Chapter 218

subch. I of ch. 218 SUBCHAPTER I

MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS; SALESPERSONS;
SALES FINANCE COMPANIES

Subch. I of ch. 218 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. Trans 137, 138, 139, 140, and 144, Wis. adm. code.

218.0101 218.0101 Definitions. In ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, unless the context requires otherwise:

218.0101(1) (1) “Agreement” means a contract that describes the franchise relationship between manufacturers, distributors, importers and dealers.

218.0101(2) (2) “Autocycle” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (3m).

218.0101(3) (3) “Cash price” means the retail seller’s price in dollars for the sale of goods, and the transfer of unqualified title to those goods, upon payment of the retail seller’s price in cash or a cash equivalent.

218.0101(4) (4) “Consumer lease” has the meaning given in s. 429.104 (9).

218.0101(5) (5) “Designated family member” includes all of the following:

218.0101(5)(a) (a) The spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister of a deceased owner of a dealership who holds an interest in the dealership or who is entitled to receive an interest in the dealership by reason of the owner’s death.

218.0101(5)(b) (b) A court-appointed legal representative of an incapacitated owner, including a guardian or conservator.

218.0101(5)(c) (c) An owner’s attorney-in-fact under a valid power of attorney.

218.0101(5)(d) (d) A court-appointed personal representative or special administrator of a deceased owner’s estate if the deceased owner’s estate holds an interest in the dealership and, if the personal representative or special administrator is a corporate fiduciary, an individual is designated as operator under the franchise agreement.

218.0101(5)(e) (e) The trustee of a trust, testamentary or inter vivos, of which an owner was settlor if the trust holds an interest in the dealership and, if the trustee is a corporate fiduciary, an individual is designated as operator under the franchise agreement.

218.0101(5)(f) (f) An individual who has been nominated by the operator of a dealership as his or her successor in a written instrument filed with and accepted by the manufacturer, importer or distributor if that individual will hold a legal or beneficial interest in the dealership and is acceptable to the persons who will hold the controlling interest in the dealership.

218.0101(6) (6) “Distributor” means a person, resident or nonresident who in whole or part, sells or distributes new motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers, or who maintains distributor representatives.

218.0101(7) (7) “Distributor branch” means a branch office similarly maintained by a distributor for the same purposes.

218.0101(8) (8) “Distributor representative” means a representative similarly employed by a distributor or distributor branch.

218.0101(9) (9) “Division of hearings and appeals” means the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

218.0101(10) (10) “Factory branch” means a branch office maintained by a person who manufactures or assembles motor vehicles, for the sale of motor vehicles to distributors, or for the sale of motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers or for directing or supervising in whole or part, its representatives.

218.0101(11) (11) “Factory representative” means a representative employed by a person who manufactures or assembles motor vehicles or by a factory branch, for the purpose of making or promoting the sale of its motor vehicles, or for supervising or contacting its dealers or prospective dealers.

218.0101(12) (12) “Finance charge” has the meaning set forth in s. 421.301 (20).

218.0101(13) (13) “Franchise” means the right to buy, sell, distribute or service a line make of motor vehicles that is granted to a motor vehicle dealer or distributor by a manufacturer, importer or distributor.

218.0101(13m) (13m) “Gross capitalized cost” has the meaning given in s. 429.104 (13m).

218.0101(14) (14) “Importer” means a person who has written authorization from a foreign manufacturer of a line make of motor vehicles to grant franchises to motor vehicle dealers or distributors in this state with respect to that line make.

218.0101(15) (15) “Lease” or “leasing” means, with respect to a lessor, to enter into or offer to enter into a consumer lease with a lessee.

218.0101(16) (16) “Lessee” has the meaning given in s. 429.104 (17).

218.0101(17) (17) “Lessor” means a person who leases a motor vehicle to a lessee under a consumer lease, but does not include an assignee of a consumer lease.

218.0101(18) (18) “License period” means the period during which a particular type of license described in s. 218.0114 (14) is effective, as established by the department of transportation or division of banking under s. 218.0114 (13) (b) or (d).

218.0101(19) (19) “Licensor” means the body, either the division of banking or the department of transportation or both, issuing a license under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163.

218.0101(20) (20) “Manufacturer” means any person, resident or nonresident, who does any of the following:

218.0101(20)(a) (a) Manufactures or assembles motor vehicles.

218.0101(20)(b) (b) Manufactures or installs on previously assembled truck chassis, special bodies or equipment which when installed form an integral part of the motor vehicle and which constitutes a major manufacturing alteration and which completed unit is owned by the manufacturer.

218.0101(21) (21) “Motorcycle” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (32).

218.0101(22) (22) “Motor vehicle” means any motor-driven vehicle required to be registered under ch. 341 except mopeds.

218.0101(22m) (22m) “Motor vehicle buyer” means an individual who is employed by or who has contracted with one or more motor vehicle dealers to bid on or purchase a motor vehicle being held and offered for sale by a motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle auction.

