The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) has suspended the license of LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. for imminent harm to the public.
The vehicle dealership is located at 3050 King Rd. in China Township. The suspension was announced Tuesday, November 4, with the dealership summarily suspended for several violations of the Michigan Vehicle Code discovered during an investigation by MDOS regulatory staff. These violations allegedly include violating an existing or current probation and the Alternative Penalty Agreement as previously imposed by Michigan’s Department of State; 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.
The allegations stem from a general compliance inspection in September 2024, when MDOS regulatory staff found the dealership was registering new vehicles in their business name to serve as loaner vehicles for their customers. After these vehicles were pulled from the loaner program, the dealership was reselling them as “new” to consumers. MDOS issued violations for these transactions. Around the same time, 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.
In November of 2024, MDOS held a teleconference with LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. to discuss the inspection and violations, with the department establishing an Alternative Penalty Agreement for the dealer in December 2024 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.
Despite these measures taken, a follow-up inspection of the dealership on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 found more than two dozen instances of the dealership continuing to sell used vehicles as “new,” which led to Tuesday’s suspension. The offending vehicles had varying numbers of miles on them, with one vehicle that was sold as new actually having up to 6,000 miles on it.
As these violations create an imminent threat to the public’s health, safety and welfare, emergency action was taken. The dealership may not conduct business during the time of the suspension.
Consumers who have a complaint against LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair, Inc. are encouraged to call the MDOS Office of Investigative Services automotive complaint line at 844-372-8356.
