Title XXXIII, Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Investments, and Solicitations

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the finance charge, exclusive of insurance, shall not exceed the following rates:(a) Class 1. Any new motor vehicle designated by the manufacturer by a year model not earlier than the year in which the sale is made—$10 per $100…

(1) A retail installment contract under The Motor Vehicle Retail Sales Finance Act may provide that the rate of finance charge be calculated on a simple-interest basis subject to the following provisions:(a) Instead of a finance charge computed on the amount financed as determine…

Notwithstanding the provisions of any retail installment contract to the contrary, any buyer may pay in full at any time before maturity the debt of any retail installment contract and in so paying such debt shall receive a refund credit thereon for such anticipation of payments.…

The holder of a contract, upon request by the buyer, may extend the scheduled due date of all or any part of any installment or installments or deferred payment or payments or renew or restate the unpaid balance of such contract, the amount of the installments, and the time sched…

(1) Any person who willfully and intentionally violates any provision of s. 520.995 or engages in the business of a retail installment seller without obtaining a license as required by this part is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 …

A retail installment contract for the purchase of a mobile home may provide that the rate of finance charge may be adjusted at stated regular intervals, in which case the retail installment contract shall be subject to the following provisions:(1) Instead of a finance charge comp…

Any waiver of the provisions of ss. 520.01-520.10, s. 520.12, s. 520.13, s. 520.993, s. 520.994, or s. 520.995 shall be unenforceable and void.History.—s. 12, ch. 57-799; s. 3, ch. 61-117; s. 36, ch. 69-353; s. 6, ch. 69-370; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 80-256;…

(1) Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, may terminate his or her retail installment contract for leasing a motor vehicle by providing the sales finance company with a written notice of termination, effective on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be at leas…

Sections 520.151-520.156 may be cited as the “Florida Vehicle Value Protection Agreements Act.”History.—s. 3, ch. 2024-142.

As used in ss. 520.151-520.156, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the term:(1) “Administrator” means the person who is responsible for the administrative or operational function of managing vehicle value protection agreements, including, but not limited to,…

(1) Vehicle value protection agreements may be offered, sold, or given to consumers in this state in compliance with this act.(2) Notwithstanding any other law, any amount charged or financed for a vehicle value protection agreement is not considered a finance charge or interest …

(1) A vehicle value protection agreement must disclose in writing, in clear, understandable language, all of the following:(a) The names and addresses of the provider, contract holder, and administrator, if any.(b) The terms of the vehicle value protection agreement, including, b…

Sections 520.154 and 520.156 do not apply to vehicle value protection agreements offered in connection with a commercial transaction.History.—s. 7, ch. 2024-142.

A provider, an administrator, or any other person who willfully and intentionally violates ss. 520.151-520.155 commits a noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08(3), punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 per violation and not more than $10,000 in the aggregate for all viol…

(1) For purposes of this section, the term “excess wear and use waiver” means a contractual agreement wherein a lessor agrees, regardless of whether subject to a separate fee, to cancel or waive all or part of amounts that may become due under a lease agreement as a result of exc…

As used in this part, the term:(1) “Agreement” means a contract executed between a buyer or lessee and a seller that leases or sells a distributed energy generation system. For purposes of this part, the term includes retail installment contracts.(2) “Buyer” means a person that e…

This part applies to agreements to sell or lease a distributed energy generation system and is supplemental to other provisions contained in part III related to retail installment contracts. If any provision related to retail installment contract requirements for a distributed en…

A seller who installs a distributed energy generation system must comply with applicable safety standards established by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation pursuant to chapter 489 and part IV of chapter 553.History.—s. 5, ch. 2017-118.

Each agreement governing the sale or lease of a distributed energy generation system shall, at a minimum, include a written statement printed in at least 12-point type that is separate from the agreement, is separately acknowledged by the buyer or lessee, and includes the followi…

(1) The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall adopt rules to implement and enforce the provisions of this part.(2) The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall, by January 1, 2018, publish standard disclosure forms that may be used to comply wit…

(1) Any seller who willfully and intentionally violates any provision of this part commits a noncriminal violation, as defined in s. 775.08(3), punishable by a fine not to exceed the cost of the distributed energy generation system.(2) In the case of a willful and intentional vio…

The provisions of this part do not apply to the following:(1) A person or company, acting through its officers, employees, brokers, or agents, that markets, sells, solicits, negotiates, or enters into an agreement for the sale or financing of a distributed energy generation syste…

This act may be cited as “The Retail Installment Sales Act.”History.—s. 1, ch. 59-414; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 80-256; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 35, 36, ch. 90-103; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

Unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, the following words when used in this act, for the purposes of this act, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:(1) “Branch” means any location, other than a licensee’s principal place of business, …

(1) A person may not engage in or transact the business of a retail seller engaging in retail installment transactions as defined in this part or operate a branch of such business without a license, except that a license is not required for:(a) A retail seller whose retail instal…

(1)(a) A retail installment contract shall be in writing, shall be signed by both the buyer and the seller, and shall be completed as to all essential provisions prior to the signing of the contract by the buyer.(b) The printed portion of the contract, other than instructions for…

A retail installment contract under The Retail Installment Sales Act may provide that the rate of finance charge be calculated on a simple-interest basis subject to the following provisions:(1) Instead of a finance charge computed on the amount financed as determined under s. 520…

(1) Every revolving account shall be in writing and shall be completed prior to the signing thereof by the retail buyer. The printed portion, other than instructions for completion, of any revolving account executed on or after January 1, 1960, shall be in at least 6-point type. …

(1) If debts arising from two or more retail installment sales other than sales pursuant to a revolving account are secured by more than one security interest, or consolidated into one debt payable on a single schedule of payments and the debt is secured by security interests tak…

Retail installment contracts negotiated and entered into by mail or telephone without personal solicitation by salespersons or other representatives of the seller, when a catalog of the seller or other printed solicitation of business which is distributed and made available gener…

A retail installment contract may provide for payment by the buyer of a delinquency charge on each installment in default for a period not less than 10 days. Such charge may not exceed 5 percent of such installment. A retail installment contract or a revolving account may provide…

Any retail seller may assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise transfer a retail installment contract or revolving account to any person, firm or corporation on such terms and conditions and for such price as may be mutually agreed upon. Filing of the assignment, notice to the b…

(1) Any person who willfully and intentionally violates any provision of s. 520.995 or engages in the business of a retail seller engaging in retail installment transactions without obtaining a license as required by this part is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punis…

Any waiver by the retail buyer of any provisions of this act or of any remedies granted to the buyer by this act shall be unenforceable and void.History.—s. 11, ch. 59-414; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 80-256; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 35, 36, ch. 90-103; s. 4, ch. …

The provisions of this act shall not make contracts or accounts in effect prior to July 1, 1980, unlawful.History.—s. 13, ch. 59-414; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 10, 21, ch. 80-256; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 35, 36, ch. 90-103; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to affect any transaction covered by chapter 516 and part I of this chapter or any transaction by any banking institution, state or federal savings and loan association, or credit union.History.—s. 14, ch. 59-414; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch.…

This act may be cited as “The Installment Sales Finance Act.”History.—s. 1, ch. 63-244; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 80-256; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 35, 36, ch. 90-103; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

The definitions contained within ss. 520.02, 520.31, and 520.61 apply to this part.History.—s. 2, ch. 63-244; ss. 12, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 200, ch. 71-377; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 80-256; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 10, ch. 87-91; ss. 15, 35, 36, ch. 90-103; s. 4, c…

(1) A person may not engage in the business of a sales finance company or operate a branch of such business without a license as provided in this section; however, a bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or credit union authorized to do business in this state is not …

(1) Any person who willfully and intentionally violates any provision of s. 520.995 or engages in the business of a sales finance company without obtaining a license is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.(2) In the case…

This act may be known and cited as “The Home Improvement Sales and Finance Act.”History.—s. 1, ch. 69-44; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 80-256; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 35, 36, ch. 90-103; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

As used in this act:(1) “Banking institution” means any bank, bank and trust company, trust company, or any national banking association organized and doing business under the provisions of any state or of the United States.(2) “Branch” means any location, other than a licensee’s…

(1) A person may not engage in or transact any business as a home improvement finance seller or operate a branch without first obtaining a license from the office, except that a banking institution, trust company, savings and loan association, credit union authorized to do busine…

No home improvement finance seller’s or seller’s license shall be required under this act of any person when acting in any capacity or type of transaction set forth in this section:(1) An individual who performs services for a home improvement finance seller for wages or salary.(…

(1) All persons engaged in the home improvement business as defined herein shall be required to obtain a license under this act as well as any other licenses required by law.(2) No mortgage broker’s license shall be required pursuant to chapter 494 of a person whose business is e…

(1) No individual may concurrently represent more than one home improvement finance seller in the solicitation or negotiation of any home improvement contract from an owner. The use of a contract form which fails to disclose a named home improvement finance seller is prohibited. …