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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-102

§32702 Definitions

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VI — MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › PART C — INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND REQUIREMENTS › CHAPTER 327 — ODOMETERS › § 32702

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Lists the meanings of important words used in the chapter. An auction company is someone who takes another person’s car to sell at an auction. A dealer is someone who sold at least 5 motor vehicles in the prior 12 months to buyers who bought them to use, not to resell. A distributor sold at least 5 motor vehicles in the prior 12 months for resale. A leased motor vehicle is a car leased to someone for at least 4 months by a lessor who leased at least 5 vehicles in the prior 12 months. An odometer is the device or system that measures and records how far a vehicle is driven and does not include a resettable trip counter. To repair or replace means to make an odometer work properly again by changing parts or fixing broken parts. Title is the State-issued certificate or paper that shows who owns the vehicle. Transfer means changing ownership by sale, gift, or any other way.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §32702

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter—
(1)“auction company” means a person taking possession of a motor vehicle owned by another to sell at an auction.
(2)“dealer” means a person that sold at least 5 motor vehicles during the prior 12 months to buyers that in good faith bought the vehicles other than for resale.
(3)“distributor” means a person that sold at least 5 motor vehicles during the prior 12 months for resale.
(4)“leased motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle leased to a person for at least 4 months by a lessor that leased at least 5 vehicles during the prior 12 months.
(5)“odometer” means an instrument or system of components for measuring and recording the distance a motor vehicle is driven, but does not include an auxiliary instrument or system of components designed to be reset by the operator of the vehicle to record mileage of a trip.
(6)“repair” and “replace” mean to restore to a sound working condition by replacing any part of an odometer or by correcting any inoperative part of an odometer.
(7)“title” means the certificate of title or other document issued by the State indicating ownership.
(8)“transfer” means to change ownership by sale, gift, or any other means.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 32702(1)15:1982(8).Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 402(6)–(8); added Oct. 28, 1986, Pub. L. 99–579, § 2(b), 100 Stat. 3310. 32702(2)15:1982(1).Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 402(1), (2); added July 14, 1976, Pub. L. 94–364, § 401(2), 90 Stat. 983. 32702(3)15:1982(2). 32702(4)15:1982(7). 32702(5)15:1982(3).Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 402(3)–(5), 86 Stat. 961; July 14, 1976, Pub. L. 94–364, § 401(1), 90 Stat. 983. 32702(6)15:1982(4). 32702(7)15:1982(6). 32702(8)15:1982(5). In clause (1), the words “(whether through consignment or bailment or through any other arrangement)” and “such motor vehicle” are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “a term of” are omitted as surplus. In clause (5), the words “the distance a motor vehicle is driven” are substituted for “the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. Pub. L. 104–287This amends 49:32702(8) and 32705 to clarify the restatement of 15:1982(5) and 1988 by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 1049).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2012—Par. (5). Pub. L. 112–141, which directed insertion of “or system of components” after “instrument”, was executed by making the insertion after “instrument” both places it appeared. 1996—Par. (8). Pub. L. 104–287 inserted “any” after “or”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–287 effective July 5, 1994, see section 8(1) of Pub. L. 104–287, set out as a note under section 5303 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 32702

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102