Ohio Consumer Laws and New Vehicles

New Vehicles

The definition of a "New Vehicle" in the State of Ohio has undergone significant changes since October 1994. A new vehicle in Ohio is one in which the legal title has never been transferred to an ultimate purchaser, including a demonstrator. A vehicle is no longer new if it has been used, remanufactured or reconditioned. A vehicle is not new if it was a factory official vehicle or rental vehicle.

Under Ohio law, a demonstrator can be labeled a new vehicle, if and only if:

  1. It has less than 6,000 miles on it, and
  2. It is the current model year or previous model year.
Additionally, the dealer must always disclose to the consumer that the vehicle was a demonstrator vehicle, even if the vehicle meets the definition of a new car.

For more information on demonstrator and factory official vehicles, Blackstone Legal Publications has printed a manual that covers most issues concerning auto dealers and the consumer.