(1) “Advertisement” or “advertising” means any oral, written, telecommunicated, graphic, pictorial, or other statement made in the course of soliciting business, including without limitation a statement or representation:
- (A) Made in a newspaper, magazine, internet, or other publication; or
(B) Contained or appearing in or on:
- (i) A notice;
- (ii) A sign;
- (iii) A poster;
- (iv) A display;
- (v) A circular;
- (vi) A pamphlet;
- (vii) A letter;
- (viii) A flyer;
- (ix) A price tag;
- (x) A window sticker;
- (xi) A banner;
- (xii) A billboard;
- (xiii) A handbill;
- (xiv) A radio;
- (xv) A television;
- (xvi) A web page; or
- (xvii) Any other medium;
- (2) “Bait and switch” means an alluring but insincere offer to switch consumers from buying the advertised motor vehicle, in order to sell or lease a different motor vehicle on terms more advantageous to the advertiser;
(3)
(A) “Clear and conspicuous” means that the statement, representation, or term being used is of such size, color, contrast, audibility, and is presented so as to be:
- (i) Readily noticed;
- (ii) Understood; and
- (iii) Nondeceptive.
- (B) All language and terms, including abbreviations, shall be used in accordance with their common or ordinary usage and meaning by the general public;
- (4) “Dealer discount” means an amount of reduction or contribution by the dealer to reduce the selling price of the vehicle from “MSRP”;
(5) “Dealership addendum” means an equipment list displayed on a window of a motor vehicle when the dealership:
(A) Installs special:
- (i) Features;
- (ii) Equipment;
- (iii) Parts; or
- (iv) Accessories; or
- (B) Charges for service not already compensated by the manufacturer or distributor for work required to prepare a vehicle for delivery to a buyer;
- (6) “Disclaimer” means those words or phrases used to provide a clear understanding of an advertised statement but not used to contradict or change the meaning of the statement;
- (7) “Disclosure” means required information that is clear, conspicuous, and accurate shall be in the immediate proximity of the year, make, and model offered in the advertisement or stated at a clear and concise level in broadcast mediums;
- (8) “Dealer service and handling fees” means a fee that a dealer may charge in connection with the sale or lease of a new or used motor vehicle for handling, processing, and storage of documents and other administrative and clerical services;
- (9) “Incentive” means anything of value offered as an inducement directly or indirectly towards the purchase of a vehicle, including but not limited to, discounts, savings claims, and other dealer programs, but not including factory rebates;
(10) “Limited rebate” means rebates not available to all consumers and is defined as any payment of money to a consumer, or any payment to a dealer or third party on behalf of a consumer, and that is confined, or restricted, to a certain class of consumers, including, but not limited to, on the basis of the consumer’s:
- (A) Status;
- (B) Sponsorship;
- (C) Affiliation; or
- (D) Association;
(11) “Line make” means a group or series of motor vehicles that have the same brand identification or brand name, based upon the manufacturer’s:
- (A) Trademark;
- (B) Trade name; or
- (C) Logo;
- (12) “List” or “sticker” price when used in a new motor vehicle advertisement refers only to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (Monroney sticker or “MSRP”);
- (13) “Manufacturer label” means the label required by the federal Automobile Information Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1231 – 1233 (normally referred to as the Monroney label), to be affixed by the manufacturer to the windshield or side window of each new automobile delivered to a dealer;
(14)
- (A) “MSRP” or “manufacturer suggested retail price” means the “list price” shown on the window sticker or “Monroney label” and is the manufacturer’s baseline price for that vehicle.
- (B) “Dealership addendums” or “temporary factory value packages” are not a part of “MSRP”; and
- (15) “Rebate” means the payment of money from the manufacturer to a consumer or payment to a dealer or third party on behalf of a consumer on the condition that the consumer purchases or leases a new motor vehicle.