New York Laws
Article 26 - Miscellaneous
396-Q - New Motor Vehicles; Sales and Leases.

§ 396-q. New motor vehicles; sales and leases. 1. Whenever a consumer
agrees to purchase or lease a new motor vehicle, as defined in section
one hundred twenty-five of the vehicle and traffic law and excluding
class A, B and C limited use motorcycles as defined in section one
hundred twenty-one-b of the vehicle and traffic law, from a dealer and
signs a contract supplied by such dealer, the dealer or an employee of
the dealer shall also sign the contract. For purposes of contract
formation, such signature shall be presumed to be an authorized
signature.

2. If a trade-in allowance is agreed upon between a consumer and a
dealer, such allowance must be contained in writing within the contract.
If a consumer signs a contract supplied by a dealer for the purchase or
lease of a motor vehicle and the contract contains a trade-in allowance,
such allowance shall not be reduced upon delivery of the trade-in
vehicle; provided that the value of the trade-in vehicle is not
materially diminished as a result of physical damage, alteration or
deterioration in mechanical condition other than normal wear and tear.

3. If an interest rate on the financing of the sale of a car is
offered to the consumer by the dealer, at the time a deposit is made or
a bona fide customer order is executed, that interest rate shall be
guaranteed by the dealer as of the date of the deposit or order, if the
financing of the sale is to be provided by the dealer. If an interest
rate on the financing of the sale of a car is offered to the consumer by
a manufacturer, through a dealer, at the time a deposit is made or a
bona fide customer order is executed, that interest rate shall be
guaranteed by the manufacturer as of the date of the deposit or order,
if the financing of the sale is to be provided by the manufacturer. If
an interest rate on the financing of the sale of a car is offered to the
consumer by a financing agency as defined by subdivision nine of section
three hundred one of the personal property law, through a dealer, at the
time a deposit is made or a bona fide customer order is executed, that
interest rate shall be guaranteed by such financing agency as of the
date of the deposit or order, if the financing of the sale is to be
provided by such financing agency.

4. If at the time a new motor vehicle is delivered by a dealer to the
consumer, such motor vehicle is not equipped with the specific options
or equipment ordered by the consumer as stipulated in the purchase
contract, the dealer shall offer to reduce the price stated in the
contract by the dollar amount of the equipment that has not been
provided. No dealer shall be entitled to receive or collect payment for
any ordered merchandise, accessories or equipment which in fact was not
provided at the time of delivery of the vehicle unless the consumer
indicates a willingness in writing to wait for a stated period of time
for the option or equipment to become available or be installed. Nothing
in this subdivision shall in any way limit the rights or remedies which
are otherwise available to a consumer under any other provision of law,
including, but not limited to, the right to refuse to accept delivery of
a vehicle not equipped as stipulated in the purchase contract.

5. Any dealer or employee of a dealer who violates any of the
provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offense and subject to
a fine not to exceed fifty dollars.

In addition, any individual injured by reason of a violation of
subdivision three of this section, may bring an action to recover actual
damages and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

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