Chapter 341

341.266(2)(e)2. 2. Motor trucks and truck tractors, except those that are former military vehicles, may not carry material weighing more than 500 pounds, not including the weight of a camper, lid, or cap that is mounted on the motor truck or truck tractor, the weight of a trailer or load drawn by the motor truck or truck tractor, or the weight of any persons or pets riding within the driver’s compartment.

341.266(2)(e)3. 3. Except as provided in s. 341.09 (7), no special interest vehicle may be operated upon any highway of this state during the month of January unless the owner of the vehicle reregisters the vehicle under s. 341.25 and replaces the distinctive registration plates issued under par. (c) with regular registration plates or transfers regular registration plates to the vehicle.

341.266(2)(f) (f) Unless inconsistent with this section, the provisions applicable to other vehicles shall apply to special interest vehicles.

341.266(3) (3) In addition to the fee in sub. (2) (b), there shall be an original (first time only) processing fee of $50 to defray the cost of issuing the original collector’s special interest vehicle registration plates and to ensure that each collector will be issued only one collector’s identification number.

341.266(4) (4) A collector may store unlicensed, operable or inoperable, vehicles and parts cars on the collector’s property provided the vehicles and parts cars and the outdoor storage area are maintained in such a manner that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by means of a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery or other appropriate means.

341.266(5) (5) Any person who violates sub. (2) (e) 3. may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

341.266 History History: 1971 c. 299; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (4); 1987 a. 349; 1989 a. 137; 1991 a. 81, 316; 1997 a. 126; 2003 a. 321; 2009 a. 225; 2013 a. 103, 221; 2015 a. 324.

341.267 341.267 Driver education motor vehicles; registration and insurance.

341.267(1) (1) In this section:

341.267(1)(a) (a) “Driver education vehicle” means any of the following:

341.267(1)(a)1. 1. Any motor vehicle loaned to a school by a licensed motor vehicle dealer which is used for the exclusive purpose of behind-the-wheel instruction or for necessary maintenance and storage.

341.267(1)(a)2. 2. Any motor vehicle owned or leased by a school which is used for behind-the-wheel instruction.

341.267(1)(b) (b) “School” means a public or nonpublic school having an approved driver education program as certified by the department of public instruction or the technical college system board.

341.267(1m) (1m) The department of public instruction shall establish uniform marking standards for a motor vehicle which is used as a driver education vehicle. The markings shall be removed when the owned or leased vehicle is being operated for other than behind-the-wheel instruction or necessary maintenance and storage.

341.267(1r) (1r) Any person who makes a false statement in an application to register a driver education vehicle or who uses a driver education vehicle which is registered under s. 341.26 (2) (a) except as authorized under this section may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

341.267(2) (2) A driver education vehicle shall be registered as provided in s. 341.26 (2). If a driver education vehicle is replaced, reassignment of the plate to a replacement driver education vehicle shall be made by the department on request without payment of an additional fee.

341.267(5) (5) No motor vehicle may be used for driver education unless a policy of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state, is maintained thereon. The policy shall provide such coverages in at least such amounts as are specified under s. 344.01 (2) (d). However, the department may require additional coverages and amounts as conditions warrant.

341.267(6) (6) No insurance policy issued under sub. (5) may be terminated or canceled prior to its expiration for any reason unless a notice thereof is filed with the department and with the school at least 30 days prior to the date of termination or cancellation.

341.267(7) (7) No registration shall be issued or remain in force for a driver education vehicle unless a certification of insurance in such form as the department may require is filed with the department by the insurer certificating that a policy of insurance, as required by this section, has been issued and is in effect which covers the owner, operator, instructor, school and any passengers in the vehicle.

341.267 History History: 1973 c. 200; 1975 c. 235; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a), (e); 1981 c. 188; 1987 a. 216; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

341.267 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. PI 21.03, Wis. adm. code.

341.268 341.268 Reconstructed, replica, street modified and homemade vehicles; registration, plates, use.

341.268(1) (1) In this section:

341.268(1)(a) (a) “Hobbyist” means the owner of one or more reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades or disposes of reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicles or parts thereof for personal use in order to build, reconstruct, restore, preserve and maintain a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle for historic or hobby interest.

341.268(1)(b) (b) “Homemade vehicle” means any of the following:

341.268(1)(b)1. 1. A motor vehicle that has been constructed or assembled from new or used parts or both using a body and frame not originating from and not resembling any previously manufactured motor vehicle.

