218.0114(16)(16) The fee for licenses for sales finance companies for each calendar year, or part of a calendar year, is based on the gross volume of purchases of retail installment contracts and consumer leases of motor vehicles sold or leased in this state for the 12 months immediately preceding October 31 of the year in which the application for license is made, as follows: On a gross volume of $100,000 or less, $50; and on each $100,000 or part thereof over $100,000, an additional $15. No extra charge shall be made for branch licenses for sales finance companies. Gross volume shall be based on the unpaid balance of the retail installment contracts and the base periodic payments, as defined in s. 429.104 (4), of the consumer leases. 218.0114(17)(a)(a) The licenses of dealers, manufacturers, factory branches, distributors, and distributor branches shall specify the location of the office or branch and must be conspicuously displayed at that location. In case the location of the office or branch is changed, the licensor shall endorse the change of location on the license, without charge, if the new location is within the same municipality as the previous location. A change of location to another municipality shall require a new license. 218.0114(17)(b)(b) A sales finance company, other than a motor vehicle dealer, shall give written notice to the division of banking, in a form and manner acceptable to the division of banking, within 10 days of any change of location of the office or branch specified in the license. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (17) is shown as affected eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267. Prior to 1-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(17) The licenses of dealers, manufacturers, factory branches, distributors, distributor branches and sales finance companies shall specify the location of the office or branch and must be conspicuously displayed at that location. In case the location of the office or branch is changed, the licensor shall endorse the change of location on the license, without charge, if the new location is within the same municipality as the previous location. A change of location to another municipality shall require a new license, except for sales finance companies.
218.0114(18)(18) Every salesperson, factory representative, distributor representative, or motor vehicle buyer shall carry his or her license when engaged in business, and display the license upon request. The license shall name the licensee’s employer or motor vehicle dealership for whom the motor vehicle buyer is buying. Upon leaving an employer, or, in the case of a buyer, terminating a buying relationship with a motor vehicle dealership, the licensee shall immediately surrender the license to his or her employer or to the dealership, who shall mail the license to the licensor. If during the license period the licensee again is employed or acts as a salesperson or motor vehicle buyer, he or she shall make application for reissue of a salesperson’s or motor vehicle buyer license. There shall be no fee in connection with the subsequent application for a salesperson’s license. The fee for a subsequent application for a motor vehicle buyer license is $6. 218.0114(19)(19) Every sales finance company shall be required to procure a salesperson’s license for itself or its employees in order to sell motor vehicles repossessed by it. 218.0114(20)(a)(a) If the licensor has reasonable cause to doubt the financial responsibility of the applicant or licensee or the compliance by the applicant or licensee with ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, the licensor may require the applicant or licensee to furnish information relating to the applicant’s or licensee’s solvency and financial standing. 218.0114(20)(b)(b) If the licensor has reasonable cause to doubt the financial responsibility of the applicant or licensee or the compliance by the applicant or licensee with ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, the licensor may require the applicant or licensee to furnish and maintain an additional bond in the form, amount and with the sureties it approves, but not less than $5,000, nor more than $100,000, conditioned upon the applicant or licensee complying with the statutes applicable to the licensee and as indemnity for any loss sustained by any person by reason of any acts of the licensee constituting grounds for suspension or revocation of the license under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163. The bonds shall be executed in the name of the department of transportation for the benefit of any aggrieved person who sustains a loss because of an act of the licensee that constitutes grounds for the suspension or revocation of his or her license under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, except that the aggregate liability of the surety to all aggrieved persons shall, in no event, exceed the amount of the bond. The bonding requirements in this paragraph shall not apply to manufacturers, factory branches, and their agents and is in addition to the bond or letter of credit required of a motor vehicle dealer under sub. (5) (a). 218.0114(20)(c)(c) An applicant or licensee furnishing information under par. (a) may designate the information as a trade secret, as defined in s. 134.90 (1) (c), or as confidential business information. The licensor shall notify the applicant or licensee providing the information 15 days before any information designated as a trade secret or as confidential business information is disclosed to the legislature, a state agency, as defined in s. 13.62 (2), a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 605.01 (1), or any other person. The applicant or licensee furnishing the information may seek a court order limiting or prohibiting the disclosure, in which case the court shall weigh the need for confidentiality of the information against the public interest in the disclosure. A designation under this paragraph does not prohibit the disclosure of a person’s name or address, of the name or address of a person’s employer or of financial information that relates to a person when requested under s. 49.22 (2m) by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5). A designation under this paragraph does not prohibit the disclosure of sales finance company application information to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry, but, except as provided in s. 224.35 (4) (b) and (c), this information shall remain confidential and is not subject to public copying or inspection under s. 19.35 (1). Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (c) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267. Prior to 1-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(c) An applicant or licensee furnishing information under par. (a) may designate the information as a trade secret, as defined in s. 134.90 (1) (c), or as confidential business information. The licensor shall notify the applicant or licensee providing the information 15 days before any information designated as a trade secret or as confidential business information is disclosed to the legislature, a state agency, as defined in s. 13.62 (2), a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 605.01 (1), or any other person. The applicant or licensee furnishing the information may seek a court order limiting or prohibiting the disclosure, in which case the court shall weigh the need for confidentiality of the information against the public interest in the disclosure. A designation under this paragraph does not prohibit the disclosure of a person’s name or address, of the name or address of a person’s employer or of financial information that relates to a person when requested under s. 49.22 (2m) by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).
