                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

USE OF DEALER&#8217;S AND MANUFACTURER&#8217;S LICENSE PLATES, GENERALLY (§
46.2-1550)

A. Dealer&#8217;s license plates may be used on vehicles in the inventory of
licensed motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and dealers in the
Commonwealth when operated on the highways of Virginia by dealers or
dealer-operators, their spouses, or employees of manufacturers, distributors,
and dealers as permitted in this article, which shall include business,
personal, and family purposes. Except as otherwise explicitly permitted in this
article, it shall be unlawful for any dealer to cause or permit: (i) use of
dealer&#8217;s license plates on vehicles other than those held in inventory for
sale or resale; (ii) dealer&#8217;s license plates to be lent, leased, rented,
or placed at the disposal of any persons other than those permitted by this
article to use dealer&#8217;s license plates; and (iii) use of dealer&#8217;s
license plates on any vehicle of a type for which their use is not authorized by
this article. Manufacturer&#8217;s license plates may be used on company
vehicles as defined in § 46.2-602.2 operated on the highways of Virginia as
provided in § 46.2-602.2 and as permitted by this article. It shall be unlawful
for any dealer to cause or permit dealer&#8217;s license plates to be used on:

   1. Motor vehicles such as tow trucks, wrecking cranes, or other service motor
   vehicles;

   2. Vehicles used to deliver or transport (i) other vehicles; (ii) portions of
   vehicles; (iii) vehicle components, parts, or accessories; or (iv) fuel;

   3. Courtesy vehicles; or

   4. Vehicles used in conjunction with any other business.

B. A dealer may permit his license plates to be used in the operation of a motor
vehicle:

   1. By any person whom the dealer reasonably believes to be a bona fide
   prospective purchaser who is either accompanied by a licensed salesperson or
   has the written permission of the dealer;

   2. When the plates are being used by a customer on a vehicle owned by the
   dealer in whose repair shop the customer&#8217;s vehicle is being repaired; or

   3. By a person authorized by the dealer on a vehicle that is being driven to
   or from (i) a point of sale, (ii) an auction, (iii) a repair facility for the
   purpose of mechanical repairs, painting, or installation of parts or
   accessories, or (iv) a dealer exchange.
   				The dealer shall issue to the prospective purchaser, customer whose
   vehicle is being repaired, or other person authorized under subdivision 3 of
   this subsection, a certificate on forms provided by the Department, a copy of
   which shall be retained by the dealer and open at all times to the inspection
   of the Commissioner or any of the officers or agents of the Department. The
   certificate shall be in the immediate possession of the person operating or
   authorized to operate the vehicle. The certificate shall entitle a person to
   operate with dealer&#8217;s license plates under (i) subdivision 1 or 2 of
   this subsection for a specific period of no more than five days or (ii)
   subdivision 3 of this subsection for no more than twenty-four hours. No more
   than two certificates may be issued by a dealer to the same person under
   subdivision 1 or 2 of this subsection for successive periods.

HISTORY: 1988, c. 865, § 46.1-550.5:8; 1989, c. 727; 1991, c. 712; 1993, c.
504; 1995, cc. 767, 816; 1998, c. 827; 2008, cc. 304, 753.