Final Order (Default) — Motor Vehicle Retail Installment

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION

Docketed
11/5/2026
Legal
9/1/26

In Re:
GEORGE HOGANS AUTO SALES INC and
GEORGE HOGANS,
Respondents.

Case Number: 135152

FINAL ORDER

The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), being authorized and directed to administer and enforce chapter 520, Florida Statutes, hereby enters this Final Order with Notice of Rights ("Final Order") as authorized by the provisions of chapters 120 and 520, Florida Statutes, against GEORGE HOGANS AUTO SALES INC and GEORGE HOGANS ("Respondents").

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The Office has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case and the parties hereto.

2. At all times material, George Hogans Auto Sales Inc is and has been licensed in Florida as a motor vehicle retail installment seller, having been issued license number MV0902628 pursuant to chapter 520, Florida Statutes. At all times material, George Hogans is and has been the President and Sole Owner of George Hogans Auto Sales Inc.

3. The Office conducted an examination to ascertain Respondents' compliance with chapter 520, Florida Statutes, and found that grounds existed to initiate a legal action. On September 3, 2026, the Office issued an Administrative Complaint ("Complaint") against Respondents alleging several violations of chapter 520, Florida Statutes. (Exhibit A)

4. The Complaint contained a Notice of Rights which fully advised Respondents that they had twenty-one (21) days after the receipt of the Complaint within which to petition the Office for an administrative hearing to contest the allegation set forth in the Complaint, in accordance with sections 120.59 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, including the following information:

TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO A HEARING, A WRITTEN RESPONSE MUST BE FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. SAID RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. A FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND IN WRITING WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THE LICENSEE'S RIGHT TO REQUEST A HEARING AND A FINAL ORDER MAY BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.

5. The Office served Respondents with the Complaint via U.S. Certified Mail. On September 10, 2026, Respondents picked up the certified mailed Complaint at the postal facility in DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435. (Exhibit B)

6. Respondents' written response to the Complaint was due by October 1, 2026. To date, the Office has not received a written response to the Complaint.

7. The Findings of Fact alleged in the Complaint are hereby incorporated by reference and adopted as Findings of Fact in this Final Order.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

8. The Office is responsible for the administration and enforcement of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, and has jurisdiction over the subject matter and of Respondents pursuant to chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

9. The Findings of Fact that have been adopted herein serve as the basis of the entry of this Final Order against Respondents.

10. Section 120.569(2)(a), Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-106.111(2), Florida Administrative Code, require, among other things, that a response or a petition to an action which affects the substantial interests of a party be filed with the agency within 21 days of receipt of written notice of the action.

11. Pursuant to Rule 28-106.111(4), Florida Administrative Code, the failure of Respondents to timely respond to the Complaint constitutes a waiver of Respondents' right to an administrative proceeding.

12. The doctrine of equitable tolling can be applied in administrative cases when a party has been misled or lulled into inaction, i.e., has in some extraordinary way, been prevented from asserting his rights, or has timely asserted his rights in the wrong forum. Machules, v. Department of Admin., 523 So. 2d 1132 (Fla. 1988).

13. Without any evidence of equitable tolling, it is appropriate for the Office to conclude there was none. Patz v. Dept. of Health, 864 So.2d 79, 80 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003).

14. Respondents failed to file a petition or any other document in response to the Notice on or before October 1, 2026. Respondents further failed to present any claim or evidence of equitable tolling. Therefore, it is appropriate for the Office to conclude there was no equitable tolling, and Respondents waived their right to an administrative proceeding.

15. Based on the Findings of Fact adopted herein, the Office concludes that Respondents violated the specific statutes and rules charged in the Complaint and, as such, the specific charges in the Complaint are adopted in this Final Order as Conclusions of Law.

16. The Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law that form the basis for the Complaint, together with the waiver of hearing by respondents, constitute sufficient grounds for the Office to take administrative action against Respondents, including the imposition of an administrative fine of $5,500.00.

Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby

ORDERED:

A. Within thirty (30) days of the docketing of this Final Order, Respondents shall pay an ADMINISTRATIVE FINE of Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500.00).

