Driving the news: Michigan regulators have suspended the dealer license of LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair in Michigan, after finding out the dealership had allegedly sold more than two dozen vehicles as "new" despite having up to 6,000 miles on them.
For context: In December 2024, Michigan fined LaFontaine for registering new vehicles in the dealership's name to use as loaners, then selling them as "new" after pulling them from the loaner program without properly retitling them as used.
The state also put the store on an 18-month probation for this violation.
But a September 2025 inspection found LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair had allegedly not ceased the practice.
This is the second LaFontaine store busted for the same violation. LaFontaine Hyundai of Livonia was suspended for one day in December 2024 and paid a $25,000 fine for misrepresenting vehicles as new.
What they're saying: In a statement, LaFontaine Automotive Group called the violations "a clerical error in the completion of RD-108 documentation" and blamed "outdated titling laws" that require vehicles used in manufacturer-approved loaner programs to be classified as used, even though they qualify for new-vehicle incentives and warranties in other states. The group said "no fraudulent activity has occurred" and that customers still received new-vehicle benefits despite the vehicles being titled as used.
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