BUSHING GUIDELINES
Dealer Obligations
Bushing Guidelines atg.wa.gov/bushing-scams
B
ushing occurs when a dealer attempts to change the terms of
a sale agreement more than four business days after the deal was signed. Also known as “spot delivery” or “yo-yo” sales, this switcheroo is strictly forbidden under Washington state law, RCW 46.70.180(4), and is a per se violation of the state Consumer Protection Act.
Under the law, car dealers are allowed four working days to find financing and finalize a sale after a buyer has signed a contingent contract. If the financing falls through, the dealer must tell the buyer that the contract is voided and return any initial payment or security given by the buyer, including but not limited to money, check, promissory note, vehicle keys, trade-in, or certificate of title. This must occur before renegotiating a new contract with different terms and before the end of the fourth working day If a dealer calls the buyer back more than four days after the contract was executed to change the deal (even if the new terms are favorable), bushing has occurred. Dealers often sell a trade-in vehicle within 24 hours of receiving it. The buyer should be entitled to the cash
value of the trade-in if the trade-in has been sold. If the dealer over-values the trade-in, the buyer is still entitled to the cash value of the trade-in as listed in the contract. Calculating business days
Car Sold:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Fri, Sat, Sun
Car Deal Must Be Approved or Unwound By: COB that Friday COB the next Monday COB the next Tuesday COB the next Wednesday COB the next Thursday
STATEWIDE SHORTAGE LICENSE PLATES
“I
n summer 2020, Correctional Industries (CI) started experiencing license plate production issues due to COVID-
related reasons. While DOL’s Inventory Control team has been working with CI over the past 8 months to balance plate issuance statewide, the situation began to worsen in late April. Office inventory levels started to get dangerously low with a few Vehicle Licensing Offices (VLOs) briefly running out of inventory. Department of Continue on page 9
8 | the Front Row | wsiada.com | July/August 2021