341.268(1)(b)2. 2. A motorcycle that is a reproduction of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer and that consists of a reproduction body that is combined with a new, used, or replica frame and drivetrain.

341.268(1)(c) (c) “Parts car” means a motor vehicle generally in nonoperable condition which is owned by the hobbyist to furnish parts which will enable the hobbyist to build, reconstruct, restore, preserve and maintain a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle.

341.268(1)(d) (d) “Reconstructed vehicle” means a motor vehicle of any age which has been substantially altered or modified from original manufacturers specifications to such an extent that it no longer resembles the original manufactured vehicle.

341.268(1)(e) (e) “Replica vehicle” means a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, that is a reproduction of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer and that consists of a reproduction body that is combined with a new, used, or replica frame and drivetrain.

341.268(1)(f) (f) “Street modified vehicle” means a motor vehicle of any age which has been modified from original manufacturers specifications, but does not include any reconstructed vehicle as defined under par. (d).

341.268(2) (2) 

341.268(2)(a) (a) Any person who is the owner of a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle and who owns, has registered in this state and uses for regular transportation at least one vehicle that has regular registration plates may upon application register the vehicle as a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle upon payment of a fee under par. (b), provided that the vehicle is one of the following:

341.268(2)(a)1. 1. A reconstructed vehicle assembled from a vehicle manufactured 20 years or more prior to the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the vehicle.

341.268(2)(a)2. 2. A replica vehicle which is a reproduction of a vehicle manufactured 20 years or more prior to the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the replica vehicle.

341.268(2)(a)3. 3. A street modified vehicle which is 20 or more years old at the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the vehicle.

341.268(2)(a)4. 4. A homemade vehicle under sub. (1) (b) 1.

341.268(2)(a)5. 5. A homemade vehicle under sub. (1) (b) 2. that is a reproduction of a motorcycle manufactured 20 years or more prior to the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the homemade vehicle.

341.268(2)(b) (b) The fee to register a vehicle under par. (a) is twice the regular annual fee under s. 341.25 for the type of vehicle, except that the fee for a vehicle that has a gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds may be no more than twice the annual fee for a similar vehicle that has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds.

341.268(2)(c) (c) The department shall furnish the owner of the vehicle with registration plates of a distinctive design in lieu of the usual registration plates, and those plates shall show that the vehicle is a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle owned by a Wisconsin hobbyist. Upon application, the owner may reregister the vehicle without the payment of any additional fee.

341.268(2)(d) (d) Each hobbyist applying for reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle registration plates will be issued a hobbyist’s identification number which will appear on each plate. Second and all subsequent registrations under this section by the same hobbyist will bear the same hobbyist’s identification number followed by a suffix letter for vehicle identification.

341.268(2)(e) (e) The vehicle may be used as are other vehicles of the same type except that:

341.268(2)(e)1. 1. Motor vehicles may not transport passengers for hire.

341.268(2)(e)2. 2. Trucks may not haul material weighing more than 500 pounds, not including the weight of a camper, lid or cap that is mounted on the truck or the weight of any persons or pets riding within the driver’s compartment.

341.268(2)(e)3. 3. Except as provided in s. 341.09 (7), no reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle may be operated upon any highway of this state during the month of January unless the owner of the vehicle reregisters the vehicle under s. 341.25 and replaces the distinctive registration plates issued under par. (c) with regular registration plates or transfers regular registration plates to the vehicle.

341.268(2)(f) (f) Unless inconsistent with this section, the provisions of this chapter applicable to other vehicles shall apply to reconstructed, replica, street modified and homemade vehicles.

341.268(3) (3) In addition to the fee in sub. (2) (b), there shall be an original (first time only) processing fee of $50 to defray the cost of issuing the original hobbyist’s reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle registration plates and to ensure that each hobbyist will be issued only one hobbyist’s identification number.

341.268(4) (4) A hobbyist may store unlicensed, operable or inoperable, vehicles and parts cars on the hobbyist’s property provided the vehicles and parts cars and outdoor storage area are maintained in such a manner that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by means of a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery or other appropriate means.

341.268(4m) (4m) A motorcycle registered as a replica vehicle under s. 341.268, 1999 stats., shall be considered a homemade vehicle for purposes of this section and ss. 341.09 (7), 341.27 (3) (a), 341.28 (2), and 341.31 (4) (b), except that the owner of the motorcycle is not required to replace the distinctive registration plates issued under s. 341.268 (2) (c), 1999 stats., showing that the motorcycle is a replica vehicle.