B. Respondents shall submit the administrative fine in the form of a wire, money order or cashier's check made payable to the "Office of Financial Regulation." Such payment shall reference Case Number 135152 and shall be sent to the attention of Agency Clerk, c/o Damaris E. Reynolds, Post Office Box 8050, Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050.

DONE and ORDERED this 5th day of November, 2026, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

Russell C. Weigel, III
Commissioner

NOTICE OF RIGHTS

A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.68, FLORIDA STATUTES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE. SUCH PROCEEDINGS ARE COMMENCED BY FILING THE ORIGINAL NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH THE AGENCY CLERK FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AS FOLLOWS:

By Mail, Facsimile or Email	OR	By Hand Delivery
Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation Office of General Counsel P.O. Box 8050 Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 Phone: (850) 410-9889 Fax: (850) 410-9663 Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov		Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation Office of General Counsel The Fletcher Building 101 East Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399 Phone: (850) 410-9889

A COPY OF THE NOTICE OF APPEAL, ACCOMPANIED BY THE FILING FEES AS REQUIRED BY LAW, MUST ALSO BE FILED WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST DISTRICT, 2000 DRAYTON DRIVE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0950, OR WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE PARTY RESIDES. THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITH BOTH THE AGENCY CLERK FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AND THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Final Order was furnished via U.S. Mail to: GEORGE HOGANS AUTO SALES INC. and GEORGE HOGANS at 169 S. Norwood Rd. DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 and via email to: emailshell@yahoo.com on this 5th day of November, 2026.

Agency Clerk
Office of Financial Regulation
Post Office Box 8050
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050
Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov
Tel: (850) 410-9889

Exhibit A

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION

In Re:
GEORGE HOGANS AUTO SALES INC and GEORGE HOGANS, Respondents.

Case Number: 135152

ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT

The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation (“Office”), files this Administrative Complaint against GEORGE HOGANS AUTO SALES INC and GEORGE HOGANS (together “Respondents”), alleging:

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

1. Pursuant to sections 520.994, 520.995, and 520.996, Florida Statutes, the Office is charged with administering and enforcing the provisions of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, and the rules promulgated thereunder. The Office is authorized to regulate persons who engage in motor vehicle retail installment sales and conduct examinations and investigations to determine whether any provision of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, or the corresponding rules has been violated.

2. Pursuant to section 520.02(14), Florida Statutes, a “person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, and any other organized group.

3. Pursuant to section 520.03(1), Florida Statutes, a person may not act as a motor vehicle retail installment seller or operate such a business without a license.

4. Pursuant to section 520.02(11), Florida Statutes, a “motor vehicle retail installment seller” or “seller” means a person engaged in the business of selling motor vehicles to retail buyers in retail installment transactions.

5. Pursuant to section 520.02(16), Florida Statutes, a “retail buyer” or “buyer” means a person who buys a motor vehicle from a seller not principally for the purpose of resale, and who executes a retail installment contract in connection therewith or a person who succeeds to the rights and obligations of such person.

6. Pursuant to section 520.02(18), Florida Statutes, a “retail installment transaction” means a transaction evidenced by a retail installment contract entered into between a retail buyer and a seller wherein the retail buyer buys a motor vehicle from the seller at a deferred payment price payable in deferred installments.

7. Pursuant to section 520.02(17), Florida Statutes, “retail installment contract” or “contract” means an agreement entered into in Florida “pursuant to which the title to, or a lien upon the motor vehicle, which is the subject matter of a retail installment transaction, is retained or taken by a seller from a retail buyer as security, in whole or in part, for the buyer’s obligation.”

8. Pursuant to section 520.994(4), Florida Statutes, the Office may impose and collect an administrative fine against any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter, any rule or order adopted pursuant to this chapter, or any written agreement entered into with the Office, in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation.

9. Pursuant to sections 520.995(1)(a) and (2)(b), Florida Statutes, failure to comply with any provision of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, or its rules, constitutes grounds for disciplinary action up to license revocation.

10. Pursuant to section 520.995(2), Florida Statutes, upon a finding by the Office that any person has committed any of the acts set forth in subsection (1), the Office may, among other things, enter an order denying an application for licensure, revoking or suspending a license, and imposing a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 for each such act.

11. Pursuant to Rule 69V-85.111(2), Florida Administrative Code, the Office may impose an administrative fine of $1,000.00 for each violation of the provisions of Chapter 520.

