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Florida Statute 320.642 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 320.642 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 320
MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSES
View Entire Chapter
320.642 Dealer licenses in areas previously served; procedure.
(1) Any licensee who proposes to establish an additional motor vehicle dealership or permit the relocation of an existing dealer to a location within a community or territory where the same line-make vehicle is presently represented by a franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers shall give written notice of its intention to the department. The notice must state:
(a) The specific location at which the additional or relocated motor vehicle dealership will be established.
(b) The date on or after which the licensee intends to be engaged in business with the additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer at the proposed location.
(c) The identity of all motor vehicle dealers who are franchised to sell the same line-make vehicle with licensed locations in the county and any contiguous county to the county where the additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is proposed to be located.
(d) The names and addresses of the dealer-operator and principal investors in the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealership.

Immediately upon receipt of the notice the department shall cause a notice to be published in the Florida Administrative Register. The published notice must state that a petition or complaint by any dealer with standing to protest pursuant to subsection (3) must be filed within 30 days following the date of publication of the notice in the Florida Administrative Register. The published notice must describe and identify the proposed dealership sought to be licensed, and the department shall cause a copy of the notice to be mailed to those dealers identified in the licensee’s notice under paragraph (c). The licensee shall pay a fee of $75 and a service charge of $2.50 for each publication. Proceeds from the fee and service charge shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.

