Pennsylvania Act 2026-51 — BOARD OF VEHICLES ACT - UNLAWFUL ACTS BY MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS, AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS ON ESTABLISHING OR RELOCATING DEALERS

Act text

Session of 2026

No. 2026-51

SB 1353

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 22, 1983 (P.L.306, No.84), entitled "An act providing for the State Board of Vehicle Manufacturers, Dealers and Salespersons; and providing penalties," in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in vehicles, further providing for unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors, for area of responsibility and for limitations on establishing or relocating dealers.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The definition of "relevant market area" in section 102 of the act of December 22, 1983 (P.L.306, No.84), known as the Board of Vehicles Act, is amended to read:

Section 102. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

---

"Relevant market area." The area within a radius of 20 miles around an existing dealer or the area of responsibility defined in the franchise, whichever is greater; except:

(1) where a manufacturer is seeking to establish an additional new vehicle dealer, the relevant market area shall be in all instances the area within a radius of ten miles around the proposed site of the additional new vehicle dealer, except for cities of the first and second class which will be the area within a five-mile radius, around the proposed site of the additional new vehicle dealer; and

(2) where a manufacturer is seeking to relocate an existing dealer, the relevant market area is the area within a radius of 20 miles around the proposed site of the relocating dealer or the area of responsibility defined in the franchise of the relocating dealer, whichever is greater.

This definition shall not apply to manufactured housing [or] dealers, recreational vehicle dealers or dealers of trailers, or their manufacturer agreements.

---

Section 2. Section 310(d) of the act is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

Section 310. Unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors.

---

(d) Applicability.--

---

(1.2) This section shall not apply to manufacturers, distributors or dealers of trailers.

---

Section 3. Section 311(b) and 326(b)(4) of the act are amended to read:

Section 311. Area of responsibility.

---

(b) Exception.--This section shall not apply to recreational vehicle manufacturers, distributors or dealers or to manufacturers, distributors or dealers of trailers .

Section 326. Limitations on establishing or relocating dealers.

---

(b) Nonapplicability of section.--This section does not apply:

---

(4) To manufactured housing [or] dealers, recreational vehicle dealers or dealers of trailers .

---

Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 20th day of July, A.D. 2026.

JOSH SHAPIRO