The following definitions apply to this chapter:
- (a) “Application” means an application to the recovery corporation for the payment of an eligible claim from the recovery fund that is filed with the recovery corporation after January 1, 2009.
- (b) “Consumer” means a person who either (1) purchased or leased, or became obligated to purchase or lease, a motor vehicle to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes from a dealer or lessor-retailer licensed under this code, or (2) consigned for sale a motor vehicle that was used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a dealer licensed under this code.
(c) “Eligible claim” means an unsatisfied claim for economic loss, not barred by the statutes of limitation, that accrues after July 1, 2008, as a result of the failure of a dealer licensed under this code, or, if applicable, a lessor-retailer licensed under this code, to do any of the following:
- (1) Remit license or registration fees received or contractually obligated to be paid from a consumer to the department.
- (2) Pay to the legal owner of a vehicle transferred as a trade-in by a consumer to the dealer or lessor-retailer the amount necessary to discharge the prior credit balance owed to the legal owner.
- (3) Pay to the lessor registered in accordance with Section 4453.5 of a vehicle transferred as a trade-in by a consumer to the dealer or lessor-retailer the amount the dealer or lessor-retailer agreed to pay to the lessor.
- (4) Pay the amount specified in a consignment agreement to a consumer after the sale of a consigned vehicle.
- (5) Provide a consumer who purchased a vehicle from the dealer or lessor-retailer with good title to the vehicle, free from any security interest or other lien, encumbrance, or claim, unless otherwise clearly and conspicuously provided for by the written sale agreement.
- (6) Pay to a third party any amount received from, or contractually obligated to be paid by, a consumer for insurance, service contracts, or goods or services purchased through the dealer or lessor-retailer and to be provided by the third party.
- (d) “Participant” means a dealer licensed under this code or a lessor-retailer licensed under this code.
- (e) “Recovery corporation” means the Consumer Motor Vehicle Recovery Corporation.
- (f) “Recovery fund” means the consumer recovery fund established by the recovery corporation pursuant to Section 12203 for the payment of eligible claims.