(2)(a) An application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory shall be denied when:
1. A timely protest is filed by a presently existing franchised motor vehicle dealer with standing to protest as defined in subsection (3); and
2. The licensee fails to show that the existing franchised dealer or dealers who register new motor vehicle retail sales or retail leases of the same line-make in the community or territory of the proposed dealership are not providing adequate representation of such line-make motor vehicles in such community or territory. The burden of proof in establishing inadequate representation shall be on the licensee.
(b) In determining whether the existing franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers are providing adequate representation in the community or territory for the line-make, the department may consider evidence which may include, but is not limited to:
1. The impact of the establishment of the proposed or relocated dealer on the consumers, public interest, existing dealers, and the licensee; provided, however, that financial impact may only be considered with respect to the protesting dealer or dealers.
2. The size and permanency of investment reasonably made and reasonable obligations incurred by the existing dealer or dealers to perform their obligations under the dealer agreement.
3. The reasonably expected market penetration of the line-make motor vehicle for the community or territory involved, after consideration of all factors which may affect said penetration, including, but not limited to, demographic factors such as age, income, education, size class preference, product popularity, retail lease transactions, or other factors affecting sales to consumers of the community or territory.
4. Any actions by the licensees in denying its existing dealer or dealers of the same line-make the opportunity for reasonable growth, market expansion, or relocation, including the availability of line-make vehicles in keeping with the reasonable expectations of the licensee in providing an adequate number of dealers in the community or territory.
5. Any attempts by the licensee to coerce the existing dealer or dealers into consenting to additional or relocated franchises of the same line-make in the community or territory.
6. Distance, travel time, traffic patterns, and accessibility between the existing dealer or dealers of the same line-make and the location of the proposed additional or relocated dealer.
7. Whether benefits to consumers will likely occur from the establishment or relocation of the dealership which cannot be obtained by other geographic or demographic changes or expected changes in the community or territory.
8. Whether the protesting dealer or dealers are in substantial compliance with their dealer agreement.
9. Whether there is adequate interbrand and intrabrand competition with respect to said line-make in the community or territory and adequately convenient consumer care for the motor vehicles of the line-make, including the adequacy of sales and service facilities.
10. Whether the establishment or relocation of the proposed dealership appears to be warranted and justified based on economic and marketing conditions pertinent to dealers competing in the community or territory, including anticipated future changes.
11. The volume of registrations and service business transacted by the existing dealer or dealers of the same line-make in the relevant community or territory of the proposed dealership.
(3) An existing franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers shall have standing to protest a proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer when the existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers have a franchise agreement for the same line-make vehicle to be sold or serviced by the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer and are physically located so as to meet or satisfy any of the following requirements or conditions:
(a) If the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is to be located in a county with a population of less than 300,000 according to the most recent data of the United States Census Bureau or the data of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida:
1. The proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is to be located in the area designated or described as the area of responsibility, or such similarly designated area, including the entire area designated as a multiple-point area, in the franchise agreement or in any related document or commitment with the existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make as such agreement existed upon October 1, 1988;
2. The existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make have a licensed franchise location within a radius of 20 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; or
3. Any existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make can establish that during any 12-month period of the 36-month period preceding the filing of the licensee’s application for the proposed dealership, the dealer or its predecessor made 25 percent of its retail sales of new motor vehicles to persons whose registered household addresses were located within a radius of 20 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; provided the existing dealer is located in the same county or any county contiguous to the county where the additional or relocated dealer is proposed to be located.
(b) If the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is to be located in a county with a population of more than 300,000 according to the most recent data of the United States Census Bureau or the data of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida:
1. Any existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make have a licensed franchise location within a radius of 12.5 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; or
2. Any existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make can establish that during any 12-month period of the 36-month period preceding the filing of the licensee’s application for the proposed dealership, such dealer or its predecessor made 25 percent of its retail sales of new motor vehicles to persons whose registered household addresses were located within a radius of 12.5 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; provided such existing dealer is located in the same county or any county contiguous to the county where the additional or relocated dealer is proposed to be located.
(4) The department’s decision to deny issuance of a license under this section shall remain in effect for a period of 12 months. The department shall not issue a license for the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer until a final decision by the department is rendered determining that the application for the motor vehicle dealer’s license should be granted.
(5)(a) The opening or reopening of the same or a successor motor vehicle dealer within 12 months is not considered an additional motor vehicle dealer subject to protest within the meaning of this section, if:
1. The opening or reopening is within the same or an adjacent county and is within 2 miles of the former motor vehicle dealer location;
2. There is no dealer within 25 miles of the proposed location or the proposed location is further from each existing dealer of the same line-make than the prior location is from each dealer of the same line-make within 25 miles of the new location;
3. The opening or reopening is within 6 miles of the prior location and, if any existing motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make is located within 15 miles of the former location, the proposed location is no closer to any existing dealer of the same line-make within 15 miles of the proposed location; or
4. The opening or reopening is within 6 miles of the prior location and, if all existing motor vehicle dealers of the same line-make are beyond 15 miles of the former location, the proposed location is further than 15 miles from any existing motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make.
(b) Any other such opening or reopening shall constitute an additional motor vehicle dealer within the meaning of this section.
(c) If a motor vehicle dealer has been opened or reopened pursuant to this subsection, the licensee may not propose a motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make to be located within 4 miles of the previous location of such dealer for 2 years after the date the relocated dealership opens.
(6) When a proposed addition or relocation concerns a dealership that performs or is to perform only service, as defined in s. 320.60, and will not or does not sell or lease, as defined in s. 320.60, new motor vehicles, the proposal shall be subject to notice and protest pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(a) Standing to protest the addition or relocation of a service-only dealership shall be limited to those instances in which the applicable mileage requirement established in subparagraphs (3)(a)2. and (3)(b)1. is met.
(b) The addition or relocation of a service-only dealership shall not be subject to protest if:
1. The applicant for the service-only dealership location is an existing motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make as the proposed additional or relocated service-only dealership;
2. There is no existing dealer of the same line-make closer than the applicant to the proposed location of the additional or relocated service-only dealership; and
3. The proposed location of the additional or relocated service-only dealership is at least 7 miles from all existing motor vehicle dealerships of the same line-make, other than motor vehicle dealerships owned by the applicant.
(c) In determining whether existing franchised motor vehicle dealers are providing adequate representations in the community or territory for the line-make in question in a protest of the proposed addition or relocation of a service-only dealership, the department may consider the elements set forth in paragraph (2)(b), provided:
1. With respect to subparagraph (2)(b)1., only the impact as it relates to service may be considered;
2. Subparagraph (2)(b)3. shall not be considered;
3. With respect to subparagraph (2)(b)9., only service facilities shall be considered; and
4. With respect to subparagraph (2)(b)11., only the volume of service business transacted shall be considered.
(d) If an application for a service-only dealership is granted, the department must issue a license which permits only service, as defined in s. 320.60, and does not permit the selling or leasing, as defined in s. 320.60, of new motor vehicles. If a service-only dealership subsequently seeks to sell new motor vehicles at its location, the notice and protest provisions of this section shall apply.
(7) Measurements of the distance between proposed or existing dealer locations required by this section shall be taken from the geometric centroid of the property that encompasses all of the existing or proposed motor vehicle dealer operations.
(8) The department shall not be obligated to determine the accuracy of any distance asserted by any party in a notice submitted to it. Any dispute concerning a distance measurement asserted by a party shall be resolved by a hearing conducted in accordance with ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
History.s. 9, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 12, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2003-269; s. 4, ch. 2006-183; s. 28, ch. 2009-71; s. 2, ch. 2009-93; s. 24, ch. 2013-14; s. 3, ch. 2017-187; s. 4, ch. 2023-233.

F.S. 320.642 on Google Scholar

F.S. 320.642 on CourtListener

Amendments to 320.642


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 320.642

Total Results: 31  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Ernie Haire Ford, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 260 F.3d 1285 (11th Cir. 2001).

Cited 50 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 2001 U.S. App. LEXIS 17693

...Moreover, Appellee did not want to move EHF from the "auto row" on North Florida Avenue, and it believed the Bearss Avenue location was near some undesirable businesses. Additionally, Appellee feared the relocation would generate protest litigation by other dealerships pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 320.642....
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Ernie Haire Ford, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 260 F.3d 1285 (11th Cir. 2001).

