12800
. The following definitions apply for purposes of this part:
(a) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled device operated solely
or primarily upon land and may include both self-propelled motor
homes or recreational vehicles, non-self-propelled camping and
recreational trailers, off-road vehicles, and trailers designed to
transport off-road vehicles. However, "motor vehicle" shall not
include a self-propelled vehicle, or a component part of such a
vehicle, that has any of the following characteristics:
(1) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 30,000 pounds or more,
and is not a recreational vehicle as defined by Section 18010 of the
Health and Safety Code.
(2) Is designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including
the driver.
(3) Is used in the transportation of materials considered
hazardous pursuant to the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49
U.S.C. Sec. 5101 et seq.), as amended.
(b) "Watercraft" means a vessel, as defined in Section 21 of the
Harbors and Navigation Code, and may include any non-self-propelled
trailer used to transport such watercraft upon land.
(c) (1) "Vehicle service contract" means a contract or agreement
for a separately stated consideration and for a specific duration to
repair, replace, or maintain a motor vehicle or watercraft, or to
indemnify for the repair, replacement, or maintenance of a motor
vehicle or watercraft, necessitated by an operational or structural
failure due to a defect in materials or workmanship, or due to normal
wear and tear.
(2) A vehicle service contract may also provide for the incidental
payment of indemnity under limited circumstances only in the form of
the following additional benefits: coverage for towing, substitute
transportation, emergency road service, rental car reimbursement,
reimbursement of deductible amounts under a manufacturer's warranty,
and reimbursement for travel, lodging, or meals.
(3) "Vehicle service contract" also includes an agreement of a
term of at least one year, for separately stated consideration, that
promises routine maintenance.
(4) Notwithstanding Section 116, and paragraphs (1) and (2) of
this subdivision, a vehicle service contract also includes one or
more of the following:
(A) An agreement that promises the repair or replacement of a tire
or wheel necessitated by wear and tear, defect, or damage caused by
a road hazard. However, an agreement that promises the repair or
replacement of a tire necessitated by wear and tear, defect, or
damage caused by a road hazard, in which the obligor is the tire
manufacturer, is exempt from the requirements of this part. A
warranty provided by a tire or wheel distributor or retailer is
exempt from the requirements of this part as long as the warranty
covers only defects in the material or workmanship of the tire or
wheel.
(B) An agreement that promises the repair or replacement of glass
on a vehicle necessitated by wear and tear, defect, or damage caused
by a road hazard. However, a warranty provided by a vehicle glass or
glass sealant manufacturer is exempt from the requirements of this
part. A warranty provided by a vehicle glass distributor or retailer
is exempt from the requirements of this part as long as the warranty
covers only defects in the material or workmanship of the vehicle
glass.
(C) An agreement that promises the removal of a dent, ding, or
crease without affecting the existing paint finish using paintless
dent repair techniques, and which expressly excludes the replacement
of vehicle body panels, sanding, bonding, or painting.
(d) "Service contract administrator" or "administrator" means any
person, other than an obligor, who performs or arranges, directly or
indirectly, the collection, maintenance, or disbursement of moneys to
compensate any party for claims or repairs pursuant to a vehicle
service contract, and who also performs or arranges, directly or
indirectly, any of the following activities with respect to vehicle
service contracts in which a seller located within this state is the
obligor:
(1) Providing sellers with service contract forms.
(2) Participating in the adjustment of claims arising from service
contracts.
(e) "Purchaser" means any person who purchases a vehicle service
contract from a seller.
(f) "Seller" means either of the following:
(1) With respect to motor vehicles, a dealer or lessor-retailer
licensed in one of those capacities by the Department of Motor
Vehicles and who sells vehicle service contracts incidental to his or
her business of selling or leasing motor vehicles.
(2) With respect to watercraft, a person who sells vehicle service
contracts incidental to that person's business of selling or leasing
watercraft vehicles.
(g) "Obligor" means the entity legally obligated under the terms
of a service contract.