(1) The holder of a current, valid vehicle dealer certificate issued under ORS § 822.020 may exercise the following privileges under the certificate:

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(a) Subject to ORS § 822.045, a dealer is authorized, without violating ORS § 803.025 or 803.300, to use and operate over and along the highways of this state vehicles displaying the dealer’s plates whether registered or not or whether or not a title is issued for the vehicle if the vehicle:

(A) Is owned or controlled by the dealer;

(B) Is used by the dealer, members of the dealer’s firm, any salesperson thereof or any person authorized by the dealer;

(C) Indicates it is offered for sale; and

(D) When offered for sale, is available for display during the vehicle dealer’s normal business hours.

(b) A dealer is entitled to receive dealer plates or devices and replacement or additional dealer plates or devices. As many additional dealer plates as may be desired may be obtained upon the filing of a formal application for additional plates with the Department of Transportation. The plates issued to dealers shall require the payment of fees as provided under ORS § 805.250.

(c) The person is not subject to the prohibitions and penalties under ORS § 822.005 as long as the holder’s vehicle dealer business is conducted in a location approved under the certificate.

(d) The dealer shall be considered the owner of vehicles manufactured or dealt in by the dealer, before delivery and sale of the vehicles, and of all vehicles in the dealer’s possession and operated or driven by the dealer or the dealer’s employees.

(e) Notwithstanding ORS § 825.474, in lieu of paying the weight-mile tax imposed under ORS § 825.474, the dealer may pay the fuel taxes imposed under ORS § 319.020 and 319.530, when the vehicle:

(A) Displays the dealer’s plates;

(B) Is actually owned or controlled by the dealer and in actual use by the dealer, members of the dealer’s firm, any salesperson of the dealer or any person authorized by the dealer;

(C) Is operated on the highway for the purpose of test driving the vehicle; and

(D) Is unloaded.

(2) The holder of a vehicle dealer certificate may open additional places of business under the same business name by obtaining a supplemental certificate from the department under this subsection. The following all apply to a supplemental certificate issued under this subsection:

(a) The department may not issue a supplemental certificate under this subsection if the additional place of business opened will be operated under a different business name than that indicated on the current certificate. Any business that a vehicle dealer operates under a separate business name must be operated under a separate certificate and the dealer must apply for and pay the fees for a regular dealer certificate for the business.

(b) A supplemental certificate issued under this subsection is subject to the fee for supplemental certificate under ORS § 822.700.

(3) The holder of a vehicle dealer certificate may move a place of business or change a business name by obtaining a corrected certificate from the department. For purposes of this subsection, ‘place of business’ includes a recreational vehicle service facility as defined in ORS § 822.082. The following apply to a corrected certificate issued under this subsection:

(a) The department shall prescribe the form for application for a corrected certificate.

(b) A person applying for a corrected certificate shall pay the fee for the corrected certificate established in ORS § 822.700.

(4) The department may establish by rule the requirements a holder of a vehicle dealer certificate must meet to display a vehicle at a location other than the dealer’s place of business for the purpose of advertising without first obtaining a supplemental certificate from the department. In addition to any requirements established by the department by rule, all of the following apply:

(a) The dealer must have a signed agreement with the owner of the property or the person using the property where the vehicle is to be displayed stating that the vehicle is for an advertising promotion only and that the processing of any documents or other activities required to purchase a vehicle must be done at the dealer’s place of business.

(b) The vehicle on display must be clearly marked with the dealer’s name and contact information and a notice that the vehicle is displayed only for the purpose of advertising and may be purchased only at the dealer’s place of business.

(c) Displaying the vehicle must not violate any zoning laws or ordinances.

(d) The dealer or the dealer’s employees may not remain with the vehicle except for the purpose of moving the vehicle in or out of the display area. [1983 c.338 § 795; 1985 c.16 § 393; 1985 c.174 § 12; 1985 c.400 § 5; 1985 c.598 § 7a; 1989 c.434 § 4; 1993 c.233 § 70; 1993 c.741 § 141; 1997 c.469 § 5; 1999 c.277 § 5; 1999 c.593 § 3; 2001 c.172 § 7; 2003 c.655 § 129; 2005 c.132 1,2; 2005 c.133 1,2; 2013 c.531 § 4; 2015 c.543 § 1; 2023 c.400 § 18]