Cited 34 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

...Moreover, Appellee did not want to move EHF from the “auto row” on North Florida Avenue, and it believed the Bearss Avenue location was near some undesirable businesses. Additionally, Appellee feared the relocation would generate protest litigation by other dealerships pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 320.642....
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McCulley Ford, Inc. v. Calvin, 308 So. 2d 189 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974).

Cited 11 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...on August 16, 1973. The hearing was completed on September 7, 1973. The evidence presented related primarily to one basic issue: Were Ford's licensed franchised motor vehicle dealers providing adequate representation in the subject community or territory? (See F.S. 320.642). The burden of proof in showing inadequate representation is placed by F.S. 320.642 on the "licensee"....
...We will consider the most vexing one first. It may be succinctly stated thusly: Was the procedure to be followed in considering the application for license by Smith governed by Chapter 70-424, Laws of Florida, enacted by the 1970 session of the Legislature, or by F.S. 320.642 as printed in the 1971 compilation of the Florida Statutes? Framed another way, was the Respondent (Director) authorized to hold hearings and pass upon the application for the license or was such the prerogative of the Department ? Respondent is the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles....
...20.24) The heads of the various departments of government are granted powers and duties by F.S. 20.05. One of those powers is to employ an "executive director". (F.S. 20.05(7). It is apparent from a reading of the above mentioned statutes (and others) that the designations "Director" and "Department" are not synonymous. F.S. 320.642, Florida Statutes 1971, provides as follows: "The department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the licensee's presently licensed franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers have...
...enged license could not have been validly issued by Respondent. Respondent urges that the above mentioned statutes do not govern and that the applicable law may be found in Chap. 70-424, Laws of Florida (hereinafter referred to as Chapter 70-424). F.S. 320.642 and part of F.S....
...ifferent meaning: "(a) `Department' means the department of highway safety and motor vehicles." (Emphasis added) F.S. 320.60(7), Florida Statutes 1971, was made to read: "(7) `Department' means the department of highway safety and motor vehicles." F.S. 320.642 and F.S....
...The matter included under the authority of this subsection shall be incorporated as enacted in any current session and shall be prima facie evidence of such law in all courts of the state." (Emphasis added) The administrative responsibility imposed on the "department" by Section 320.642, Florida Statutes 1971, therefore was ineffective, because the enrolled act, Chap....
...Sec. 11.2422). However, since Florida Statutes 1973 were not published prior to jurisdiction vesting in this Court, and were not in effect at the time of the actions giving rise to this controversy, we have no occasion to here consider their effect. Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, as printed in the 1971 Florida Statutes, therefore, is no more than prima facie evidence of the law then in effect. The enrolled act, Chap. 70-424, enacted by the Florida Legislature in 1970 stood as the official primary evidence of the law as enacted. It rebuts the prima facie effect of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes 1971....
...the Director's order, though we find from a re-examination of that case that it was mentioned in one sentence of the petitioner's brief. That case, therefore, has no application to the point now under consideration here. Implicit in Florida Statute 320.642 is the requirement that the Director's order be based upon an appropriate factual basis....
...for our review, we held that inasmuch as the director had found from the evidence presented to him that the existing licensee was furnishing adequate service in its locality, such finding precluded, by virtue of the mandatory language contained in F.S. 320.642, the entry of an order granting a new license....
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Braman Cadillac, Inc. v. Dept. of Hwy. Saf. & Motor Vehs., 584 So. 2d 1047 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).

