Chapter Trans 139
MOTOR VEHICLE TRADE PRACTICES
Trans 139.01 Purpose and scope. Trans 139.02 Definitions. Trans 139.03 Advertising and sales representations. Trans 139.035 Unfair trade practices. Trans 139.04 Disclosure of the condition of the motor vehicle. Trans 139.05 Motor vehicle purchase contract. Trans 139.07 Satisfaction of liens. Trans 139.08 Consignment vehicles. Ch. Trans 139 NoteNote: Chapter MVD 24 as it existed on December, 31, 1982 was repealed and recreated as chapter Trans 139 effective January 1, 1983.
Trans 139.01(1)(1) Statutory authority. As authorized by ss. 110.06, 218.0152, and 227.11, Stats., the purpose of this chapter is to establish the department’s administrative interpretation of ss. 218.0116 (1) (cm), (e), (gm), (im) 2., (j), and (km), 218.0141, and 218.0146, Stats., relating to motor vehicle trade practices. Trans 139.01(2)(2) Applicability. This chapter applies to any person applying for or holding a Wisconsin motor vehicle salvage dealer, manufacturer, distributor wholesale auction, dealer or salesperson license. Trans 139.01(3)(3) This chapter applies to any sale or lease of a vehicle by a dealer to a person within the state of Wisconsin if the vehicle is delivered within the boundaries of this state notwithstanding any contractual agreement between the dealer and person to the contrary. Trans 139.01 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1982, No. 324, eff. 1-1-83; am. (1), Register, May, 1985, No. 353, eff. 6-1-85; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, December, 1987, No. 384; am. (2), Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 9-1-97; corrections in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register July 2002 No. 559; CR 99-135: cr. (3) Register February 2004 No. 578, eff. 3-1-04. Trans 139.02Trans 139.02 Definitions. Words and phrases defined in ss. 340.01 and 342.01, Stats., apply to this chapter unless a different definition is specified. In this chapter: Trans 139.02(1)(1) “Business use” means any motor vehicle owned or leased by either of the following: Trans 139.02(2)(2) “Cash price” means manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or dealer asking price, including manufacturer installed options and accessories and manufacturer transportation charges, plus dealer installed options and accessories and additional dealer markup, profit and transportation charges, minus the dollar value of cash discounts. Trans 139.02(3)(3) “Damage” means defects caused by reasons other than normal wear through vehicle age and usage. Trans 139.02(3m)(3m) “Day” means calendar day, unless otherwise stated in this chapter. The provisions of s. 990.001 (4), Stats., apply to calculations of time under this chapter, except that a legal holiday shall be counted as a day if the dealer is open for business. Trans 139.02(4)(4) “Demonstrator” means any untitled or non-privately titled motor vehicle which was used primarily for the purpose of demonstration to the public. Trans 139.02(5)(5) “Executive” means any untitled or non-privately titled motor vehicle which was used primarily by executives of licensed manufacturers, distributors or dealers and not used for demonstration to the public. Trans 139.02(6)(6) “Insurance service plan” means a repair agreement issued by an insurance company and sold by a dealer. Trans 139.02(6m)(6m) “Lease buy-out” means the lease option price or, if there is no option price, the amount the lessee shall pay the lessor to terminate the lease and transfer title to the vehicle. Trans 139.02(7)(7) “Lease use” means any motor vehicle leased for a period of time exceeding 4 months. Trans 139.02(8)(8) “Licensee” means any motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or salesperson, or any combination thereof, licensed by the department. Trans 139.02(9m)(9m) “Manufacturer recall” means a recall inspection or repair which the manufacturer of a vehicle has been ordered to have performed by the national highway traffic safety administration or which the manufacturer has agreed voluntarily to have performed for safety reasons. Trans 139.02(9r)(9r) “Manufacturer warranty” means the original new vehicle warranty issued by the vehicle manufacturer. That term includes any motor home warranty issued by the vehicle engine or chassis manufacturer. Manufacturer warranty does not include a warranty issued by a manufacturer of vehicle parts or services not warranted by the vehicle manufacturer. Trans 139.02(10)(10) “Material” means that a reasonable person would attach importance to its existence or a seller knows or had reason to know that a buyer would regard it as important. A seller has reason to know that information is material if a buyer specifically requests the information. Trans 139.02(11)(11) “New” means any untitled or non-privately titled motor vehicle of the stated model year which has not been a demonstrator and has not been operated more than 200 miles for purposes other than manufacturer tests, pre-delivery tests by a dealer, dealer exchange or delivery. Trans 139.02(12)(12) “Personal use” means any motor vehicle owned or leased by an individual and primarily operated for personal use. Trans 139.02(13)(13) “Private retail purchaser” or “retail purchaser” means any purchaser not licensed as a motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or wholesaler. Trans 139.02(14)(14) “Privately titled vehicle” means a vehicle titled by a private individual or any party other than a licensed motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or dealer. Trans 139.02(15)(a)(a) For vehicle inspections, a standard that requires an interior and exterior inspection, an under-hood and under-vehicle inspection, and a test drive. It does not require taking the vehicle apart or running tests unless it is necessary to diagnose