OAR 735-028-0090: Odometer Disclosure a Requirement for Issuance of Title, Exceptions

(1) In order to issue a title, DMV must receive an odometer disclosure that meets the requirements of this division, unless the vehicle is exempt as described in OAR 735-028-0010. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this rule, if there has been more than one transfer since the last title or other primary ownership document was issued (e.g., the owner sold the vehicle to a dealer who sold it to another person) the following odometer disclosures are required: (a) Between the owner (seller) in whose name the last title or other primary ownership document was issued and the first buyer; and (b) Between the person who last transferred the vehicle and the current applicant for title. (3) If a vehicle is transferred through multiple parties (e.g., a vehicle sold from dealer to dealer), only the first and last disclosure must be submitted to DMV as provided in section (2) of this rule. However, this does not exempt the in-between owners from requirements to obtain, provide, and in some cases, maintain records on odometer disclosures, as otherwise required by DMV rules, federal law or federal rules. (4) DMV may accept an odometer disclosure from the buyer, rather than the seller, or accept a transfer where only one of the two disclosures required under section (2) of this rule is provided, in the following situations: (a) The most recent buyer does not receive the required disclosure(s) from the seller or the disclosure is subsequently lost or destroyed, and the seller is not available or refuses to provide the required disclosure(s); (b) Interest is transferred by operation of law and the person who transferred interest did not have possession of or reasonable access to the vehicle, such as a transfer ordered by a court; (c) DMV is satisfied a disclosure(s) required under section (2) of this rule is otherwise not available; (d) The owner shown on an out-of-state title does not make a disclosure. This exception does not apply if the owner on an out-of-state title sells the vehicle directly to an Oregon business required to keep records of odometer disclosures, identified in section (6) of this rule; (e) The owner shown on an Oregon title sells the vehicle to an out-of-state dealer and does not make a disclosure, and the vehicle is subsequently transferred to an Oregon buyer. (5) When accepting a disclosure from the buyer or accepting a transfer where only one of the two disclosures required under section (2) of this rule is received, DMV may require additional evidence or information as to why a disclosure from the seller or person required to provide the disclosure has not been provided: (a) When a transfer occurs between private parties or businesses not required by federal rule or law to maintain odometer disclosure records, in lieu of evidence, DMV: (A) May accept a certification from the buyer that includes a statement that a disclosure from the seller is not available; or (B) If one of the two disclosures required under section (2) of this rule is provided, DMV may accept the transfer without requiring an additional disclosure or certification. (b) When a vehicle is sold by or through a business required by federal rule to maintain odometer disclosure records, in addition to the certification described in subsection (5)(a) of this rule, DMV may require any or all of the following: (A) Evidence that the buyer attempted to get the required disclosure from the seller, or evidence that the seller no longer is in business; (B) A statement, certification or other evidence from the seller stating why the seller is unable to provide the required disclosure information; or (C) A certified copy of the disclosure from the seller's records, if the original disclosure is not available. (c) When a transfer occurs by operation of law: (A) DMV will accept a certification from the buyer as provided in subsection (5)(a) of this rule, without requiring further information or evidence as to the availability of a disclosure from the person who transferred the interest, if the transfer is of the type where the person who is transferring interest would in many cases not have possession of, or reasonable access to, the vehicle (e.g., transfer by court order or bankruptcy trustee); (B) DMV may require the information described in subsection (5)(b) of this rule, if the transfer is of a type where the person who is transferring interest would in most cases have possession of or reasonable access to the vehicle (e.g., possessory lien sale or sheriff's sale). (6) Businesses required to maintain odometer disclosure records under federal rule or law include: (a) Auction companies, which as used in this rule, includes any person who takes possession (whether through consignment or bailment, or through any other arrangement) of a motor vehicle owned by another person for purposes of selling such motor vehicle at an auction; (b) Dealers, which for the purpose of odometer disclosures under this rule and under federal odometer provisions, includes: (A) Any person who meets the definition of "dealer" as defined in OAR 735-150-0010, regardless of whether the person holds a business certificate issued under ORS Chapter 822; and (B) Any person who meets the definition of "dealer" in federal rules and laws (i.e., has sold five or more motor vehicles in the past 12 months to purchasers who in good faith purchase such vehicles for purposes other than resale). For the purpose of this rule, DMV considers any Oregon dismantler or dealer who holds a certificate issued under ORS Chapter 822 to meet this definition. (c) Distributors, which as used in this rule, means any person who has sold five or more vehicles in the past 12 months for resale; and (d) Lessors, which as used in this rule, means any person or agent for any person who has leased five or more motor vehicles in the past 12 months. (7) In addition to any information or documents required under section (5) of this rule, and except as otherwise provided in this rule, disclosures accepted from buyers must contain at least the following: (a) The odometer reading, excluding tenths of a mile or kilometer; (b) Vehicle information sufficient for DMV to identify the vehicle; (c) A certification as to whether, to the best of the person's knowledge, the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage, is in excess of the designed mechanical odometer limit, or does not reflect the actual mileage; (d) The printed name and written signature of the buyer; and (e) The buyer's address. (8) DMV may accept a disclosure on a form other than required under OAR 735-028-0020 through 735-028-0090: (a) Examples of situations where DMV may accept alternative forms include: (A) A disclosure required to be on a title that is in the possession of, and is being retained by DMV; (B) DMV accepting a disclosure as provided under section (5) of this rule; or (C) A disclosure made on a secure power of attorney that has not been transferred to a state issued disclosure form. (b) DMV will not accept a disclosure on an alternative form when: (A) A dealer signs a disclosure as both seller and buyer and does not use a secure power of attorney form; or (B) A dealer uses a secure power of attorney form to make a disclosure when the title was not lost or in the possession of a lienholder. (9) DMV may accept an odometer disclosure that does not contain all the information required by rule, if the documents received by DMV contain all of the following: (a) The odometer reading; (b) A certification as to whether, to the best of the person's knowledge, the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage, mileage in excess of the designed mechanical limit of the odometer, or does not reflect the actual mileage; (c) Vehicle information sufficient for DMV to identify the vehicle; and (d) The signature of the person making the disclosure. (10) DMV may accept a secure power of attorney that does not contain all the information required by rule, if the documents received by DMV contain all of the following: (a) The odometer reading; (b) A certification as to whether, to the best of the person's knowledge, the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage, mileage in excess of the designed mechanical limit of the odometer, or does not reflect the actual mileage; (c) Vehicle information sufficient for DMV to identify the vehicle; (d) The signature of the person granting power of attorney; and (e) The signature of the named attorney.