Pub. 13 2014-2015 Issue 2

N E W J E R S E Y C O A L I T I O N O F A U T O M O T I V E R E T A I L E R S I S S U E N O . 3 , 2 0 1 4 26 new jersey auto retailer The Legend of Zelda… Pandora’s Box… The Labyrinth…all are terms often used when describing the maze that is the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) bureaucracy. Anyone who has attempted to get a straight answer out of the NJMVC will attest to how difficult that can be. It’s of- ten been said that posing the SAME QUESTION to two different individuals at the NJMVC will produce two different answers. The truth is, even posing a question to the SAME NJMVC EMPLOYEEtwodifferent times can sometimes produce twodifferent answers. The challenge is knowing which answer is the right one. In addition to being well-versed on all NJMVC regulations, NJ CAR staff has a long-standing relationshipwith theBusiness LicensingUnit (BLU) at the NJMVC, as well as the Licensing Unit at DOBI. This enablesNJCAR to help dealers and their employees untangle theweb of contradictionandconfusion that often surrounds the correct answer. Coalition staff assist NJ CAR members through all phases of the licensing process. From initial Dealer Licensing through the New Motor Vehicle Dealer Sublet Auto License, Emission Repair Facility Registration, and Private Inspection Facility Licensing. Staff will guide its dealer members through the application process and provide detailed instructions on how to compile the required documentation and complete the application. Once completed, NJ CAR will hand- deliver the application and supporting documents and fees to the appropriate Supervisor within the BLUand track its progress through the system until the license is issued. Usually, the license is returned to NJ CAR for delivery to the member dealership. In addition to the issuance of new licenses, NJCAR staff alsomonitor the renewal periods for all NJMVC licenses, which are staggered throughout the year, and offers all necessary assistance. Since New Jersey renews Dealer Licenses annually, and the window for that renewal is relatively small—January through March—NJ CAR works closely with the NJMVC to make sure that all its members renew their licenses on time. There are times when NJ CAR will even hand-deliver a last-minute renewal to theNJMVCwhennecessary. The ancillaryNJMVC-issued licenses, such as Auto Body (full-service and/or sublet), Emissions Repair, and Private Inspection Facility, renew bi-annually and again, NJ CAR staff works with the NJMVC to minimize the disruption to business that often accompanies those administrative duties. The management of dealer plates is another responsibility that sometimes creates a logistical challenge for many dealers. Long- term exposure to damaging weather and road conditions can cause the dealer plates to deteriorate so badly they become unreadable by law enforcement and generally unattractive when placed on a brand- new vehicle. NJ CAR staff can assist dealers and help alleviate the management problemby periodically obtaining an active plate listing from the NJMVC which can then be used to conduct a physical inventory by the dealership. When the inventory by completed, NJ CAR staff can assist dealership efforts to replace any missing plates, order remanufactured plates or replace a dealership’s existing plates with an entirely new series of plates. While its hand is far less heavy, DOBI wields as much power over the franchised retail automotive industry as does theNJMVC. Rare is the deal that does not, in some way, fall under the regulations of DOBI. NJ CAR staff assist dealers with obtaining the necessary licensing for installment sales and the sale of insurance products. While much of the DOBI–transacted licensing can be done online, initial licensing is an “analog” process and NJ CAR staff will review the required documentation for licensing prior to having it hand-delivered to the DOBI Licensing offices. Mark McAleer can be reached at 609.883.5056, x332 or mmcaleer@njcar.org . Dealer Licensing Issues Can Be Complicated NJ CAR Offers Assistance to Help Dealers Navigate the Complexities BY MARK MCALEER, NJ CAR FIELD SERVICES COORDINATOR