218.0114(21)(21) Application for dealers’ licenses shall be submitted to the department of transportation in duplicate and shall contain such information as the licensors require. Application for sales finance company licenses shall contain such information as the division of banking requires. No motor vehicle dealer or sales finance company, unless so licensed, shall be permitted to register or receive or use registration plates under ss. 341.47 to 341.57. The department of transportation shall transmit the duplicate copy of each application for a dealer’s license to the division of banking with the fee required under sub. (14) (g). The division of banking may not refund the fee required under sub. (14) (g). The division of banking shall approve a sales finance company license for a dealer if no prior sales finance company license has been suspended or revoked, and if the applicant meets the requirements of ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 relating to sales finance companies. 218.0114(21e)(a)(a) In addition to any other information required under this section and except as provided in par. (c), an application by an individual for the issuance or renewal of a license described in sub. (14) shall include the individual’s social security number and an application by a person who is not an individual for the issuance or renewal of a license described in sub. (14) (a), (b), (c) or (e) shall include the person’s federal employer identification number. The licensor may not disclose any information received under this paragraph to any person except the department of children and families for purposes of administering s. 49.22, the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301, and the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227. 218.0114(21e)(b)(b) The licensor shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license if the information required under par. (a) is not included in the application. 218.0114(21e)(c)(c) If an applicant for the issuance or renewal of a license described in sub. (14) is an individual who does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for or applying to renew the license, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the licensor that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. Any license issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted by an applicant under this paragraph is invalid. 218.0114(21g)(a)(a) In addition to any other information required under this section and except as provided in par. (c), an application for a license described in sub. (16) shall include the following: 218.0114(21g)(a)1.1. In the case of an individual, the individual’s social security number. 218.0114(21g)(a)2.2. In the case of a person that is not an individual, the person’s federal employer identification number. 218.0114(21g)(b)(b) The licensor may not disclose any information received under par. (a) to any person except as follows: 218.0114(21g)(b)1.1. The licensor may disclose information under par. (a) to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227. 218.0114(21g)(b)2.2. The licensor may disclose information under par. (a) 1. to the department of children and families in accordance with a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857. 218.0114(21g)(b)3.3. The division of banking may disclose information to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35. 218.0114(21g)(c)(c) If an applicant for the issuance or renewal of a license described in sub. (16) is an individual who does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for or applying to renew the license, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the licensor that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. Any license issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted by an applicant under this paragraph is invalid. 218.0114(22)(22) A motor vehicle dealer licensed in accordance with the provisions of ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 shall make reports to the licensor at such intervals and showing such information as the licensor may require. 218.0114(23)(23) After the receipt of an application in due form, properly verified and certified, and upon the payment of the $5 examination fee, the secretary, deputy secretary or any salaried employee of the department of transportation designated by the secretary shall, within a reasonable time and in a place reasonably accessible to the applicant for a license, subject each first-time applicant for license and, if the secretary deems necessary, any applicant for renewal of license to a personal written examination as to competency to act as a motor vehicle salesperson. The secretary shall issue to an applicant a resident or nonresident motor vehicle salesperson’s license if the application and examination show that the applicant meets all of the following requirements: 218.0114(23)(a)(a) Intends in good faith to act as a motor vehicle salesperson. 218.0114(23)(c)(c) Has had experience or training in, or is otherwise qualified for, selling or leasing motor vehicles. 218.0114(23)(d)(d) Is a resident of this state, unless application is for a nonresident motor vehicle salesperson’s license. 218.0114(23)(e)(e) Is reasonably familiar with the motor vehicle sales or consumer lease laws or contracts that the applicant is proposing to solicit, negotiate or effect. 