The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles reported yesterday that there were no dealer paperwork irregularities on 25 vehicle purchases it examined.
The state launched its probe, and OSU announced its plan to investigate, on May 7 after The Dispatch reported that at least eight OSU athletes and 11 of their relatives had bought cars from Jack Maxton Chevrolet and Auto Direct during the past five years.
The BMV investigation found that Maxton Chevrolet and Auto Direct made profits in 24 of the 25 OSU-related used-car sales it examined and accurately reported sales prices to the state, as required by law.
Investigators found no evidence in dealership records that players received deals in exchange for memorabilia or event tickets. The lone car sold below cost was a Maxton vehicle that had been in inventory more than five months, the report said.
Players and family members paid an average of $2,000 over wholesale prices for vehicles at Auto Direct, the report said, with some vehicles selling below suggested retail prices, but not unreasonably so.
In a May 18 letter, James Mitchell, executive director of the Ohio Independent Automobile Dealers' Association, wrote that Jason Goss, owner of Auto Direct, had asked him to examine the OSU-related sales. He wrote that "gross profits were in line with or in excess of the national average."
Goss said he was pleased with the BMV findings that "the allegations made against Auto Direct were proven to be false."
The average markup on vehicles players bought from Maxton was $1,211. The BMV said it found three vehicles had sold below retail prices, with others selling at prices well above average retail.