Cited 8 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1991 WL 138127

...(Braman), challenges two final administrative orders from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Department) dismissing its petitions for formal proceedings due to its lack of standing. Braman asserts that it is entitled to standing under Sections 320.642, 320.699, 320.6992 and 120.57, Florida Statutes....
...ea and thus failed to qualify for a Department license. Braman moved to strike WWW's motion to dismiss on the grounds that WWW is not a party to the proceedings and the manufacturer or distributor of Cadillac Motor Division should be appearing under Section 320.642 "as the licensee is the party which has the burden of proof in an administrative hearing to establish the need for a new or expanded dealership by showing inadequate representation in the area." GM subsequently entered the proceedings...
...WWW is a proper party under Sections 320.64 and 320.27, Florida Statutes. General Motors Corporation (GM) also argued that Section 320.699(1)(a), Florida Statutes (Supp. 1988) did not set forth grounds for standing independent of those set forth in Section 320.642(3)(b), Florida Statutes....
...ensee by: (a) Filing with the department a request for a proceeding and an administrative hearing which conforms substantially with the requirements of s. 120.57; or (b) Filing with the department a written objection or notice of protest pursuant to s. 320.642....
...A hearing was held on the motion to strike, which Braman acknowledged was moot after GM joined WWW Enterprises in the proceedings. In his order on Braman's motion to strike, the hearing officer stated in part that Section 320.699 did not provide independent standing grounds beyond those expressed in Section 320.642. Braman requested another hearing, asserting that it met the standing requirements set forth under Section 320.642(3)(b)....
...and the existing Kendall-based Williamson Cadillac dealership share common ownership, such that the existing Williamson dealership and WWW Enterprises are essentially a single entity. [3] Braman thus argues that since it is located within the geographical and sales parameters of Section 320.642(3)(b) with respect to the existing Kendall-based Williamson dealership, Braman has standing to protest the proposed Homestead-based Williamson dealership. Section 320.642(3)(b), Florida Statutes (Supp....
...ny county continguous to the county where the additional or relocated dealer is proposed to be located. In his recommended order, the hearing officer recommended dismissal of Braman's petition. The hearing officer found that "nothing in the statute [Section 320.642(3)(b)] authorizes or requires an analysis of the shareholders of the proposed additional dealership, so that the protesting dealer can claim standing, based on [its proximity to] the location of or the sales made by some third dealership, such as Williamson Cadillac." The hearing officer further held that Braman did not meet the standing criteria of Section 320.642(3)(b). Braman asserted various exceptions which were denied. The Department adopted the recommended order and agreed with the hearing officer's denial of Braman's exceptions. Braman's primary argument is that the Department erred in construing Section 320.642(3)(b) to restrict standing. It therefore asserts that the Department's construction of the statute is impermissible since Braman qualifies under Section 320.642(3)(b), standing criteria with respect to the existing Kendall-based Williamson dealership, which through WWW Enterprises has essentially created a corporate alter *1050 ego in the proposed Homestead-based Williamson dealership....
...its retail sales of new motor vehicles to persons whose registered household addresses were located within a radius of 12.5 miles of the location of the proposed motor vehicle dealership during any 12 months of the last 36 months, as required under Section 320.642(3). We find that the Department's holding that Braman does not qualify under the Section 320.642 standing requirements is correct. First, a plain interpretation of the statute clearly shows that Braman is not located within any of the parameters necessary to confer standing upon it. The Section 320.642(3)(b) standing test clearly circumscribes the criteria which protesting parties must meet to contest the issuance of a new or additional dealership license....
...his provision. We have also reviewed Braman's other arguments, including their contention that Braman will suffer impairment of its contractual relationship with GM and find this argument to be without merit for purposes of conferring standing under Section 320.642....
...This section addresses the types of administrative hearings which the Legislature contemplated under Sections 320.60 to 320.70. Parties seeking to redress grievances may petition for a hearing under Section 120.57(1)(a) or may pursue an action under Section 320.642, if they file a "written objection or notice of protest." Under the plain language of Section 320.699(1), a dealer, such as Braman, must be "a directly and adversely affected party affected by the action or conduct of an applicant or licensee which is alleged to be in violation of any provision of ss....
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Coulter Elec., Inc. v. Dept. of Revenue, 365 So. 2d 806 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978).

Cited 7 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1978 Fla. App. LEXIS 17150

...That action the statutory revision service had no authority to take. * * * * * * [S]ince Florida Statutes 1973 were not published prior to jurisdiction vesting in this Court, and were not in effect at the time of the actions giving rise to this controversy, we have no occasion to here consider their effect. Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, as printed in the 1971 Florida Statutes, therefore, is no more than prima facie evidence of the law then in effect. The enrolled act, Chap. 70-424, enacted by the Florida Legislature in 1970 stood as the official primary evidence of the law as enacted. It rebuts the prima facie effect of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes 1971." Accordingly, the order below is REVERSED and the cause REMANDED with directions that the deficiency assessments against appellant be vacated and withdrawn....
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Plantation Datsun, Inc. v. Calvin, 275 So. 2d 26 (Fla. 1st DCA 1973).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...Shovlain, the owner of Plantation Datsun, Inc., agreed to undertake the new dealership and invested money in a building and land. The three other dealers in Broward County protested the issuing of the license to operate the new dealership in accordance with § 320.642, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., and a hearing was held before the Director of Motor Vehicles. The director denied the license on the grounds that the existing dealers complied with licensee agreements and were providing adequate representation in the territory. We agree. Section 320.642, as a part of the comprehensive statute on motor vehicle licenses, reads as follows: "The department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the licensee's presently licensed fr...
...The legislature need not prescribe detailed rules to avoid a claim of unconstitutionality. It is *28 sufficient if the legislature declares the general policy, the public agency which is to apply it, and the boundaries of authority. McRae v. Robbins, 151 Fla. 109, 9 So.2d 284 (1942). A reading of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., in the context of the entire chapter, shows that it meets the constitutional requirements for delegation of power....
...nts to the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court has held that if an economic regulation has some reasonable basis, it does not offend the constitution, Dandridge v. Williams, 397 U.S. 471, 90 S.Ct. 1153, 25 L.Ed.2d 491 (1970). The basis for Section 320.642 was ably expressed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in construing a similar statute....
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Bill Kelley Chevrolet, Inc. v. Calvin, 308 So. 2d 199 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...ecuted by Chevrolet Motor Division, General Motors Corporation, and Dealer." The director failed to make any finding that the "Primary Area of Responsibility of Dealer" is the same as, or different from, "the community or territory" referred to in F.S. 320.642....
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Bill Kelley Chevrolet, Inc. v. Calvin, 322 So. 2d 50 (Fla. 1st DCA 1975).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1975 Fla. App. LEXIS 18755