218.0114(24)(b)(b) The department may not issue a dealer license under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, unless the department has determined that no factory will hold an ownership interest in or operate or control the dealership or that one of the exceptions under s. 218.0121 (3m) applies. 218.0114(24)(d)(d) If the division of hearings and appeals determines, after a hearing on the matter at the request of the department or any licensee, that a factory holds an ownership interest in a dealership or operates or controls a dealership in violation of s. 218.0121 the division shall order the denial or revocation of the dealership’s license. 218.0114(25)(25) A sales finance company, other than a motor vehicle dealer, shall register with, and maintain a valid unique identifier issued by, the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. 218.0114 AnnotationSection 180.847 (1) [now s. 180.1502 (1)], prescribing that no foreign corporation transacting business in the state without a certificate of authority shall be permitted to maintain or defend a civil action until it obtains a certificate of authority, and s. 218.01 (2) (bd) 3. [now sub. (2m)], providing that obtaining a license under the motor vehicle dealers law conclusively establishes that a distributor is doing business in this state, have entirely different purposes and meanings. Nagle Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen North Central Distributor, Inc., 51 Wis. 2d 413, 187 N.W.2d 374 (1971). 218.0114 AnnotationA dealer’s refusal to sell the manufacturer’s products after filing a complaint under s. 218.01 (2) (bd) 2. [now sub. (7) (d)] is a violation of that provision, and consequently of s. 218.01 (3) (a) 4. [now s. 218.0116 (1) (bm)], entitling the manufacturer to treble damages under s. 218.01 (9) (am) [now s. 218.0163]. American Suzuki Motor Corp. v. Bill Kummer, Inc., 65 F.3d 1381 (1995). 218.0116218.0116 Licenses, how denied, suspended or revoked. 218.0116(1)(1) A license may be denied, suspended or revoked on the following grounds: 218.0116(1)(am)(am) Making a material misstatement, or knowingly omitting a material fact, in an application for a license or, in the case of a sales finance company other than a motor vehicle dealer, in information furnished to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (am) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267. Prior to 1-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(am) Material misstatement in application for license.
218.0116(1)(b)(b) Filing a materially false or fraudulent income or franchise tax return as certified by the department of revenue. 218.0116(1)(c)(c) Willfully defrauding any retail buyer, lessee or prospective lessee to the buyer’s, lessee’s or prospective lessee’s damage. 218.0116(1)(cm)(cm) Willful failure to perform any written agreement with any retail buyer, lessee or prospective lessee. 218.0116(1)(d)(d) Failure or refusal to furnish and keep in force any bond required. 218.0116(1)(dm)(dm) Having made a fraudulent sale, consumer lease, prelease agreement, transaction or repossession. 218.0116(1)(e)(e) Fraudulent misrepresentation, circumvention or concealment through whatsoever subterfuge or device of any of the material particulars or the nature thereof required hereunder to be stated or furnished to the retail buyer, lessee or prospective lessee. 218.0116(1)(em)(em) Employment of fraudulent devices, methods or practices in connection with compliance with the statutes with respect to the retaking of goods under retail installment contracts or consumer leases and the redemption and resale or subsequent lease of the retaken goods. 218.0116(1)(f)(f) Having engaged in any unconscionable practice relating to the licensed business activity. 218.0116(1)(g)(g) Having sold a retail installment contract or consumer lease to a sales finance company that is not licensed under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163. 218.0116(1)(gm)(gm) Having violated any law relating to the sale, lease, distribution or financing of motor vehicles. 218.0116(1)(h)(h) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who has coerced or attempted to coerce any motor vehicle dealer to order any commodity or service or to accept delivery of or pay for any commodity or service that the motor vehicle dealer has not ordered. This paragraph does not modify or prohibit reasonable requirements in a franchise agreement that require a dealer to market and service a representative line of new motor vehicles that the manufacturer, importer or distributor is publicly advertising. 218.0116(1)(hm)(hm) Being a manufacturer of motor vehicles, factory branch, distributor, field representative, officer, agent or any representative of a motor vehicle manufacturer or factory branch, who has attempted to induce or coerce, or has induced or coerced, any motor vehicle dealer to enter into any agreement with the manufacturer, factory branch or representative of the motor vehicle manufacturer or factory branch, or to do any other act unfair to the dealer, by threatening to cancel any franchise existing between the manufacturer, factory branch or representative of the motor vehicle manufacturer or factory branch and the dealer. 218.0116(1)(i)1.a.a. “Due regard to the equities” means treatment in enforcing an agreement that is fair and equitable to a motor vehicle dealer or distributor and that is not discriminatory compared to similarly situated dealers or distributors. 