Evening star., 1933-10-15
NHE WASHINGTON AUTOMO-
TIVE TRADE ASSOCIATION
will hold an open meeting for
i dealers in the city and nearby

"HE WASHINGTON AUIOMO-
TIVE TRADE ASSOCIATION
will hold an open meeting for
i dealers in the city and nearby
Tuesday evening at the Racquet
Club. A discussion viii be held on the
recently signed automobile code.
The code will affect many future
buyers, particularly in the secondhand
field. A set price for turn-ins fixed by
the model, year and mileage will be ad-
hered to under the code by all dealers.
No longer will prospective customers be
allowed to shop" around in efforts to
get higher prices for their trade-ins. A
set price will be made and no dealer
will be allowed to offer a cent more
than the established figure. While this
plan is theoretically in effect now, ac-
tually it will not be until the book of
prices has been distributed by the Ma
tional Automobile Dealers Association.
At present it is thought that this new
book will be in the hands Of all dealers
by November Is.
Protection for Buyers.
A new protection for buyers OF new
cars comes under the code. No dealer
will be allowed to use a car for any
, period and then set back the mileage
on the Speedometer. Heretofore demon
stator's cars have been sold as new with
zero or less than 10 miles showing on
the dashboard.
1t was tried to make this system ap-
ply to secondhand cars as well. but
found impossible, as the car goes
through too many hands A motorist
turning in his old car for resale might
alter the figures.
Part of the code in reference to used
car allowance is as follows.
In an effort to prevent sales below
cost, heretofore due to unfair compe-
tition that has resulted in the dissi-
patton Of the large part of the capital
| originally in this trade and has accu-
mulated large losses since 1926, this
trade agrees to regulate itself SO as
to return profit possibilities and sup
port increased wages and shortened
hours.
Giving consideration to the public
interest and to prevent sales below
cost, it is hereby provided:
% That the value of any model of
used motor vehicle, either passenger or
commercial, shall be the average price
that the public in any given market
area is then paying for such vehicle as
ascertained by the association from
sworn statements of all actual retail
sales to consumers, subject to the ap-
proval of the administrator. The aSso-
citation shall publish the average prices
thus ascertained approximately every
so days. In order to insure fair average
value in the interest of the consumer,
published averages shall be computed
for the preceding period and there shall
not be included in computing such
average that 20 per cent of sales which
represented the lowest sales of all ac-
t1lq1 So1eS roNOrfni in tho r,rovy{o11c
period.
Trade-in Prices Fixed.
(2) That no dealer shall, directly or
indirectly. or by subterfuge, accept in
trade any used vehicle at an allowance
price of more than its value as ascer-
tanned in paragraph % above, less a
minimum selling, handling. and recon-
ditioning charge. according to the fol-
lowing schedule:
ca Five per cent of the allowance
price as determined in paragraph %
above, on (X) the current series model,
or (O the preceding series model
(b) Ten per cent of the allowance
price as determined in paragraph Cd
above on the model preceding, the two
models described in paragraph (2) sub
section (a) above, namely (x) and (y).
Co Fifteen per cent of the allowance
price as determined in paragraph Cd
above. on all models other than the
three models described in sub-sections
(a) and (b) above.
90 To provide record for the es-
tablishment of Used car allowances in
paragraph Cd above. there shall be
provided in each logical trading area of
the United States an official guide,
which shall be provided by the associa-
tion which shall be known as the
Association Official Guide and shall be
recognized as the authority for such al
loWances, and which shall be based
upon actual sales in each trading area
for the period of approximately so days
preceding the date on which the COM
pilation of the official guide is started,
as hereinabove provided.
Correct Addresses Necessary.
William A. Van Duzer, director of the
Department of Motor Vehicles and
Traffic, issued q timely warning last
week to those motorists who have not
notified his department concerning
changes Of address.
It is q violation Of the Law not to
have the correct address on your driving
permit and registration card. It is not
enough to make the changes on the
card itself. The Traffic Department
must be notified so that the files there
can be kept accurate. A fine as high as
5000 can be imposed for failure to have
| this done properly.
On top of this Mr.. Van Duzer warns
, that motorists who have moved and
| have not notified the Traffic Depart
ment, will not be able to get their 1884
! license tags for their cars. Applications
| for tags will be mailed out to the ad-
| dresses now on file at the Traffic De-