...Four licensed Chevrolet dealers have petitioned for review of an order entered by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles licensing Marshall Berwick as a franchised Chevrolet dealer in Hollywood. Sec. 120.68, F.S. 1973. Petitioners urge that the Director granted the license in violation of § 320.642, F.S....
...The Director found that "there is a need *52 for a new dealer [in the Hollywood area] if Chevrolet is to be represented adequately and not lose its percentage of the market in the community." We agree with the Director, General Motors and Berwick that § 320.642 does not foreclose additional Chevrolet dealer representation in the "community or territory" — the Miami multiple dealer area — simply because each existing dealer now tends his own garden well and that the product of all twelve, taken together, is adequate by territorial standards....
...n concluding that the cultivation of the territory is not adequate. We agree with the Director that it would be unreasonable and arbitrary to deny General Motors and its chosen applicant the right to proceed under these circumstances. The purpose of § 320.642, F.S....
...l. Antitrust laws have proscribed such combinations in the United States since 1890 and in this State since 1915. Tit. 15 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.; Ch. 6933, Fla.Laws 1915 as amended, Ch. 542, F.S. 1973. Assuming as we do that the legislature in enacting § 320.642 intended "to serve the best interest of the people and the general welfare of the State" consistent with the purposes of the antitrust laws [ Abood v....
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Hess Marine, Inc. v. Calvin, 296 So. 2d 114 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...tatutes, F.S.A., *115 to review the final order of respondent granting an application of Cycle World for a license as a motor vehicle dealer to sell Honda products in the Pensacola area. The statute governing issuing of such a license by respondent, Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., states as follows: "The department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the licensee's presently licensed franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealer...
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Int'l Harvester Credit Corp. v. East Coast Truck, 387 F. Supp. 820 (S.D. Fla. 1975).

Cited 3 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 20 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 49, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14520

...ories, and parts on a credit basis for retail sale by East Coast. However, before East Coast could commence operations, it had to acquire a motor vehicle dealers license from the Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of Florida. Florida Statutes § 320.642 (1973)....
...from the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. He also knew that if the Department of Motor Vehicles found there was adequate representation in the community by existing licensed franchised dealers, his application could be denied. Florida Statutes § 320.642....
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Kawasaki of Tampa, Inc. v. Calvin, 348 So. 2d 897 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...rior to the Director's order in the case sub judice but subsequent to the hearing. The rule states in pertinent part as follows: "* * * Upon receipt of such notice the Director shall be authorized to proceed with making the determination required by Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, and shall cause a notice to be sent to the presently licensed franchised dealers for the same make or makes of vehicles in the territory or community in which the new dealership proposes to locate, advising such dealers of the provisions of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, and giving them and all real parties in interest an opportunity to be heard on the matters specified in that Section. The Director may make such further investigation and hold such hearing as he deems necessary to determine the questions specified under Section 320.642....
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Dave Zinn Toyota, Inc. v. Dept. of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., 432 So. 2d 1320 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...441, is one of two dealerships in adjacent Dade County and is located 4.6 miles south of the proposed location of Hollywood Isuzu. The contractual arrangement between the licensee and its dealers does not assign a specific or exclusive area of responsibility or territory to the dealer. Section 320.642, Florida Statutes (1981), establishes the standard for the issuance or denial of a motor vehicle dealer license: "The Department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the lice...
...he site of a cluster of competing imported car dealers, was a logical location for Isuzu, and that by locating there, Isuzu's visibility would be increased and its Miami metropolitan sales stimulated. Finally, keeping in mind that: "[t]he purpose of § 320.642, F.S....
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A. Abraham Chevrolet Co., Inc. v. Collection Chev. Inc., 533 So. 2d 821 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1988 WL 105206

