About complaints and charges for dealer and transporter businesses

If you are looking to file a complaint against a dealer or transporter business, please report a problem with a DMV regulated automotive business.


Complaint filed against you or your business

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulates all repair shops, inspection stations, dealers, vehicle dismantlers and other related businesses in NY State. To legally operate as such a business, you must register with the DMV. Once your application is approved you will receive a certificate from the DMV. You will also receive a copy of the Commissioner's Regulations that pertain to your type of business. They will explain your responsibilities to consumers. You must follow all consumer protection laws and regulations.

The DMV advises all consumers who have a complaint against a dealer, inspection station, repair shop, or dismantler to make an attempt to resolve their complaint with the business manager. If they are not successful, they are advised to contact the DMV Consumer & Facilities Services Complaint Unit.

  • protect your business: keep a copy of all work orders in an easy-to-access location


Complaint process

If a complaint has been filed against you, a Consumer Services Rep from the DMV will contact you in an attempt to resolve this complaint. The CSR will explain the nature of the complaint and will also inform you of your rights, responsibilities, and your liability. If the complaint is not resolved with the CSR, the case will be sent to an Automotive Facilities Inspector (AFI) for a formal investigation.

  • avoid costly penalties, fines, and the loss of valuable customers by responding to all DMV inquiries in a timely manner

Investigation process

The AFI will conduct a formal investigation. The result may be no action, a warning letter (Notice of Investigation) placed in your file, or a formal administrative hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). When Vehicle Safety initiates the hearing process, you may be offered the opportunity through a "hearing waiver" to admit to the charges and to either pay a specified monetary penalty and/or to accept a suspension. If the waiver is accepted, no hearing is required. If the offer is rejected, a hearing must be held.

The result of the hearing may be no action, a civil penalty, and/or a suspension or revocation of your ability to operate as a vehicle related business in New York State. You may also be offered the opportunity to pay restitution to the consumer in instead of the fines and/or penalties, or to have the penalty reduced.


Hearing process

You are entitled to hire an attorney and to bring that attorney to the hearing. The DMV is the petitioner is this case and the complainant may be a witness for the case.

As a result of the hearing, the ALJ may sustain some, all, or none of the charges. There may be no action, a warning, the imposition of a suspension, revocation, and/or civil penalties. If the ALJ only imposes civil penalties, in order to prevent the loss of your operating privilege, you must pay all fines and penalties. You will receive a letter from the DMV shortly after the hearing. You will have 30 days from the date of the order by the judge to pay your fine or penalty.

Failure to pay any fines or penalties or to serve out your suspension will result in indefinite suspension of your business certificate and the possible assessment of a lien against your business. However, if you pay your fine and/or penalty or serve out your period of suspension, you will be back in business after complete compliance. If you are revoked, you must surrender all supplies and cease to operate.

You have the right to appeal any adverse decision. If you chose to appeal, you have 60 days from the date of the ALJs decision to file the Appeal From DMV Hearing Determination (pdf) (AA-33A), which must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee.

Your facility license, registration or certification enables you to operate in New York State. Complaints filed and charges brought against you can result in the loss of your privilege to operate as a business here.

Related content

For your convenience, many DMV PDF forms can be filled in online and then printed.