218.0116(1)(i)1.b.b. “Just provocation” means a material breach by a motor vehicle dealer or distributor, due to matters within the dealer’s or distributor’s control, of a reasonable and necessary provision of an agreement and the breach is not cured within a reasonable time after written notice of the breach has been received from the manufacturer, importer or distributor. 218.0116(1)(i)2.2. Subject to s. 218.0132, being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who has unfairly, without due regard to the equities or without just provocation, directly or indirectly canceled or failed to renew the franchise of any motor vehicle dealer; or being a manufacturer or importer, who has unfairly, without due regard to the equities or without just provocation, directly or indirectly canceled or failed to renew the franchise of any distributor. If there is a change in a manufacturer, importer or distributor, a motor vehicle dealer’s franchise granted by the former manufacturer, importer or distributor shall continue in full force and operation under the new manufacturer, importer or distributor unless a mutual agreement of cancellation is filed with the department of transportation between the new manufacturer, importer or distributor and the dealer. 218.0116(1)(im)1.a.a. With respect to an order or contract of purchase, the practice of increasing the selling price of a motor vehicle above that originally quoted the purchaser as evidenced by a purchase order or contract which has been signed by both the purchaser and dealer licensee. 218.0116(1)(im)1.b.b. With respect to a consumer lease or prelease agreement, the practice of increasing the gross capitalized cost above that originally quoted the lessee or prospective lessee as evidenced by a consumer lease or prelease agreement which has been signed by both the lessee or prospective lessee and the dealer licensee. 218.0116(1)(im)2.2. Having accepted an order or contract of purchase from a buyer or a consumer lease or prelease agreement from a lessee or prospective lessee if the arrangement results in the practice of bushing. 218.0116(1)(j)(j) Having advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast or televised or caused or permitted to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast or televised in any manner whatsoever, any statement or representation with regard to the sale, lease or financing of motor vehicles which is false, deceptive or misleading. 218.0116(1)(jm)(jm) Having set up, promoted or aided in the promotion of a plan by which motor vehicles are sold or leased to a person for a consideration and upon the further consideration that the purchaser or lessee agrees to secure one or more persons to participate in the plan by respectively making a similar purchase or lease and in turn agreeing to secure one or more persons likewise to join in the plan, each purchaser or lessee being given the right to secure money, credits, goods or something of value, depending upon the number of persons joining in the plan. 218.0116(1)(k)(k) Being a dealer who keeps open the dealer’s place of business on Sunday for the purpose of buying, leasing or selling motor vehicles; but nothing in this paragraph shall apply to any person who conscientiously believes that the 7th day of the week, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, should be observed as the Sabbath and who actually refrains from conducting or engaging in the business of buying, leasing, selling or offering for lease or sale motor vehicles, or performing other secular business on that day. 218.0116(1)(L)(L) Being a motor vehicle dealer who, in breach of an agreement, voluntarily changes its ownership or executive management, transfers its dealership assets to another person, adds another franchise at the same location as its existing franchise, or relocates a franchise without first complying with the procedures in s. 218.0134. 218.0116(1)(Lm)(Lm) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who fails to comply with the procedures in s. 218.0134 regarding a dealer’s request for approval of a change of ownership or executive management, transfer of its dealership assets to another person, adding another franchise at the same location as its existing franchise, or relocation of a franchise or who fails to comply with an order of the division of hearings and appeals issued under s. 218.0134. 218.0116(1)(mm)(mm) Being a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, field representative, officer, agent or any representative of a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement, refuses to honor the succession to the ownership or operation of a dealership under an existing franchise agreement by a designated family member of a deceased or incapacitated dealer, except in the manner prescribed by s. 218.0131, or who unreasonably withholds its approval of a change of ownership or executive management of the dealership after the dealer’s death or incapacity. 218.0116(1)(n)(n) The selling of new motor vehicles for which the dealer is not franchised. 218.0116(1)(nm)(nm) Willful failure to provide and maintain facilities and business records as required by ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 or by any rule promulgated by the licensor pertaining to facility and business records.