...Anthony Abraham Chevrolet appeals a final order of the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles dismissing its second amended petition with prejudice. Appellant contends that its amended petition for an administrative hearing alleged sufficient facts to survive the motion to dismiss, and that section 320.642, Florida Statutes, applies to dealer relocations....
...territory" of the protestant, and if the proposed relocation is within the same "community or territory," then the proposed change of location does not implicate the substantial interests of the protestant, protected within the zone of interests of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes....
...ch would bring Abraham and Collection within the final scenario which could establish standing in Abraham. (R. 93-95) (emphasis in the original). The hearing officer dismissed Abraham's second amended petition with prejudice, concluding that neither § 320.642 nor Fla....
...Code Rule 15C-1.08 granted the Department jurisdiction to deny an application for change of address based solely upon the protest of another dealer in the same county, and that economic injury alone to existing dealers was not a cognizable factor under § 320.642....
...The Department adopted the recommended order as its own and ordered that (1) Abraham's second amended complaint be dismissed with prejudice, and (2) Collection's application for relocation be approved following Collection's compliance with all applicable provisions of § 320.27. The first issue is whether § 320.642, Fla. Stat. (1985), applies to dealer relocations within the same territory or community. [3] Nothing in the language of the statute precludes application of section 320.642 to dealer relocations in situations such as the one before us. The hearing officer even concedes that Abraham would have standing if it "sought to relocate closer to the protestant's borders in such a way that applicant's and protestant's communities/territories overlap." We hold, therefore, that § 320.642, Fla....
...Although that section cannot be retroactively applied to the case before us, it is indicative of legislative intent. We also hold that Abraham's amended petition sufficiently alleges that Collection's relocation would intrude into its community or territory within the meaning of section 320.642 and, therefore, that Abraham has standing to assert its rights in this administrative proceeding....
...rimary Responsibility designated by Agreement between ABRAHAM and GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (see attached Exhibit "A"), thereby resulting in economic injury to ABRAHAM. The injury alleged is within the zone of injury contemplated by Florida Statute 320.642, and the Florida Constitution....
...Exhibit "A" is a map of the area of "Primary Responsibility" designated by agreement between Abraham and General Motors Corporation. [2] This decision was not published in Florida Administrative Law Reports. [3] At the time of the proceedings below section 320.642, Florida Statutes (1985), provided: The department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the licensee's presently licensed franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers have comp...
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Coral Gables Imported Motorcars, Inc. v. Fiat Motors of North Am., Inc., 673 F.2d 1234 (11th Cir. 1982).

Cited 2 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 1982 U.S. App. LEXIS 19866

“replacement dealer” has special meaning. Section 320.642 provides: The department shall deny an application
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Gmc v. Dept. of Hwy. Saf. & Motor Veh., 625 So. 2d 76 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1993 WL 366884

