§17A-6-15. Temporary registration plates or markers.

(a) In order to permit a vehicle which is sold to a purchaser by a dealer to be operated on the streets and highways pending receipt of the annual registration plate from the division for such vehicle, the commissioner may, subject to the limitations and conditions hereinafter set forth, deliver temporary vehicle registration plates or markers to dealers who in turn may, subject to the limitations and conditions hereinafter set forth, issue the same to purchasers of vehicles, but such purchasers must comply with the pertinent provisions of this section.

(b) Application by a dealer to the commissioner for temporary registration plates or markers shall be made on the form and in the manner prescribed and furnished by the commissioner for such purpose and shall be accompanied by a fee of $3 for each such temporary registration plate or marker. The commissioner may require the fee to be remitted to the division in an electronic format. No refund or credit of fees paid by dealers to the commissioner for temporary registration plates or markers shall be allowed, except that in the event the commissioner discontinues the issuance of such temporary plates or markers, dealers returning temporary registration plates or markers to the commissioner may petition for and be entitled to a refund or a credit thereof. No temporary registration plates or markers shall be delivered by the commissioner to any dealer in house trailers only, and no such temporary plates or markers shall be issued for or used on any house trailer for any purpose.

(c) Every dealer who has made application for and received temporary registration plates or markers shall maintain in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, a record of all temporary registration plates or markers issued by him or her, and a record of any other information pertaining to the receipt or the issuance of temporary registration plates or markers which the commissioner may require. Every dealer who issues a temporary registration plate or marker shall notify the division in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. No temporary registration plates or markers may be delivered to any dealer until such dealer has fully accounted to the commissioner for the temporary registration plates or markers last delivered to such dealer, by showing the number issued to purchasers by such dealer and any on hand.

(d) A dealer may not issue, assign, transfer or deliver a temporary registration plate or marker to anyone other than the bona fide purchaser of the vehicle to be registered; nor may a dealer issue a temporary registration plate or marker to anyone possessing an annual registration plate for a vehicle which has been sold or exchanged, except a dealer may issue a temporary registration plate or marker to the bona fide purchaser of a vehicle to be registered who possesses an annual registration plate of a different class and makes application to the division to exchange such annual registration plate of a different class in accordance with the provisions of §17A-4-1 of this code; nor may a dealer lend to anyone, or use on any vehicle which he or she may own, a temporary registration plate or marker. It is unlawful for any dealer to issue any temporary registration plate or marker knowingly containing any misstatement of fact, or knowingly to insert any false information upon the face thereof.

(e) Every dealer who issues temporary registration plates or markers shall affix or insert clearly and indelibly on the face of each temporary registration plate or marker in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, the date of issuance and expiration thereof, and the make and motor or serial number of the vehicle for which issued.

(f) If the commissioner finds that the provisions of this section or his or her directions are not being complied with by a dealer, he or she may suspend the right of such dealer to issue temporary registration plates or markers.

(g) Every person to whom a temporary registration plate or marker has been issued shall permanently destroy such temporary registration plate or marker immediately upon receiving the annual registration plate for such vehicle from the division: Provided, That if the annual registration plate is not received within 90 days of the issuance of the temporary registration plate or marker, the owner shall, notwithstanding the fact that the annual registration plate has not been received, immediately and permanently destroy the temporary registration plate or marker: Provided, however, That not more than one temporary registration plate or marker shall be issued to the same bona fide purchaser for the same vehicle.

(h) A temporary registration plate or marker shall expire and become void upon the receipt of the annual registration plate from the division or upon the rescission of the contract to purchase the vehicle in question, or upon the expiration of 90 days from the date of issuance, depending upon whichever event shall first occur.

(i) For the purpose of this section, the term "dealer" includes a wrecker/dismantler/rebuilder and, in the context of issuing temporary registration plates, any other business licensed by the division in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and authorized to issue temporary registration plates or markers.

(j) The commissioner may require participation in an electronic temporary plate issuance system by all dealers as a precondition for authority for a dealer to issue temporary license plates or markers.