12. Pursuant to section 520.995(4), Florida Statutes, the Office may take disciplinary action for violations of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, as to any partnership, corporation, or association, if grounds for such action exist as to any control person, partner, or joint venturer.

13. Pursuant to section 520.02(4), Florida Statutes, a “control person” means a person that possesses the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of a company, whether through ownership of securities, by contract, or otherwise.

14. At all times material, George Hogans Auto Sales Inc. is and has conducted business as a motor vehicle retail installment seller having been issued license number MV0902628, pursuant to chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

15. At all times material, George Hogans is and has been the President/Secretary and Sole Owner of George Hogans Auto Sales Inc. George Hogans is a control person and is subject to disciplinary action for any violations of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, committed by George Hogans Auto Sales Inc.

16. The Office conducted an examination (Examination number 131277) to ascertain Respondents’ compliance with chapter 520, Florida Statutes, and the corresponding rules from April 1, 2023, through March 30, 2025 (“examination period”).

17. Respondents or a representative of Respondents met with the examiner for both an entrance conference on July 30, 2025, and an exit conference on December 10, 2025.

18. As part of its examination, the Office requested that Respondents provide a sales report for the retail transactions entered into during the examination period.

19. As part of its examination, the Office reviewed five (5) motor vehicle retail installment contracts and three (3) cash deals entered into by Respondents, as well as the records regarding those contracts and deals.

20. After the examination was concluded, Respondents were sent a letter and the Report of Examination, which identified the specific statutory provisions of chapter 520, Florida Statutes, and the corresponding rules, that the Office found were potentially violated.

COUNT I

21. The above general allegations are hereby re-alleged and incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

22. Section 520.999, Florida Statutes, provides as follows:

(1) Each licensee under this chapter shall report, on a form prescribed by rule of the commission, any change in the information contained in any initial application form or any amendment to such application not later than 30 days after the change is effective.

(2) Each licensee under this chapter shall report any changes in the partners, officers, members, joint venturers, directors, or control persons of any licensee or changes in the form of business organization by written amendment in such form and at such time as the commission specifies by rule.

    23. Pursuant to Rule 69V-85.005, Florida Administrative Code:

      (1) Each person licensed under chapter 520, F.S., which proposes to change its name, form of business organization, or any other information contained in any initial application form or any amendment thereto, must file an amendment pursuant to Section 520.999, F.S., not later than thirty-days (30) after the effective date of the change…

      (2) Each licensee under chapter 520, F.S., that proposes to change any personnel described in Sections 520.03, 520.32, 520.52, and 520.63, F.S., listed in any initial application or any amendment thereto must file an amendment not later than thirty-days (30) prior to the effective date of the change or within two (2) business days after the date the licensee first received notice of the change…

      24. As part of its examination, the Office reviewed Respondents' initial application and any amendments thereto and determined that Respondents failed to report the appointment of Sharon Hogan as Vice President on April 27, 2014, in a timely manner, in violation of section 520.999, Florida Statutes, and Rule 69V-85.005, Florida Administrative Code.

      25. Pursuant to section 520.994(4), Florida Statutes, the Office may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation of the provisions of chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

      26. Therefore, the Office intends to seek an Order imposing an appropriate administrative fine of up to $1,000.00.

COUNT II

27. The above general allegations are hereby re-alleged and incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

28. The allegations made above in paragraphs 22 and 23 are hereby re-alleged and incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

29. As part of its examination, the Office reviewed Respondents' initial application and any amendments thereto and determined that Respondents failed to report two changes in the Registered Agent. On November 1, 2022, Elite Bookkeeping and Accounting LLC became the Registered Agent. On October 1, 2024, Phoenix Bookkeeping became the registered agent. In neither instance did Respondents update their application in a timely manner, in violation of section 520.999, Florida Statutes, and Rule 69V-85.005, Florida Administrative Code.

30. Pursuant to sections 520.994(4), Florida Statutes, the Office may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation of the provisions of Chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

31. Therefore, the Office is seeking an administrative fine of up to $1,000.00 for each violation of the provisions of Chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

COUNT III

32. The above general allegations are hereby re-alleged and incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

33. Pursuant to section 520.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, a retail installment contract shall be in writing, shall be signed by both the buyer and the seller, and shall be completed as to all essential provisions prior to the signing of the contract by the buyer.