341.268(5) (5) Any person who violates sub. (2) (e) 3. may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

341.268 History History: 1975 c. 94 s. 3; 1975 c. 417; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (4); 1987 a. 349; 1993 a. 165; 1997 a. 126; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 321.

341.268 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Trans 305.065, Wis. adm. code.

341.269 341.269 Historic military vehicles; registration, plates, use.

341.269(1) (1) In this section:

341.269(1)(a) (a) “Historic military vehicle” means a vehicle, including a trailer but excluding a tracked vehicle, that was manufactured for use in any country’s military forces and is maintained to accurately represent its military design and markings, regardless of the vehicle’s size or weight.

341.269(1)(b) (b) “Parts vehicle” means a vehicle generally in nonoperable condition that is owned to furnish parts which will enable a historic military vehicle owner to restore, preserve, and maintain a historic military vehicle.

341.269(2) (2) 

341.269(2)(a) (a) Any resident of this state who is the owner of a historic military vehicle that is at least 25 years old at the time of making application for registration and has been imported into the United States from another country, or that is any age and has not been imported into the United States, may upon application register the vehicle under this section as a historic military vehicle upon payment of the fees specified in par. (b). The applicant has the burden of providing evidence satisfactory to the department that the vehicle may be registered under this section, including, if applicable, providing documentation demonstrating that a historic military vehicle which is less than 25 years old was manufactured for U.S. military forces and was never imported.

341.269(2)(b) (b)

341.269(2)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 3., the fee to register a vehicle under this section is $5. Upon application, the owner may reregister the vehicle under this section without the payment of any additional fee.

341.269(2)(b)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., in addition to the fee under subd. 1., an applicant for initial registration under this section shall pay a one-time processing fee of $25 for the initial costs of production of the special plates under par. (c).

341.269(2)(b)3. 3. The department may not collect any fee under subd. 1. or 2. if, at the time of application for registration under this section, the vehicle is currently registered under another provision of this chapter. The department shall cease collection of the fee under subd. 2. when the department has collected a total of $11,800 from either, or a combination of both, of the following sources:

341.269(2)(b)3.a. a. The fee under subd. 2.

341.269(2)(b)3.b. b. Any gift or contribution received by the department for purposes of funding the initial costs of production of the special plates under par. (c).

341.269(2)(c) (c) The department shall furnish the owner of the vehicle registered under this section with registration plates of a distinctive design in lieu of the usual registration plates, and those plates shall show that the vehicle is registered as a historic military vehicle. The department shall specify the design for the registration plates furnished under this paragraph after consulting with a group or organization chartered in this state that is interested in historic military vehicles.

341.269(3) (3) A vehicle registered under this section may only be used for special occasions such as display and parade purposes, club activities, exhibitions, and tours, including traveling to and from such events, for necessary testing, maintenance, and storage purposes, and for occasional personal use, but not for regular transportation.

341.269(4) (4) A motorcycle may be registered under this section if all of the requirements for registration specified in this section are satisfied.

341.269(5) (5) Unless inconsistent with this section or s. 341.10 (6), the provisions applicable to other motor vehicles apply to vehicles registered under this section as historic military vehicles.

341.269(6) (6) The owner of a historic military vehicle may store unregistered, operable or inoperable, historic military vehicles and parts vehicles on the owner’s property if the vehicles and parts vehicles and the outdoor storage area are maintained in such a manner that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by means of a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery, or other appropriate means.

341.269 History History: 2009 a. 135; 2013 a. 103.

341.27 341.27 Registration periods for private automobiles, certain motor trucks, and taxicabs.

341.27(1) (1) All automobiles and motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less, other than those that may be registered under s. 341.26 (2), 341.265, 341.266, 341.268, or 341.269 or are required by s. 341.29 to be registered on a calendar-year basis, shall be registered by the department according to the monthly series system of registration prescribed by this section.

341.27(2) (2) There are established 12 registration periods, each to be designated by a calendar month and, except as provided in sub. (3) (c) and s. 341.28 (7) (a), to start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the 12th month beginning after the date of commencing. The department shall administer the monthly series system of registration to distribute the work of registering automobiles and motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less as uniformly as practicable throughout the calendar year.

