§​ 63-17-118. Compensation to dealer upon termination, cancellation, refusal to continue, or refusal to renew any franchise or any discontinuation of any line or make

 ​  (1)  Upon any termination, cancellation, refusal to continue, or refusal to renew any franchise or any discontinuation of​​​ any line or make of motor vehicle or parts essential to such line or make, the manufacturer or distributor shall pay reasonable compensation to the motor vehicle dealer as follows:

          (a)  (i)  The motor vehicle dealer's net cost for any new, unused, undamaged, unregistered, unmodified and unsold vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of sixteen thousand (16,000) pounds or less of the current and prior model year with less than seven hundred fifty (750) miles on the odometer that is in the motor vehicle dealer's inventory and was purchased from the manufacturer or another motor vehicle dealer of the same line or make in the ordinary course of business.

              (ii)  The motor vehicle dealer's net cost for any new, unused, undamaged, unregistered, unmodified and unsold vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rate of more than sixteen thousand (16,000) pounds of the current and prior model year that is in the motor vehicle dealer's inventory and was purchased from the manufacturer or another motor vehicle dealer of the same line or make in the ordinary course of business.

              (iii)  The manufacturer or distributor shall have no obligation to repurchase a motor vehicle if the motor vehicle has been modified to the extent that the modifications are so significant as to void the manufacturer's warranty or has been substantially altered to the prejudice of the manufacturer or distributor.  The manufacturer or distributor shall have no obligation to repurchase any parts used to modify the motor vehicle that were not produced by or for the manufacturer or distributor.

          (b)  The motor vehicle dealer's net cost of each new, unused and undamaged part or accessory listed in the manufacturer or distributor's current parts catalog and in the original, resalable merchandising packages.  In the case of sheet metal, a comparable substitute for the original package shall be sufficient.  New or reconditioned core parts shall be valued at their core value, listed in the original vehicle manufacturer's or distributor's current parts catalog.  If the part or accessory was purchased by the motor vehicle dealer from another authorized same line or make motor vehicle dealer in the ordinary course of business, the manufacturer shall purchase the part or accessory for the price in the current parts catalog.  The motor vehicle dealer shall maintain accurate records regarding the actual purchase price of parts that the manufacturer or distributor is required to purchase under this paragraph.

          (c)  In addition to the costs referenced in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the manufacturer shall pay the motor vehicle dealer an additional five percent (5%) charge based on the total compensation due under this section for handling, packing, storing and loading of any parts subject to repurchase pursuant to this section and the manufacturer shall pay for shipping the vehicles subject to repurchase from the location of the motor vehicle dealer to the location directed by the manufacturer.

          (d)  The manufacturer shall pay the motor vehicle dealer the amounts specified in this subsection within ninety (90) days after the tender of the property, subject to the motor vehicle dealer providing evidence of good and clear title upon return of property to the manufacturer.  The manufacturer shall remove the property from the motor vehicle dealer's premises within one hundred eighty (180) days after the tender of the property.

     (2)  In the event a manufacturer or distributor cancels, refuses to continue, or refuses to renew any franchise or discontinues any line or make or parts essential to such line or make, in addition to the compensation provided in subsection (1) of this section, the manufacturer or distributor shall pay reasonable compensation to the motor vehicle dealer as follows:

          (a)  In the event a motor vehicle dealer leases the dealership facilities, then the manufacturer shall be liable for twelve (12) months payment of the gross rent or the remainder of the term of the lease, whichever is less.  If the dealership facilities are not leased, then the manufacturer shall be liable for the equivalent of twelve (12) months payment of gross rent based upon the fair market value of the dealership facilities.  The gross rent shall be paid only to the extent that the dealership premises are recognized in the franchise and only if they are used solely for performance in accordance with the franchise and not substantially in excess of those facilities recommended by the manufacturer or distributor.  If the facility is used for the operations of more than one (1) franchise, the gross rent compensation shall only include the prorated value of the square footage used exclusively for the terminated franchise or line or make at the time of termination.  This paragraph shall not apply to a termination, cancellation or nonrenewal due to a sale of the assets or stock of the motor vehicle dealership.  In addition to the gross rent, the manufacturer is required to pay the dealer the net cost of any upgrades or other alterations made by the motor vehicle dealer to the dealership facilities which were required in writing by the manufacturer and made by the motor vehicle dealer within two (2) years prior to the effective date of termination.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to relieve a motor vehicle dealer of its obligation to mitigate damages upon termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal.  As used in this paragraph "Gross rent" is the monthly rent plus the monthly cost of insurance and taxes.

