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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80513</law_id><section_number>46.2-1573.34</section_number><catch_line>Operation of dealership by manufacturer</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Dealers and Driver Training Schools</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="15">Motor Vehicle Dealers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="7.4">Motorcycle Franchises</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>It shall be unlawful for any <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, <span class="dictionary">factory branch</span>, distributor, <span class="dictionary">distributor branch</span>, or subsidiary thereof to own, operate, or control any <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> dealership in the Commonwealth. However, this section shall not prohibit:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The operation by a <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, <span class="dictionary">factory branch</span>, distributor, <span class="dictionary">distributor branch</span>, or subsidiary thereof of a dealership for a temporary period, not to exceed one year, during the transition from one <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or <span class="dictionary">operator</span> to another; <a id="paragraph-288429" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1573.34/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The ownership or control of a dealership by a <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, <span class="dictionary">factory branch</span>, distributor, <span class="dictionary">distributor branch</span>, or subsidiary thereof, while the dealership is being sold under a bona fide <span class="dictionary">contract</span> or purchase option to the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> of the dealership; or <a id="paragraph-288430" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1573.34/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The ownership, operation, or control of a dealership by a <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, <span class="dictionary">factory branch</span>, distributor, <span class="dictionary">distributor branch</span>, or subsidiary thereof if the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> determines, after a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> at the request of any <span class="dictionary">party</span>, that there is no <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> independent of the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span> or distributor, <span class="dictionary">factory branch</span> or <span class="dictionary">distributor branch</span>, or subsidiary thereof available in the community or trade area to own and operate the <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> in a manner consistent with the public interest. <a id="paragraph-288431" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1573.34/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, cc. 1043, 1052, &#xA7; 46.2-1993.71; 2015, c. 615.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
