(a) In general. A dealer may apply for a credit under the CARS Program only if it meets the Required Dealer Qualifications for Registration under this subpart, is registered in accordance with this subpart, and is currently registered at the time it submits an application for reimbursement.

(b) Required dealer qualifications for registration. A dealer seeking to register must have:

(1) A currently operating new automobile dealership and business address within a State in the United States;

(2) A currently active business license under the law of the State where the new automobile dealership is located to operate that dealership;

(3) A currently active franchise agreement to sell new automobiles with an original equipment manufacturer of automobiles;

(4) A bank account in a U.S. bank in a State and a bank account routing number for electronic transfer of funds;

(5) The ability to submit application materials and perform transactions electronically using the Internet; and

(6) Not been convicted of a crime involving motor vehicles or any fraud or financial crime under State or Federal law.

(c) Registration procedures.

(1) Using comprehensive lists of franchised dealers provided by original equipment manufacturers, as updated by these manufacturers, the agency will mail a letter to each listed dealer describing a secure electronic process and providing an authorization code by which the dealer, following the process in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, can effect registration.

(2) A dealer contacted in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section may register electronically as a participating dealer under the CARS Program by using the authorization code and following the instructions provided in the letter mailed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, and submitting the following information electronically or validating the information, where it exists already on an electronic form:

(i) Dealer's Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN) and OEM assigned dealer franchise number;

(ii) Legal business name, doing business as name (if applicable), dealership physical and mailing address, telephone number, and fax number;

(iii) Name and title of dealer representative authorized to submit transactions under this program, and phone number and e-mail address of representative; and

(iv) Name of U.S. bank used by dealership, bank account number, and bank account routing number.

(3) A dealer must register separately, following the process under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, for each make of vehicle it sells, using the authorization code associated with that vehicle make.

(d) Disposition of registration application. The agency will review the registration application for compliance with this part, including completeness, and notify the dealer as follows:

(1) For an approved registration:

(i) By e-mail notification to the authorized dealer representative, with a user identification and password that will allow the submission of transactions; and

(ii) By listing the “doing business as” name, physical address, and general telephone number of the dealer on the agency Web site at http://www.cars.gov.

(2) For a disapproved registration, by withholding the dealer identification information from the agency's Web site and providing e-mail notification to the authorized dealer representative of the reasons for rejecting the application.

(e) Revocation of Dealer Registration.

(1) Termination or Discontinuance of Franchise.

(i) A dealer whose franchise agreement with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has expired without renewal, has been terminated, or otherwise is no longer in effect shall be automatically removed as a matter of course, subject to paragraph (e)(1)(iii), from the agency's list of registered dealers and may no longer receive a credit for new transactions under the CARS Program submitted for repayment on or after the date that the franchise expired or no longer is in effect.

(ii) Paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section does not preclude a dealer registered under other franchise agreements from receiving a credit for transactions under those agreements that have not expired or been discontinued.

(iii) A dealer whose name is removed from the agency's list of registered dealers under paragraph (e)(1)(i) shall be reinstated to the list of registered dealers upon a showing to NHTSA of proper and adequate license to sell new vehicles to ultimate purchasers.

(2) Other suspension or revocations actions. The agency may also suspend or revoke the registration of a dealer as provided in §599.504.

(f) Notification of changes. A registered dealer shall immediately notify the agency of any change to the information submitted under this section and any change to the status of its State license or franchise.

(g) Pre-registration transactions. An otherwise qualifying transaction that occurs during the time period prescribed under §599.301(a) is not a non-complying transaction solely because a dealer is not registered at the time of the transaction, except that the dealer must be eligible to register and must register under §599.200 in order to be entitled to reimbursement for a credit extended under the CARS program.