940 CMR 5.01
Definitions
Advertisement (including the terms advertise and advertising) means any oral, written or graphic
statement made by a seller in any manner in connection with the solicitation of business and includes,
without limitation because of enumeration, statements and representations made in a newspaper or
other publication or on radio or television or contained in any notice, handbill, sign, billboard, poster,
bill, circular, brochure, pamphlet, catalogue or letter, or printed on or contained in any tag or label
which is attached to or accompanies any merchandise offered for sale.
Authorized Dealer Representative means a salesperson, sales manager or other agent or employee of
a motor vehicle dealer who is authorized to represent or act for the dealer in connection with the
acceptance, rejection or modification of motor vehicle purchase contracts.
Clear and Conspicuous means that the statement, representation or term being disclosed is of such size,
sound or color contrast and is so placed as to be readily noticeable to the person to whom it is being
disclosed. A statement contained in a printed contract, form or notice is not clear and conspicuous
unless it is printed in at least ten point type or its equivalent.
Customer means any person who has repairs, service or maintenance performed or seeks to have
repairs, service or maintenance performed by a repair shop on a motor vehicle.
Defect means any defect in the design, construction or performance of a motor vehicle produced by
a manufacturer which the manufacturer has reason to believe may occur or exist in a substantial number
of vehicles produced by the manufacturer and which (a) creates an unreasonable risk of accident, death
or injury; (b) substantially impairs the operation or performance of the vehicle; or (c) substantially
impairs the value of the vehicle.
Manufacturer includes the following:
(a) Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing or assembling new and unused motor
vehicles;
(b) Any person engaged in the business of importing new and unused motor vehicles into the
United States; and
(c) Any person engaged in the business of selling or distributing new and unused motor vehicles
to motor vehicle dealers located in the Commonwealth.
Motor Vehicle Dealer or Dealer means any person who is engaged in the business of selling, offering
for sale or negotiating the retail sale of motor vehicles and includes the officers, agents and employees
of such person and any combination or association of dealers. A person shall be deemed to be "in the
business of selling" motor vehicles if s/he sells more than three motor vehicles in any calendar year.
Motor Vehicle or Vehicle shall have the same meaning as that set forth in M.G.L. c 90, ยง 1 except that
it shall also include motor cycles.
Person or Persons means an association, a corporation, an institution, a natural person, an organization,
a partnership, a trust or any legal entity.
Purchaser means any person who has obtained ownership of a motor vehicle by transfer or purchase
or who has entered into an agreement or contract for the purchase of a motor vehicle.
Repair Shop means a person who, for compensation, engages in the business of diagnosing or repairing
malfunctions of or damage to motor vehicles, including auto body shops and retail stores which offer
automotive services, but excluding:
(a) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States government and all agencies,
departments and political subdivisions thereof;
(b) any industrial or commercial establishment which repairs, services or maintains vehicles for
its own use; and
(c) for purposes of 940 CMR 5.05(2) through (5) and (9), gasoline service stations which engage
solely in minor repair services such as changing or repairing tires, lubrication, replacing fan belts and
oil and air filters, installing light bulbs, batteries, windshield wiper blades and other minor
accessories, and the like.