218.0101(23) (23) 

218.0101(23)(a) (a) “Motor vehicle dealer” means any person, firm or corporation, not excluded by par. (b) who:

218.0101(23)(a)1. 1. For commission, money or other thing of value, sells, leases, exchanges, buys, offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, consumer lease or exchange of an interest in motor vehicles; or

218.0101(23)(a)2. 2. Is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling or leasing motor vehicles, including motorcycles, whether or not the motor vehicles are owned by that person, firm or corporation.

218.0101(23)(b) (b) The term “motor vehicle dealer” does not include:

218.0101(23)(b)1. 1. Receivers, trustees, personal representatives, guardians, or other persons appointed by or acting under the judgment or order of any court.

218.0101(23)(b)2. 2. Public officers while performing their official duties.

218.0101(23)(b)3. 3. Employees of persons, corporations or associations enumerated in subds. 1. and 2., when engaged in the specific performance of their duties as employees of the enumerated persons, corporations or associations.

218.0101(23)(b)4. 4. Sales finance companies or other loan agencies who sell or offer for sale motor vehicles repossessed or foreclosed on by those sales finance companies or other loan agencies under terms of an installment contract, or motor vehicles taken in trade on such repossessions.

218.0101(23)(b)5. 5. Sales finance companies when engaged in purchasing or otherwise acquiring consumer leases from a motor vehicle dealer, or in renegotiating consumer leases previously purchased or otherwise acquired by them.

218.0101(24) (24) “Motor vehicle salesperson” means sales representative, sales manager, general manager or other person who is employed by a motor vehicle dealer for the purpose of selling or approving retail sales, or leasing or approving consumer leases, of motor vehicles. Any motor vehicle salesperson licensed under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 shall be licensed to sell or lease for only one dealer at a time.

218.0101(24m) (24m) “Nationwide multistate licensing system and registry” has the meaning given in s. 224.35 (1g) (b).

218.0101(25) (25) “Parts outlet” means a facility at which a manufacturer, importer or distributor has authorized the sale of motor vehicle parts or accessories manufactured or distributed by the manufacturer, importer or distributor using a trade name, trademark or service mark also used to designate, make known or distinguish the manufacturer’s, importer’s or distributor’s motor vehicles or dealers.

218.0101(26) (26) “Person” means a person, firm, corporation or association.

218.0101(27) (27) “Prelease agreement” means an agreement to enter into a consumer lease whereby the motor vehicle will be available and ready to be delivered to the prospective lessee at a later time.

218.0101(28) (28) “Prospective lessee” has the meaning given in s. 429.104 (21).

218.0101(29) (29) “Prospective lessor” has the meaning given in s. 429.104 (21m).

218.0101(30) (30) “Relevant market area” means any of the following:

218.0101(30)(a) (a) All of the area within a 10-mile radius of the site of an existing enfranchised motor vehicle dealership.

218.0101(30)(b) (b) The area of sales responsibility assigned to the existing enfranchised dealership by the manufacturer, importer, or distributor.

218.0101(31) (31) “Retail buyer” means a person, firm or corporation, other than a motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor or dealer, buying or agreeing to buy one or more motor vehicles from a motor vehicle dealer.

218.0101(32) (32) “Retail installment contract” or “installment contract” means and includes every contract to sell one or more motor vehicles at retail, in which the price of the motor vehicle is payable in one or more installments over a period of time and in which the seller has either retained title to the goods or has taken or retained a security interest in the goods under a form of contract designated either as a conditional sale, chattel mortgage or otherwise.

218.0101(33) (33) “Retail seller” means a person, firm or corporation selling or agreeing to sell one or more motor vehicles under a retail installment contract to a buyer for the buyer’s personal use or consumption.

218.0101(34) (34) 

218.0101(34)(a) (a) “Sales finance company” means any person, firm or corporation engaging in the business, in whole or in part, of acquiring by purchase or by loan on the security thereof, or otherwise, retail installment contracts or consumer leases from retail sellers or lessors in this state.

218.0101(34)(b) (b) “Sales finance company” includes any motor vehicle dealer who sells or leases any motor vehicle on an installment contract or consumer lease or acquires any retail installment contracts in the dealer’s retail sales or leases of motor vehicles.

218.0101(35) (35) “Secretary” means the secretary of transportation.

218.0101(36) (36) “Service outlet” means a facility at which a manufacturer, importer or distributor has authorized the performance of work to rectify a manufacturer’s, importer’s or distributor’s product or warranty defects or delivery and preparation obligations or has authorized the use of a trade name, trademark or service mark also used to designate, make known or distinguish the manufacturer’s, importer’s or distributor’s motor vehicles or dealers in connection with a service facility.

218.0101(37) (37) “Special order” means an order against a person.

218.0101(37m) (37m) “Unique identifier” has the meaning given in s. 224.35 (1g) (e).

218.0101(38) (38) 

218.0101(38)(a) (a) “Wholesaler” or “wholesale dealer” means a person, other than a licensed motor vehicle dealer or licensed motor vehicle auction dealer, who does any of the following:

218.0101(38)(a)1. 1. Sells more than 5 used motor vehicles in any 12-month period to one or more motor vehicle dealers, motor vehicle auction dealers, or salvage dealers.