          (b)  The manufacturer shall pay the motor vehicle dealer for the value of twelve (12) months of any outstanding amounts on any leases or the remaining amount of the lease, whichever is less, of computer hardware or software that is exclusively used to manage and report data of the terminated line or make to the manufacturer or distributor for financial reporting requirements.

          (c)  The manufacturer shall pay the motor vehicle dealer for the value of twelve (12) months or the remaining amount of the lease, whichever is less of any outstanding amounts on any manufacturer or distributor required equipment leases, service contracts, and sign leases.

          (d)  The fair market value of each undamaged sign owned by the motor vehicle dealer which bears a trademark or trade name used or claimed by the manufacturer if the sign was purchased from, or purchased at a requirement of, the manufacturer, plus the costs of installing the sign and the costs of purchasing and installing any pole upon which the sign is located.  During the first three (3) years after its purchase, the fair market value of each sign shall be the motor vehicle dealer's net costs of purchasing the sign.  Thereafter, the fair market value of the sign shall be the greater of its actual market value or its depreciated value on the books of the motor vehicle dealer.

          (e)  The fair market value of all tools, data processing programs and equipment and automotive service equipment owned by the motor vehicle dealer which are exclusively used for the line or make being terminated and which were required in writing and designated as equipment, tools, data processing programs and equipment, and automotive service equipment and purchased from, or purchased as a requirement of, the manufacturer if the equipment, tools, programs and equipment are in usable and good condition, except for reasonable wear and tear.  During the first three (3) years after their purchase, the fair market value of each item of equipment, tools, programs, and equipment shall be the motor vehicle dealer's net cost associated with purchasing the items. Thereafter, the fair market value of each item shall be the greater of its actual market value or its depreciated value on the books of the motor vehicle dealer.

          (f)  In addition to the other payments set forth in this section, if a termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is premised upon the manufacturer discontinuing the sale in this state of a line or make that was the subject of the franchise, then the manufacturer shall also be liable to the motor vehicle dealer for an amount at least equivalent to the fair market value of the motor vehicle dealer's franchise for the discontinued line or make as of:

              (i)  The date immediately preceding the date the manufacturer announces the action which results in termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal; or

              (ii)  The day twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is issued, whichever amount is higher.

     At the motor vehicle dealer's option, the manufacturer may avoid paying fair market value of the motor vehicle franchise to the motor vehicle dealer under this paragraph if the manufacturer, or another motor vehicle manufacturer pursuant to an agreement with the manufacturer, offers the motor vehicle dealer a replacement motor vehicle franchise with terms substantially similar to that offered to other same line or make motor vehicle dealers.

          (g)  The manufacturer shall pay the motor vehicle dealer the amounts specified in this subsection along with any other amounts that may be due to the motor vehicle dealer under the franchise agreement within ninety (90) days after the tender of the property, subject to the motor vehicle dealer providing evidence of good and clear title upon return of the property to the manufacturer.  The manufacturer shall remove the property within one hundred eighty (180) days after the tender of the property from the motor vehicle dealer's premises.  Unless previous arrangements have been made and agreed upon, the motor vehicle dealer is under no obligation to provide insurance for the property left after one hundred eighty (180) days.

     (3)  This section shall not apply to any sale, exchange, inheritance, gift or other transfer of ownership, stock, assets, management, or any other rights of the motor vehicle dealer, or to any termination for good cause, including, but not limited to, a conviction for a felony involving moral turpitude, for failure to conduct business for seven (7) consecutive business days or eight (8) business days out of any fifteen-day business period, for insolvency of the motor vehicle dealer or for loss of license to sell motor vehicles, or where there is a failure by the new motor vehicle dealer to comply with a provision of the franchise which provision is both reasonable and of a material significance to the franchise relationship provided that the dealer has been notified in writing of the failure.

     (4)  This section shall not apply to motor homes.​