Wis. Stat. § 342.16
Transfer to or from dealer
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342.16(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (c), if a dealer acquires a new or used vehicle that is not a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale, or acquires a salvage vehicle that is currently titled as a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale or accepts a vehicle for sale on consignment, the dealer may not submit to the department the certificate of title or application for certificate of title naming the dealer as owner of the vehicle. Upon transferring the vehicle to another person, the dealer shall immediately give the transferee on a form prescribed by the department a receipt for all title, registration, security interest and sales tax moneys paid to the dealer for transmittal to the department when required. The dealer shall promptly execute the assignment and warranty of title, showing the name and address of the transferee and of any secured party holding a security interest created or reserved at the time of the resale or sale on consignment, in the spaces provided therefor on the certificate or as the department prescribes. Within 7 business days following the sale or transfer, the dealer shall process the application for certificate of title, and within the next business day after processing the application, the dealer shall mail or deliver the original application for certificate and all associated materials required by the department to the department. A nonresident who purchases a motor vehicle from a dealer in this state may not, unless otherwise authorized by rule of the department, apply for a certificate of title issued for the vehicle in this state unless the dealer determines that a title is necessary to protect the interests of a secured party. The dealer is responsible for determining whether a title and perfection of security interest is required. The dealer is liable for any damages incurred by the department or any secured party for the dealer’s failure to perfect a security interest which the dealer had knowledge of at the time of sale.
342.16(1)(am)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a motor vehicle dealer, as defined in s. 218.0101 (23), who processes an application for transfer of title and registration as provided in par. (a) shall utilize an electronic process prescribed by the department under this paragraph or provided for under ss. 341.20 and 341.21.
342.16(1)(am)2.2. The department may, by rule, exempt a motor vehicle dealer from the requirements of this paragraph. A motor vehicle dealer who is exempted shall pay a fee to the department to process applications for transfer of title and registration that are submitted to the department by the exempted dealer.
342.16(1)(b)(b) A dealer who assists a transferee in the registration of a vehicle as provided in par. (a) and s. 341.25 (3) shall not be liable for damages caused by operation of the vehicle at a weight in excess of the manufacturer’s maximum gross weight rating.
342.16(1)(c)(c) Except when all available spaces for a dealer’s or wholesaler’s reassignment on a certificate of title have been completed or as otherwise authorized by rules of the department, a dealer or wholesaler who acquires a new or used vehicle that is not a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale, or acquires a salvage vehicle that is currently titled as a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale or accepts a vehicle for sale on consignment may not apply for a certificate of title naming the dealer or wholesaler as owner of the vehicle. The rules may regulate the frequency of application by a dealer or wholesaler for transfer of registration or credits for registration from a previously registered vehicle to another vehicle that the dealer or wholesaler intends to register in his or her own name.
342.16(1)(d)(d) Unless exempted by rule of the department, a dealer or wholesaler who acquires a new or used vehicle that is not a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale or acquires a salvage vehicle currently titled as a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale shall make application for a certificate of title naming the dealer or wholesaler as owner of the vehicle when all of the available spaces for a dealer’s or wholesaler’s reassignment on the certificate of title for such vehicle have been completed.
342.16(1g)(1g) No transferee who, for the purpose of resale, accepts a motor vehicle on consignment or acquires ownership of a motor vehicle may accept any mileage disclosure required under s. 342.155 or rules of the department if the mileage disclosure has been altered or is incomplete.
342.16(1r)(1r) No motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle salesperson may transfer a motor vehicle without disclosing in writing to the transferee whether any of the information specified in s. 342.10 (3) is applicable to the vehicle. No motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle salesperson may knowingly give a false statement to a transferee in making the disclosure. The department shall prescribe the manner in which the written disclosure shall be made and retained.
342.16(2)(2) Every dealer shall maintain for 5 years a record in the form the department prescribes of every vehicle bought, sold or exchanged, or received for sale or exchange, which shall be open to inspection by a representative of the department or a peace officer during reasonable business hours.
342.16(3)(3) Except as provided in sub. (4), any dealer who fails to comply with this section may be required to forfeit not more than $200.
342.16(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), any dealer who violates sub. (1r) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.
342.16(4)(b)(b) Any dealer who violates sub. (1r) with intent to defraud may be fined not more than $5,000.
342.16 HistoryHistory: 1973 c. 218; 1975 c. 121, 286, 351, 421; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273, 418; 1981 c. 150, 151, 391; 1985 a. 29, 202, 332; 1987 a. 100, 349; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 239; 1993 a. 63, 159; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 180.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1994–2024 · leading case: Lamont v. Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Lamont v. Winnebago Industries, Inc. (2008)
“” Wis. Stat. § 342.16 (l)(a). Implicit in the fact that these statutes prescribe steps that must be taken after an interest in a motor vehicle is transferred is the recognition that the transfer of the interest occurs prior to the issuance of a new title.”
State v. Griffin (1994)
“, relating to transfers of vehicles to or from dealers, provides in part: "Upon transferring the vehicle to another person, the dealer shall immediately give to the transferee on a form prescribed by the department a receipt for all title, registration, security interest and…”
Liebzeit v. FVTS Acquisition Co. (In Re Wolverine Fire Apparatus Co.) (2012)
“2d 342 (1975), the supreme court held that strict compliance with the *815 Vehicle Title and Anti-Theft Law, Wis. Stat. § 342.16 , governed the issue of ownership, and found that the transfer of a certificate of title was the defining event, something that did not happen in this…”
Linehan, Tony v. PACCAR Inc. (2021)
“15 (1)(a) (describing steps that an owner of a vehicle must take “[i]f an owner transfers an interest in a vehicle,” including “execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee”); Wis. Stat. § 342.16 (1)(a) (“Within 7 business days following the sale or transfer,…”
Nick Balsimo v. Venture One Stop, Inc. (2024)
“§ 342.16(1)(a). The confirmation of ownership in this case notes that it is not a title and that the title has been delivered to Balsimo’s bank—US Bank NA, Wilmington—as the lien holder.”
— Wis. Stat. § 342.16(1)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Griffin (1994)
“, relating to transfers of vehicles to or from dealers, provides in part: "Upon transferring the vehicle to another person, the dealer shall immediately give to the transferee on a form prescribed by the department a receipt for all title, registration, security interest and…”
Nick Balsimo v. Venture One Stop, Inc. (2024)
“§ 342.16(1)(a). The confirmation of ownership in this case notes that it is not a title and that the title has been delivered to Balsimo’s bank—US Bank NA, Wilmington—as the lien holder.”
— Wis. Stat. § 342.16(l)(a) — 1 case
State v. Griffin (1994)
“, relating to transfers of vehicles to or from dealers, provides in part: "Upon transferring the vehicle to another person, the dealer shall immediately give to the transferee on a form prescribed by the department a receipt for all title, registration, security interest and…”
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