NFIB Member Testifies Before House Panel Studying Used Vehicle Sales

August 19, 2025

Fritz Engelmann’s testimony underscores the critical role small business owners can play in shaping legislation

Fritz Engelmann, owner of Classic Bus Sales in Clarkesville and a member of the NFIB Georgia Leadership Council, testified before a House study committee today about problems with how state agencies and unlicensed dealers handle used vehicle sales.

Engelmann, a franchise and used car dealer since 2012, said conflicting guidance from the Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue has made licensing rules confusing. His greatest concern, however, is what he called a “glitch” in the way state surplus vehicles are sold.

He said many agencies list vehicles on govdeals.com and simply sign over the title without transferring it. This allows buyers, including unlicensed dealers, to resell cars multiple times without paying the state’s Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT).

“I bought 26 vehicles from DOT at an auction,” he told lawmakers. “They signed every one over but never transferred them into my name…. Just think about how much the state of Georgia is losing.”

Engelmann estimated the state may have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue in a single year. He suggested requiring agencies to issue a bill of sale on official letterhead to ensure proper transfers and tax collection.

He also called for stronger enforcement against individuals selling cars without a dealer’s license.

Engelmann urged lawmakers to give regulators more tools to shut down unlicensed dealers and prevent tax evasion. “I think you guys are on the right track in trying to enforce that side of the business,” he said.

NFIB hasn’t taken a position on the issue, but State Director Hunter Loggins said Engelmann’s testimony highlights the role small business owners can play in shaping legislation.

“NFIB is the voice of small business, but members like Fritz Engelmann really help amplify that voice,” he said. Watch Engelmann’s testimony below.