Applicants must show their business location qualifies as an established and permanent place of business, with specific property, office, sign, and space requirements; wholesale motor vehicle dealers are exempt from the display-space requirement.
Sec. 503.032. ESTABLISHED AND PERMANENT PLACE OF BUSINESS. (a) An applicant for a dealer general distinguishing number or wholesale motor vehicle auction general distinguishing number must demonstrate that the location for which the applicant requests the number is an established and permanent place of business. A location is considered to be an established and permanent place of business if the applicant: (1) owns the real property on which the business is situated or has a written lease for the property that has a term of not less than the term of the general distinguishing number; (2) maintains on the location: (A) a permanent furnished office that is equipped as required by the department for the sale of the vehicles of the type specified in the application; and (B) a conspicuous sign with letters at least six inches high showing the name of the applicant's business; and (3) has sufficient space on the location to display at least five vehicles of the type specified in the application. (b) An applicant for a general distinguishing number as a wholesale motor vehicle dealer is not required to maintain display space in accordance with Subsection (a)(3). (c) The applicant must demonstrate that: (1) the applicant intends to remain regularly and actively engaged in the business specified in the application for a time equal to at least the term of the general distinguishing number at the location specified in the application; and (2) the applicant or a bona fide employee of the applicant will be: (A) at the location to buy, sell, lease, or exchange vehicles; and (B) available to the public or the department at that location during reasonable and lawful business hours. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.69(f), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 732 (H.B. 2651), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2007.