218.0101(38)(a)2. 2. Except as provided in par. (b), purchases used motor vehicles from a motor vehicle dealer or at a motor vehicle auction for the purpose of selling the vehicles to a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle auction, or wholesaler.

218.0101(38)(a)3. 3. Except as provided in par. (b), purchases used motor vehicles on behalf of a motor vehicle dealer.

218.0101(38)(b) (b) A person is not a wholesaler or a wholesale dealer if the person is employed by and receives compensation from only one motor vehicle dealer for services relating to the sale or purchase of motor vehicles and the person conducts all financial transactions involving the sale or purchase of motor vehicles in the name of the motor vehicle dealer that employs him or her, under the supervision of the motor vehicle dealer that employs him or her, and using the motor vehicle dealer’s funds or financial accounts.

218.0101 History History: 1999 a. 31 ss. 15 to 53; 2001 a. 102; 2003 a. 76, 216; 2005 a. 256; 2019 a. 50; 2023 a. 267.

218.0101 Annotation For a company to be a manufacturer under s. 218.01 (1) (L) [now sub. (20) (b)], all four of the prerequisites in that paragraph must be met. Harger v. Caterpillar, Inc., 2000 WI App 241, 239 Wis. 2d 551, 620 N.W.2d 477, 00-0536.

218.0111 218.0111 Authority of licensors.

218.0111(1) (1) The department of transportation shall issue the licenses provided for in s. 218.0114 (14) (a) to (fm) and have supervision over the licensees in respect to all of the provisions of ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, except that the division of banking shall have jurisdiction and control over all of the following:

218.0111(1)(a) (a) Matters that relate to the sale of motor vehicles on retail installment contracts and the financing and servicing of those retail installment contracts.

218.0111(1)(b) (b) Matters that relate to prelease agreements under s. 218.0144 and consumer leases under chs. 421 to 427 and 429.

218.0111(1)(c) (c) The issuance of licenses to sales finance companies.

218.0111(2) (2) Either licensor under sub. (1) shall, upon request, furnish the other licensor with any information it may have, including such information as may be available to the division of banking through the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry, in respect to any licensee or applicant for license or any transaction in which such a licensee or applicant may be a party or be interested. No license shall be issued under s. 218.0114 (14) (a) and (g) until both licensors have approved the application. The suspension or revocation of either the license issued under s. 218.0114 (14) (a) or (g) shall automatically suspend or revoke the other license. Any suspension or revocation shall be certified by the licensor ordering it to the other licensor.

218.0111 History History: 1999 a. 31 ss. 54 to 55; 2003 a. 216; 2023 a. 267.

218.0113 218.0113 Licenses for dealers, distributors, manufacturers or transporters of semitrailers and trailers. Subject to ch. 180 where applicable, any dealer, distributor, manufacturer or transporter of semitrailers or trailers designed for use in combination with a truck or truck tractor is considered licensed under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 where for purposes of chs. 341 and 342 a license under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 is required. This section is enacted to remove an undue burden on interstate commerce from a class of commercial transactions in which the business character of the parties does not require the protection provided by ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 and to promote the expansion of credit for truck operators who require banking and financing facilities throughout the United States.

218.0113 History History: 1999 a. 31 s. 56.

218.0114 218.0114 Licenses, how granted; agreements, filing.

218.0114(1) (1) No motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle wholesaler, motor vehicle salesperson, motor vehicle buyer, or sales finance company may engage in business as a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle wholesaler, motor vehicle salesperson, motor vehicle buyer, or sales finance company in this state without a license therefor as provided in ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163. If any motor vehicle dealer acts as a motor vehicle salesperson, he or she shall secure a motor vehicle salesperson’s license in addition to a motor vehicle dealer license. Every motor vehicle dealer shall be responsible for the licensing of every motor vehicle salesperson or motor vehicle buyer in his or her employ. Any person violating this subsection may be required to forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $5,000.

218.0114(1m) (1m) A motor vehicle dealer engaged in the sale of autocycles with a license as provided in ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 prior to May 1, 2020, may continue selling autocycles without having to acquire a different type of dealership license.

218.0114(2) (2) No manufacturer, importer or distributor may engage in business as a manufacturer, importer or distributor in this state without a license therefor as provided in ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163.

218.0114(2m) (2m) No manufacturers’, distributors’ or importers’ vehicles shall be sold in this state unless either the manufacturer on direct dealerships of domestic vehicles, the importer of foreign manufactured vehicles on direct dealerships or the distributor on indirect dealerships of either domestic or foreign vehicles are licensed under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163. The obtaining of a license under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 shall conclusively establish that a manufacturer, distributor or importer is doing business in this state and shall subject the licensee to all provisions of the Wisconsin statutes regulating manufacturers, importers and distributors.

218.0114(3) (3) No factory representative or distributor representative may engage in business as a factory representative or distributor representative in this state without a license therefor as provided in ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163.