...On appeal, appellants address only rule 15C-1.008, which they argue is inconsistent with chapter 320, Florida Statutes (1989); and exceeds the rulemaking authority granted to the Department by the legislature. We affirm. Rule 15C-1.008 is intended principally to implement section 320.642, Florida Statutes, which addresses the procedure to be followed to determine whether an application for a motor vehicle dealer license should be granted when a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor or importer of motor vehicles "proposes to establish an additional ... dealership or permit the relocation of an existing dealer to a location within a community or territory where the same line-make vehicle is presently represented by a franchised ... dealer or dealers." § 320.642(1), Fla....
...s who register new motor vehicle retail sales or retail leases of the same line-make in the community or territory of the proposed dealership are not providing adequate representation of such line-make motor vehicles in such community or territory." § 320.642(2)(a)1....
...Stat. (1989). Subsection (2) requires, further, that, in making a determination regarding the adequacy of existing representation in the community or territory, the Department consider evidence directed to certain enumerated issues, or "questions." § 320.642(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1989). Appellants object only to the last portion of rule 15C-1.008, which reads: The Director may make such further investigation and hold such hearing as he deems necessary to determine the questions specified under Section 320.642....
...er, or date of final judicial determination in the event of an appeal, unless for good cause a different period is set by the Director in his order of determination. (Emphasis added.) Appellants argue that, because no such time limit is contained in section 320.642, the Department lacks the authority to adopt one by rule....
...e dealers and manufacturers, maintaining competition, providing consumer protection and fair trade and providing minorities with opportunities for full participation as motor vehicle dealers." § 320.605, Fla. Stat. (1989). "The purpose of [section] 320.642 ......
...isting and prospective." Bill Kelley Chevrolet, Inc. v. Calvin, 322 So.2d 50, 52 (Fla. 1st DCA 1975), cert. denied, 336 So.2d 1180 (Fla. 1976). Accord Plantation Datsun, Inc. v. Calvin, 275 So.2d 26 (Fla. 1st DCA 1973). Consistent with that purpose, section 320.642(2) requires the Department to determine whether an additional (either new or relocated) dealership is justified, economically and otherwise, from the viewpoints of the existing dealers and the public, respectively....
...Clearly, such data changes over time, as does the economy. What may be a perfectly defensible determination based upon today's data, might well prove to be indefensible at some point in the future. It seems to us that, in order effectively to administer section 320.642, it is essential that the Department have the authority to limit the life of a determination made pursuant to that section....
...The dealership, to be operated by appellant herein, was to have an annual sales volume of up to 1,360 cars and trucks, and would require 213,825 square feet of property. In May 1988, appellant, after complying with the requirements of sections 320.27 and 320.642, Florida Statutes, sent its preliminary application for franchise motor vehicle license to the Department....
...proval. The Department informed appellant that this approval would expire at the end of one year, unless appellants complied with certain requirements which were not then explicated in any statute or rule. [3] The Department and the majority rely on section 320.642, Florida Statutes, which rule 15C-1.008 purports to implement, as authority for the rule....
...can in good faith carry on such business and keep and maintain books, records, and files necessary to conduct such business, which will be available at all reasonable hours to inspection by the department or any of its inspectors or other employees. Section 320.642 sets forth detailed procedures governing notice to other dealers. If an existing dealer protests, time-consuming, expensive litigation follows in which the Department must weigh evidence relevant to eleven different factors, in determining whether to grant the application. § 320.642, Fla....
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Home Volkswagen, Inc. v. Calvin, 338 So. 2d 1287 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...e on the ground that petitioner failed to show that the existing dealers were not complying with their franchise *1288 agreements or had failed to show that the existing dealers were not providing adequate representation in the territory pursuant to § 320.642, Fla....
...Petitioner then forwarded to respondent written confirmation from the distributor stating that the letter of intent was still in effect and requested that Mr. Whitney withdraw his previous letter. The only response was an order setting the application for hearing pursuant to § 320.642, Fla....
...Please acknowledge your understanding of the above by signing below." Mr. Goldstein's name is then signed below in the space provided. Respondent was correct in construing the application filed by Home Volkswagen, Inc., as a new application to be processed under § 320.642, Fla....
...Although Home Volkswagen, Inc., is at present a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen South, Inc., it is a separate corporation and its ownership could be readily changed (as pointed out by Goldstein's previously quoted letter of December 13, 1971). It was certainly not the intent of the legislature that the provisions of § 320.642, Fla....
...d the record made at the hearing on the application does not show that the existing dealers were not complying with their franchise agreements or that they had failed to provide adequate representation to the licensee in the territory as required by § 320.642, Fla....
...In its petition for rehearing, petitioner contends that our opinion was in error in characterizing the original application of Volkswagen South, Inc., as an application under § 320.27(5), Fla. Stat. It contends that the application was filed under § 320.642, Fla....
...It pertains to new motor vehicle license applications and subsection (5) thereof applies to supplemental licenses. Subsection (5) authorizes issuance of a supplemental license to a previously licensed dealer for an additional place of business not contiguous to the premises for which the original license was issued. § 320.642 states as follows in relation to denial of a motor vehicle dealer license: "The department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the *1291 licensee's presently licensed franchised...
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Jerry Ulm Dodge, Inc. v. Chrysler Grp. LLC, 78 So. 3d 20 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 19724, 2011 WL 6117218

...epartment of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles ("Department"), which concluded that the establishment by Chrysler Group LLC ("Chrysler Group") of North Tampa Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Inc. (North Tampa), a successor motor vehicle dealer, was exempt under section 320.642(5)(a)1, Florida Statutes (2010), from the notice and protest requirements in sections 320.642(1)-(3), Florida Statutes (2010)....
...Chrysler Group received confirmation from an employee of the Department via email, based on information Chrysler Group provided the employee via email on February 5, 2010, that North Tampa would be exempt from the notice and protest requirements of section 320.642(5)(a)1, Florida Statutes (2010)....
...er, Dodge, and Jeep dealership. The Department issued the dealer license to North Tampa. Ulm and Ferman filed a petition with the Department for determination that Chrysler Group had established an additional motor vehicle dealership in violation of section 320.642....
...The Department forwarded the petition to the Division of Administrative Hearings. After an evidentiary hearing, the administrative law judge ("ALJ") entered a Recommended Order concluding that the establishment of North Tampa is exempt from the notice and protest requirements of section 320.642. The ALJ found that the doctrine of equitable tolling applied to the facts of this case to toll the start of the twelve-month exemption period under section 320.642(5)(a) until March 10, 2009, the date Chrysler Group terminated Wilson's dealer agreements....
...Baptist Hosp. of Fla., Inc. v. Welker, 908 So.2d 317, 319 (Fla.2005) ("This question involves a pure question of law and thus is subject to de novo review.") (italics added); Steward v. Dep't of Children & Families, 865 So.2d 528, 530 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004). Section 320.642 regulates a licensee's ability to establish an additional dealership in a market. If the licensee desires to establish an additional dealership in a market, the licensee must give notice to the Department of its intent to establish an additional dealership. § 320.642(1). After receiving the licensee's notice, the Department shall publish a notice of the proposed additional dealership in the Florida Administrative Weekly, whereupon dealers who have standing may file a petition protesting the proposal. § 320.642(1)-(3). However, the statute also provides exemptions from the statutory notice and protest requirements. § 320.642(5). Whether Chrysler Group is entitled to an exemption from the statutory notice and protest requirements is the issue in this appeal. Section 320.642(5)(a)1 allows an exemption to the statutory notice and protest requirements if a successor motor vehicle dealer is opened or reopened within twelve months and is within the same or adjacent county and is within two miles of the former dealership's location....
...on for a license to permit the reopening of the same dealer or a successor dealer within twelve months of the license revocation or surrender shall not be considered the establishment of an additional dealership if one of the conditions set forth in Section 320.642(5), Florida Statutes, is met by the proposed dealer....
...welve-month exemption period under the Rule. We must, therefore, determine whether the Department erred as a matter of law in determining that the doctrine of equitable tolling applied to toll the beginning of the twelve-month exemption period under section 320.642(5)(a) until March 10, 2009....
...Therefore, even if the doctrine of equitable tolling applied to the facts of this case, it tolled the effective date of Wilson's license termination to February 9, 2009. III. Conclusion Accordingly, the establishment of North Tampa by Chrysler Group is not exempt under section 320.642(5)(a)1 from the notice and protest requirements in sections 320.642(1)-(3)....
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Int'l Truck & Engine Corp. v. Capital Truck, Inc., 872 So. 2d 372 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 5815, 2004 WL 893181