apparent symptoms. Brakes may require some disassembly to satisfy the requirements in ch. Trans 305. Trans 139.02(15)(b)(b) For records inspections, a standard that requires providing information the dealership gets from manufacturer and auction notices, prior owner documents and disclosures, and their own vehicle inspection and repair records. It does not require contacting prior owners or obtaining records of previous titles unless necessary to clarify inconsistent or questionable information that is apparent. Trans 139.02(16)(16) “Rebuilt salvage” means any repaired vehicle that has ever had a salvage notation on its certificate of title from Wisconsin or another jurisdiction. Trans 139.02(17)(17) “Rental use” means any motor vehicle rented for a period of time not exceeding 4 months. Trans 139.02(18)(18) “Sale” includes lease with the option of purchase when the option is exercised. Trans 139.02(19)(19) “Service contract” means any repair agreement sold by a dealer. Trans 139.02(19m)(19m) “Title” means certificate of title issued by the Wisconsin department of transportation under ch. 342, Stats., or by another state in conformity with its applicable law, as evidence of ownership of a specific vehicle. Trans 139.02(20)(20) “Used” means any motor vehicle other than a new motor vehicle and includes executive or demonstrator. Trans 139.02(21)(21) “Water damaged vehicle” means a vehicle that has been materially damaged by being covered, in whole or in part, by water, whether by flood or other occurrence and the damage is less than what is required to meet the definition for branding in s. 342.10 (3) (d), Stats. Trans 139.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1982, No. 324, eff. 1-1-83; am. (intro.), renum. (1) to (9) and (11) to (14) to be (2) to (6), (8), (9), (11), (13), (14) and (18) to (20) and am. (11), cr. (1), (7), (9m), (12), (15) to (17) and (21), r. and recr. (10), Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 9-1-97; CR 99-135: cr. (3m), (6m), (9r), (10g) and (10r), am. (11) and (19) Register February 2004 No. 578, eff. 3-1-04; CR 08-029: cr. (19m) Register August 2008 No. 632, eff. 9-1-08. Trans 139.03Trans 139.03 Advertising and sales representations. Trans 139.03(1)(1) Truthful. The use of false, deceptive or misleading advertising or representations by any licensee to induce the purchase of a motor vehicle constitutes an unfair practice and is prohibited. Trans 139.03(2)(a)(a) Any licensee, making any statement of fact to the public in any advertisement or written statement or representation concerning the motor vehicles it offers for sale, the services it provides or other aspects of its business operation, shall possess detailed evidence of the validity and accuracy thereof, which evidence shall be furnished to the department upon request. Trans 139.03(2)(b)(b) Terms such as “largest” when referring to dealership size shall be based solely on vehicle sales volume and shall clearly state the basis for the claim, including vehicle make, time period if other than entire prior 12 months and geographic area if other than statewide, in the advertisement. Each vehicle make shall be considered separately in determining new vehicle sales volume. Trans 139.03(3)(a)(a) When the price of a motor vehicle is advertised by a dealer licensee, or a group of dealer licensees are named in a joint advertisement, the advertised price shall include all charges that shall be paid by the purchaser to acquire ownership of the vehicle with the exception of sales tax, title and registration fees. The advertised price does not need to include the amount of the service fee if the advertisement clearly and conspicuously discloses that the advertised price does not include the optional service fee. In the print media, the disclosure of the amount of the service fee or the disclosure that the advertised price does not include the optional service fee shall be printed in not less than 9-point boldface type or not smaller than the largest typeface within the advertisement. In other advertising media, the disclosure of the amount of service fee or the disclosure that the advertised price does not include the optional service fee should be clearly communicated to the intended audience. Trans 139.03(3)(b)(b) Use of terms such as “invoice,” “cost,” or similar terms, when advertising the price of a motor vehicle, and accessories, is an unfair practice and prohibited unless the advertisement discloses the dealer’s actual cost is less because there are, or may be, factory holdbacks, rebates, incentives, or other discounts to the dealer, if that is the case. Trans 139.03(3)(c)(c) Whenever a dealer licensee has a promotion on a used motor vehicle and a sales price is stated in an advertisement, the sales price shall be disclosed on the vehicle during the sales promotion period. Trans 139.03(4)(4) Trade-in allowance. No specific price shall be stated in an advertisement as an offer for a trade-in, if the price so stated is contingent upon the condition, model, or age of the prospective purchaser’s vehicle to be traded. Use of the phrases “up to,”“as much as” or similar phrases regarding a trade-in allowance is an unfair practice and prohibited. Trans 139.03(5)(5) Used vehicle comparative savings. The use of manufacturer suggested retail prices, wholesale or retail dealer pricing guides, or similar price guides to advertise comparative savings for used vehicles other than demonstrators or executives is an unfair practice and prohibited, except that a motor vehicle pricing guide may be used if the use of the guide as the source of the pricing is stated in any required disclosure and the dealer makes the full objective documentation used to set the price available in writing to the customer.
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