341.27(3) (3) All automobiles and motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that are subject to the registration system under this section shall be registered by the department for a period of 12 consecutive months, except as follows:

341.27(3)(a) (a) If the applicant holds current registration plates that were removed from an automobile or a motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that the applicant no longer owns or that has been junked, is no longer used on the highways, or has been registered as a special interest vehicle under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or a reconstructed, replica, street modified, or homemade vehicle under s. 341.268 (2) (a), the plates were issued under the system of registration prescribed by this section, and the application is for registration of the same type of vehicle, the department shall register the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that is the subject of the application for the remainder of the unexpired registration period.

341.27(3)(b) (b) The department may register an automobile or a motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less for a registration period other than a period of 12 consecutive months if the secretary determines that the different registration period will help to equalize the registration and renewal workload of the department or will avoid unnecessary cost or inconvenience.

341.27(3)(c) (c)

341.27(3)(c)1. 1. For an application for original registration, the registration period shall include, in addition to the 12-month registration period, the period beginning on the date that a complete application for registration, including evidence of any inspection under s. 110.20 when required, accompanied by the required fee is delivered to the department, submitted to a dealer under s. 341.09 (2m) for transmittal to the department, or deposited in the mail properly addressed to the department with postage prepaid and continuing through the end of that month.

341.27(3)(c)2. 2. For an application for renewal of a registration that ends on a date other than the last day of a month, the registration period shall include, in addition to the 12-month registration period, the period beginning on the date that the previous registration period expires and continuing through the end of that month.

341.27 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 82; 1971 c. 299; 1973 c. 200; 1975 c. 33, 199, 417; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1438, 1654 (7) (a), (c); 1977 c. 272; 1983 a. 227, 270; 1987 a. 216 s. 20; 1989 a. 137; 1993 a. 165; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 80; 2009 a. 135; 2021 a. 154.

341.28 341.28 Part-year fees.

341.28(1) (1) The applicant for registration of an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less under the system of registration prescribed by s. 341.27 shall pay in full the annual registration fee prescribed by law, except as otherwise provided in this section.

341.28(2) (2) If the applicant for registration holds current registration plates that were removed from an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that the applicant no longer owns or that has been junked, is no longer being used on the highways, or has been registered as a special interest vehicle under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or a reconstructed, replica, street modified, or homemade vehicle under s. 341.268 (2) (a), the plates were issued under the system of registration prescribed by s. 341.27, and the application is for registration of the same type of vehicle, the applicant is exempt from the payment of a registration fee, except in the following cases:

341.28(2)(a) (a) If the annual fee prescribed for the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less being registered is higher than the annual fee prescribed for the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less from which the plates were removed, the applicant shall pay a fee computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the difference between the 2 annual fees multiplied by the number of months for which the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that is the subject of the application is being registered. The start of the new registration, for the purpose of computing the fee, shall be determined in accordance with sub. (7).

341.28(2)(b) (b) If the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that is the subject of the application was owned by the applicant at any time during the month in which the transfer, termination of the consumer lease, discontinuance of use on the highways, junking, or registration under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or 341.268 (2) (a) of the other automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less occurred and was not currently registered at the time of the transfer, termination of the consumer lease, discontinuance of use on the highways, junking, or registration under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or 341.268 (2) (a), the applicant shall pay a fee to be computed as provided in subs. (3) to (5) but shall receive a credit for the unused portion of the current registration. The credit shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual fee paid for the vehicle from which the plates were removed multiplied by the number of months remaining in the registration period represented by the removed plates, including the month during which the applicant transferred, discontinued to use on the highways, junked, or registered under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or 341.268 (2) (a) or terminated the consumer lease of the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less from which the plates were removed.

341.28(3) (3) If the applicant does not hold current registration plates under the circumstances described in sub. (2) and the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that is the subject of the application has not previously been registered in this state by the applicant, the fee payable by the applicant shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual fee multiplied by the number of months for which the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less is being registered, with the start of the registration period to be determined in accordance with sub. (7). If the registration period begins on a date other than the first day of a month, the department shall disregard the initial partial month in calculating the fee under this subsection.

341.28(4) (4) If the applicant does not hold current registration plates under the circumstances described in sub. (2) but the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that is the subject of the application has previously been registered in this state by the applicant, the applicant shall pay a fee covering all the time since the end of the period for which the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less previously was registered unless any of the following applies:

341.28(4)(a) (a) The automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less in the meantime has been owned by another person or registered in another state.

341.28(4)(b) (b) At least 12 months have elapsed since the end of the period for which the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less previously was registered and the applicant filed with the department a statement that the applicant did not during those 12 months operate or consent to the operation of the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less under circumstances making the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less subject to registration in this state.