(a) Unless excluded from the definition of "Broker" in Occupations Code, §2301.002, a person may not act, offer to act, or claim to be a broker.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, the phrase "arranges or offers to arrange a transaction," as used in the definition of broker in Occupations Code, §2301.002, includes the practice of arranging or offering to arrange a transaction involving the sale of a new motor vehicle for a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration. Advertising is not acting as a broker, provided the person's business primarily is broadcasting, printing, publishing, or advertising for others in their own names.
(c) A buyer referral service, program, plan, club, or any other entity that accepts a fee for arranging a transaction involving the sale of a new motor vehicle is a broker. The payment of a fee to such entity is aiding and abetting brokering. However, a referral service, program, plan, club, or other entity that forwards a referral to a franchised dealership may lawfully operate in a manner that includes all of the following conditions:
  (1) There is no exclusive market area offered to a dealer by the program. All dealers are allowed to participate in the program on equal terms.
  (2) Participation by a dealer in the program is not restricted by conditions, such as limiting the number of line-makes or discrimination by size of dealership or location. The total number of participants in the program may be restricted if the program is offered to all dealers at the same time, with no regard to the line-make.
  (3) All participants pay the same fee for participation in the program. The program fee shall be a weekly, monthly, or annual fee, regardless of the size, location, or line-makes sold by the franchised dealer.
  (4) A person is not to be charged a fee on a per referral fee basis or any other basis that could be considered a transaction-related fee.
  (5) The program does not set or suggest to the dealer any price of a motor vehicle or a trade-in.
  (6) The program does not advertise or promote its plan in a manner that implies that the buyer, as a customer of that program, receives a special discounted price that cannot be obtained unless the customer is referred through that program.
  (7) A program must comply with Subchapter F of this chapter (related to Advertising).
(d) This section does not apply to a person who is not a broker as defined in Occupations Code, §2301.002.

Source Note: The provisions of this §215.84 adopted to be effective February 11, 2010, 35 TexReg 883; amended to be effective February 13, 2017, 42 TexReg 571; amended to be effective June 1, 2024, 49 TexReg 2704