license from DHSMV. ITEC recognized that under section 320.642(8), Florida Statutes (2001), “An existing franchised
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Barnard & Russell Enter., Inc. v. Calvin, 296 So. 2d 115 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1974).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1974 Fla. App. LEXIS 6943

Respondent’s findings do not meet the requirements of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., for .the granting
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Southside Motor Co. v. Askew, 332 So. 2d 613 (Fla. 1976).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1976 Fla. LEXIS 4344

Crown Ford, Respondents did not comply with Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, or Rule 15C-1.08, Florida
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Colonial Pontiac, Inc. v. Gen. Motors Corp., 614 So. 2d 1204 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1993).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 3021, 1993 WL 57702

the proceedings below, conducted pursuant to section 320.642, Florida Statutes, we are not con*1205cerned
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Sheffield v. Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., 356 So. 2d 353 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1978).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1978 Fla. App. LEXIS 15481

with making the determination required by Section 320.-642, Florida Statutes, and shall cause a notice
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Bella Auto. Grp., Inc. v. Se. Toyota Distributors, Inc., 739 So. 2d 97 (Fla. 1999).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 3426, 1999 WL 157316

PER CURIAM. .Affirmed. See § 320.642, Fla. Stat. (1997); Dave Zinn Toyota, Inc. v. Department of High
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Taylor-Smith Corp. v. Calvin, 310 So. 2d 309 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1975).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1975 Fla. App. LEXIS 13963

Vehicles with directions to hold a hearing under Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, with notice to and an opportunity
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Larry Dimmitt Cadillac, Inc. v. Seacrest Cadillac, Inc., 558 So. 2d 136 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1990).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 1612, 1990 WL 25938

accepted by the agency in the proceedings below. Section 320.642, Florida Statutes (1987), requires denial of
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Recovery Racing, LLC d/b/a Maserati of Fort Lauderdale v. State of Florida Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., Maserati North Am., Inc., 192 So. 3d 665 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2016 WL 3065645, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 8326

To *667 that end, it enacted section 320.642, which outlines the procedures for obtaining
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South v. Calvin, 401 So. 2d 1134 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1981).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1981 Fla. App. LEXIS 20561

Appellant requested a hearing pursuant to Section 320.642, Florida Statutes (1979), which reads: The
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Milano Imported Motors, Inc. v. Alfa Romeo, Inc., 373 So. 2d 722 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1979).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1979 Fla. App. LEXIS 15417

advising such dealers of the provisions of Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, and giving them and all
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Stewart Pontiac Co. v. State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., 511 So. 2d 660 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).

Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 12 Fla. L. Weekly 1880, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 9647

establishment of the new dealership under the terms of § 320.642, Florida Statutes (1985), which statute provides:
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Gus Machado Buick-GMC Truck, Inc. v. Gen. Motors Corp., 623 So. 2d 810 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1993).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 8937, 1993 WL 328485

addresses. Section 320.63(3), Fla.Stat. (1989). Section 320.642(1), Florida Statutes (1989), provides that
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Superior Imports of Tampa, Inc. v. Stacy David, Inc., 617 So. 2d 795 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 4686, 1993 WL 132637

neither of these subjects were covered under Section 320.642, Florida Statutes, and accordingly, were not

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