contract granted by the manufacturer for sale of the new motor vehicle and which is in fact new and on which the original motor vehicle title has not been issued from the franchised dealer;

(xiii) "Manufacturer" means a person engaged in the business of constructing or assembling vehicles which are subject to registration in this state and, except where otherwise provided, "manufacturer" means a distributor, a factory branch, distributor branch or other representative thereof, but excludes any person whose principal business is wholesale and retail financing. The term includes direct sale manufacturers;

(xiv) "Principal place of business" means:

(A) For dealers selling fewer than twelve (12) vehicles in any twelve (12) consecutive month period, a permanent commercial building located within the state of Wyoming at which the business of a new motor vehicle dealer may be lawfully carried on in accordance with the terms of all applicable building codes, zoning and other land-use regulatory ordinances, and in which building the public may contact the vehicle dealer or his vehicle salesman at all reasonable times, and at which place of business shall be kept and maintained the books, records and files necessary to conduct the business. The business shall be sufficiently identified with an exterior sign permanently affixed to the building or land with letters clearly visible from the highway facing the site and designated to indicate the nature of the business and the telephone number of the business. A dedicated telephone number shall be required for the principal place of business;

(B) For dealers selling twelve (12) or more vehicles in any twelve (12) consecutive month period, a site upon which a permanent building is located containing adequate facilities to carry on the business of a licensed dealer and used to conduct business as a dealer and not primarily used as, or attached directly to, a residence, with space thereon or contiguous thereto adequate to permit the display of at least five (5) vehicles and sufficiently identified with an exterior sign permanently affixed to the building or land with letters clearly visible from the highway facing the site and designated to indicate the nature of the business. The facilities, sign and space for display shall be in compliance with all applicable zoning ordinances prescribed by the municipality or county in which they are located and in which building the public may contact the vehicle dealer or the dealer's salespersons during the declared business hours, and at which place of business shall be kept and maintained the books, records and files as required by W.S. 31-11-107(a) and (b) necessary to conduct the business. A dedicated telephone number shall be required for the principal place of business with a published phone number listed in the principal place of business;

(xv) "Relevant market area" means that marketing area as defined by the sales and service agreement granted by the manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler and held by a new vehicle dealer;

(xvi) "Used vehicle" means any vehicle other than a new vehicle;

(xvii) Repealed By Laws 2001, Ch. 24, § 2.

(xviii) "Vehicle dealer" or "dealer" means any person engaged in the business of selling or exchanging vehicles or who buys and sells, or exchanges retail three (3) or more vehicles or six (6) or more new vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds in any twelve (12) consecutive month period, but does not include any insurance company, finance company, public utility company or person coming into possession of any vehicle as an incident to its regular business who sells that vehicle, or who sells that vehicle under any contractual rights it may have with respect thereto. Vehicle dealers are classified as follows:

(A) A "new vehicle dealer" means a vehicle dealer that deals solely in new vehicles or in new and used vehicles. It also includes a person who in the ordinary course of business is engaged in the business of selling new motor vehicles to consumers or other end users and who holds a valid sales and service agreement, franchise or contract, granted by a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler for the sale of its motor vehicles;

(B) A "used vehicle dealer" means a vehicle dealer that deals solely in used vehicles;

(C) Repealed by Laws 1997, ch. 154, § 3.

(xix) "Wholesaler" means a person who sells used vehicles to Wyoming vehicle dealers;

(xx) "This act" means W.S. 31-16-101 through 31-16-127;

(xxi) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 64, § 2.

(xxii) "Established place of business" means each place actually occupied either continuously or at regular periods by a manufacturer where the manufacturer's books and records are kept and a large share of the manufacturer's business is conducted;

(xxiii) "Recreational vehicle" means a vehicle designed primarily as living quarters for recreational, camping, vacation or travel use which has an electrical system which operates above twelve (12) volts and has a plumbing and heating system;

(xxiv) "Retail vehicle sale" means the lease of a vehicle or transfer of title of a vehicle to another person in exchange for value but excludes a transfer for the purpose of resale;

(xxv) "Vehicle" means as defined in W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxvi);

(xxvi) A "Wyoming based manufacturer" means a person with an established place of business in Wyoming who is engaged in the business of manufacturing, constructing or assembling new and unused vehicles or their major component parts or both and sells new and unused vehicles to dealers, wholesalers, distributors or the general public. The term includes a factory branch office of the manufacturer, or any partnership, firm, association, joint venture, corporation or trust which is controlled by the manufacturer;

(xxvii) "Agent" means a person other than a holder of any vehicle dealer's license issued by the department who, for salary, commission or compensation of any kind, negotiates in any way for the sale, purchase, order or exchange of vehicles;

(xxviii) "Applicant" means any person, corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or any other entity that files an application with the department for a vehicle dealer's license under this act;

(xxix) "Licensed dealer" means a vehicle dealer that is licensed by the department pursuant to this act as a new vehicle dealer or a used vehicle dealer;

(xxx) "Salesperson" means an individual who, for salary, commission or compensation of any kind, is employed either directly, indirectly, regularly or occasionally by any new vehicle dealer or any used vehicle dealer to sell, purchase or exchange vehicles;

(xxxi) A "direct sale manufacturer" means a person licensed under W.S. 31-16-104(a)(ix) who is engaged in the business of manufacturing, constructing or assembling new and unused vehicles and who sells and services, at a facility physically located in the state, vehicles of that manufacturer's line make to the general public. A direct sale manufacturer shall not include an affiliate or wholly owned subsidiary of a manufacturer's line make that is presently sold or has previously been sold in this state through a new vehicle dealer.

(b) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 64, § 2.