By Jim Bloch
The Michigan Department of State has suspended the license of LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. to sell cars, alleging that the dealership has sold used cars as new cars. The state took the action Nov. 4 and said the practicd posed a threat of “imminent harm to the public.”
The vehicle dealership is located at 3050 King Rd. in China Township.
“LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. was summarily suspended for several violations of the Michigan Vehicle Code discovered during an investigation by MDOS regulatory staff,” said the department in a news release. MDOS accused the dealership of “violating existing/current probation and the Alternative Penalty Agreement previously imposed by MDOS; committing fraudulent acts in connection with selling or otherwise dealing in vehicles by presenting and selling used vehicles to customers as new vehicles; and failing to properly complete MDOS title and registration applications by falsely indicating used vehicles as new.”
On the morning of Nov. 5, a manager at LaFontaine said the dealership was open and selling cars: “It was a clerical error. We’re up and running. You know how paperwork goes.”
“No agreement has been reached and signed with the State of Michigan, so the suspension remains in place,” said Cheri Hardmon, senior press secretary with the department, via text.
Hardmon said that if there are any repair facilities on site, which there are, they may remain open.
But “no selling of any vehicles as the dealership is suspended,” she said.
The department alleged that LaFontaine had loaned new cars to customers and then sold them to other customers as new.
“During a general compliance inspection in September 2024, MDOS regulatory staff found the dealership was registering new vehicles in their business name to serve as loaner vehicles for their customers,” the department said. “After these vehicles were pulled from the loaner program, the dealership was reselling them as ‘new’ to consumers. MDOS issued violations for these transactions.”
Michigan dealerships had been warned against the practice.
“In separate October 2024 emails, MDOS and the Michigan Auto Dealers Association directed all new vehicle dealerships to immediately stop selling used vehicles as new or risk administrative action by the department and a suspension of the dealer’s license,” according to the new release.
The issue is not new.
“On Nov. 12, 2024, MDOS held a teleconference with LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. to discuss the inspection and violations, and to provide educational materials,” according to the department. “In December 2024, MDOS established an Alternative Penalty Agreement for the dealer that included a $3,000 financial penalty and an 18-month probation period. Subsequently, several representatives of the dealership attended an MDOS training session that included education on violations of the Michigan Vehicle Code.”
Regulatory staff conducted a follow-up inspection of the dealership on Sept. 24, 2025, and found more than two dozen instances of the dealership continuing to sell used vehicles as new, which triggered the suspension.
“These vehicles had varying number of miles on them,” said MDOS. “One vehicle had up to 6,000 miles and was sold as new.”
Customers who have a complaint against LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. may call the MDOS Office of Investigative Services automotive complaint line at 844-372-8356.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
1 comment
That’s a good one… Clerical Error.