ORS 822.043: Dealer preparation and submission of documents; privilege tax.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Integrator” has the meaning given that term in ORS 802.600. (b) “Vehicle dealer” means a person issued a vehicle dealer certificate under ORS 822.020. (2) A vehicle dealer that the Department of Transportation has designated to act as an agent of the department under ORS 802.031 may elect to prepare, submit, or prepare and submit documents necessary to: (a) Issue or transfer a certificate of title for a vehicle; (b) Register a vehicle or transfer registration of a vehicle; (c) Issue a registration plate; (d) Verify and clear a title; (e) Perfect, release or satisfy a lien or other security interest; (f) Comply with federal security requirements; or (g) Render any other services for the purpose of complying with state and federal laws related to the sale of a vehicle. (3) A vehicle dealer who prepares any documents described in subsection (2) of this section: (a) May charge a purchaser of a vehicle a document processing fee for the preparation of those documents. (b) May not charge a purchaser of a vehicle a document processing fee for the submission of any document or the issuance of a registration plate. (c) May charge a purchaser of a vehicle a document processing fee for performing any of the services described in subsection (2) of this section in connection with preparing the documents described in subsection (2) of this section. (4) Other than the portion of the document processing fee a vehicle dealer pays to cover the costs of using an integrator under subsection (5) of this section, a purchaser of a vehicle may negotiate the amount of the document processing fee with a vehicle dealer, but in no case shall the document processing fee charged by a vehicle dealer under this section exceed: (a) $250, if the vehicle dealer uses an integrator; or (b) $200, if the vehicle dealer does not use an integrator. (5) If a vehicle dealer charges a document processing fee under subsection (4)(a) of this section, of the amount charged, $35 shall be paid to the integrator. (6) Unless otherwise provided by rule, if a vehicle dealer uses an integrator and charges a document processing fee greater than that charged for not using an integrator, the dealer must inform the purchaser of the vehicle of the option of using an integrator to prepare the documents. The purchaser may then elect whether or not to have the vehicle dealer use an integrator to prepare the documents. (7) If the purchaser of a vehicle pays a document processing fee, the vehicle dealer shall prepare and submit all documents to complete the transaction as permitted by law. (8)(a) A vehicle dealer who collects the privilege tax imposed under ORS 320.405 from the purchaser of a taxable motor vehicle may collect the privilege tax at the same time and in the same manner as the vehicle dealer collects document processing fees under this section. The amount of the privilege tax shall be in addition to and not in lieu of document processing fees collected under this section. (b) A vehicle dealer may exclude the amount of the privilege tax from the capitalized cost and offering price of a taxable motor vehicle as those terms are defined by the Department of Justice by rule. (9) Except as provided in subsection (10) of this section, before finalizing a retail sales transaction a vehicle dealer shall: (a)(A) If the vehicle is subject to the reporting requirements of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, conduct a vehicle record search using the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System; or (B) Conduct a vehicle record search using an equivalent commercially available system to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System that, at a minimum, maintains records from those states participating in data sharing with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System; (b) Verify the title information; and (c) Inform the retail customer of any brand, defect or irregularity found in the search that could impact the vehicle’s value. (10) Subsection (9) of this section does not apply when a vehicle is sold with a salvage title certificate or with a document issued by another state with a title brand, as defined by the Department of Transportation by rule. [Formerly 802.033; 2015 c.708 §3; 2017 c.172 §1; 2017 c.750 §90a; 2023 c.232 §9; 2025 c.415 §20]