34. Pursuant to Rule 69V-50.001(2)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in order to support motor vehicle license charges and liens for perfecting any security interest in the collateral, the registration form provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be maintained. In addition, the month of birth of the retail buyer must be shown on the face of the contract and the trade-in amount must be clearly described.

35. As part of its examination, the Office found 5 instances in which Respondents failed to include the buyer's birth month in its retail installment contracts, in violation of Rule 69V-50.001(2)(a), Florida Administrative Code, and thereby section 520.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes.

36. Pursuant to sections 520.995, Florida Statutes, and Rule 69V-85.111(2), Florida Administrative Code, the Office may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation of the provisions of Chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

37. Therefore, the Office is seeking an administrative fine of up to $1,000.00 for each violation of the provisions of Chapter 520, Florida Statutes.

WHEREFORE, Respondents are hereby notified that the Office intends to seek an Order imposing an appropriate administrative fine against Respondents and requiring Respondents to cease and desist from further violations of Chapter 520, Florida Statutes, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

NOTICE OF RIGHTS

The licensee is entitled to be represented by counsel or another qualified representative. The licensee also has the right to request a hearing pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes. Such request must comply with Rules 28-106.2015 and 28-106.104, Florida Administrative Code. An Election of Proceeding form is attached for your convenience.

Any such request must be filed as follows:

By Mail, Facsimile or Email	OR	By Hand Delivery
Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation Office of General Counsel P.O. Box 8050 Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 Phone: (850) 410-9889 Fax: (850) 410-9663 Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov		Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation Office of General Counsel The Fletcher Building 101 East Gaines Street, Suite 504 Tallahassee, FL 32399 Phone: (850) 410-9889

TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO A HEARING, A WRITTEN RESPONSE MUST BE FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. SAID RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. A FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND IN WRITING WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THE LICENSEE'S RIGHT TO REQUEST A HEARING AND A FINAL ORDER MAY BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.

You may not make an oral request for an administrative hearing. With regard to a written request, if you fail to follow the outlined procedure, your request may be dismissed. Any request for an administrative proceeding received prior to the date of this notice is deemed abandoned and to be considered, must be timely renewed in compliance with the procedure set forth above.

Mediation of this matter pursuant to section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.

NOTICE TO RESPONDENTS

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Agency Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to the filing deadline or proceeding, at the Office of Financial Regulation, The Fletcher Building, Suite 504, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, Phone: (850) 410-9889, or by Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov.

By: Damaris Reynolds
Damaris E. Reynolds
Assistant General Counsel
Office of Financial Regulation
Office of General Counsel
Fla. Bar No. 0037176
200 E Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0370
Tel: 850-410-9834
Email: Damaris.Reynolds@flofr.gov

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Administrative Complaint has been furnished via U.S. Certified Mail to GEORGE HOGANS AUTO SALES INC. and GEORGE HOGANS at 169 S. Norwood Rd. DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 on this 3rd day of September, 2026.

9489 0090 0027 6620 8413 57

Damaris Reynolds
Damaris E. Reynolds
Assistant General Counsel

Exhibit B

UNITED STATES
POSTAL SERVICE®

September 18, 2026

Dear Amber Hopkins:

The following is in response to your request for proof of delivery on your item with the tracking number: 9489 0090 0027 6620 8413 57.

Item Details
Status:	Delivered, Individual Picked Up at Postal Facility
Status Date / Time:	September 10, 2026, 01:09 pm
Location:	DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL 32435
Postal Product:	First-Class Mail®
Extra Services:	Certified Mail™
	Return Receipt Electronic
Shipment Details
Weight:	4lb, 15.3oz
Recipient Signature

Signature of Recipient: X [signature]
[signature]
Address of Recipient: 695 NORWOOD RD

Note: Scanned image may reflect a different destination address due to Intended Recipient's delivery instructions on file.

Thank you for selecting the United States Postal Service® for your mailing needs. If you require additional assistance, please contact your local Post Office™ or a Postal representative at 1-800-222-1811.

Sincerely,
United States Postal Service®
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, D.C. 20260-0004