Chapter 341

341.28(5) (5) Under the circumstances described in sub. (4), the fee payable by the applicant shall be computed as prescribed in sub. (3) for an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that was not previously registered by the applicant in this state, provided that he or she first files with the department a statement of nonoperation if required to do so by sub. (7).

341.28(6) (6) If the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less being registered under the circumstances described in sub. (3) or (4) is a replacement for a registered vehicle that has been junked, the applicant is entitled to a credit to be computed and applied in accordance with s. 341.31 (2) (b).

341.28(7) (7) For the purpose of computing the registration fee payable upon registration of an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less under circumstances described in subs. (2) to (4), the beginning of the current registration period shall be determined as follows:

341.28(7)(a) (a) The registration period for an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less commences on the day on which the first operation of the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less under circumstances making the owner liable for its registration in this state occurs. For purposes of this paragraph, “first operation” means operation of an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less for the first time after it was transferred or leased to the applicant or after it was registered in another state or after an active service refund or after the expiration of 12 months of nonoperation since expiration of the last registration in this state or after it was no longer used on the highways.

341.28(7)(b) (b) In the case of an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that has not previously been registered or that has not been registered in this state by the present owner since the owner last acquired ownership of the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less, the department shall assume that the date of first operation within the meaning of par. (a) is the date of the bill of sale evidencing the transfer of ownership to the applicant or, with respect to a leased vehicle, the date of commencement of the lease by the applicant, unless the applicant files with the department a statement that the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less was not operated until a later date, specifying the date of first operation. In the case of at least 12 months of nonoperation of an automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less previously registered by the applicant, the applicant shall file with the department a statement that he or she did not 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 it subject to registration in this state during the 12-month period and shall specify the date following that period when the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less was first operated. The department may refuse to accept a statement that projects the date of first operation into the future.

341.28 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1975 c. 33, 199; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273; 1983 a. 227, 270; 1989 a. 137; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 165; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 80; 2015 a. 323; 2021 a. 154.

341.29 341.29 Registration for vehicles other than private automobiles, certain motor trucks, and taxicabs.

341.29(1) (1) The registration period for all vehicles registered on an annual basis, other than private automobiles, motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less, taxicabs, those eligible for quarterly registration under s. 341.30, and driver education vehicles, shall be determined by the secretary. The secretary may require that any of the vehicles subject to this section be registered according to the monthly series system under s. 341.295.

341.29(2) (2) If an application for registration of a vehicle subject to registration on an annual or biennial basis is received less than 2 months prior to the beginning of any registration period and the vehicle is not registered in this state at the time of application and the applicant desires to register for the succeeding registration period as well as for the remainder of the current period, the department upon registering the vehicle shall issue registration plates designed for the succeeding registration period rather than for the current period. Such plates also serve during the remainder of the current registration period as lawful evidence of the registration of the vehicle. This subsection does not affect computation of fee payable by the applicant.

341.29 History History: 1973 c. 200, 333; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1440, 1654 (7) (a), (c); 1981 c. 20; 1989 a. 31; 2021 a. 154.

341.295 341.295 Special registration period for certain vehicles.

341.295(1) (1) The secretary may require that any vehicle subject to s. 341.29 be registered according to the monthly series system of registration prescribed by this section.

341.295(2) (2) There are established 12 registration periods, each to be designated by a calendar month and to start on the first day of such month and end on the last day of the 12th month from the date of commencing. The department shall so administer the monthly series system of registration as to distribute the work of registration throughout the calendar year.

341.295(3) (3) All vehicles subject to registration under the monthly series system under this section shall be registered by the department for a period of 12 consecutive calendar months except as follows:

341.295(3)(a) (a) If the applicant holds registration plates which were removed from a vehicle under s. 341.31 (4) (c), 342.15 (4) (a) or 342.34 (1) (c) or (2) (c), and the plates were issued under the monthly series system, the department shall register a replacement vehicle of the same type and gross weight which is the subject of the application for the remainder of the unexpired registration period.

341.295(3)(b) (b) If the applicant does not hold current registration plates under the circumstances described in par. (a) and the application is an original rather than renewal application, the department may register the vehicle which is the subject of the application for such period or part of a period as the secretary determines will help to equalize the registration and renewal workload of the department.

341.295(4) (4) Section 341.31 applies to any vehicles registered according to the monthly series system under this section.

341.295(5) (5) When it initially implements the monthly series registration system under this section, the department may provide for renewal registration periods of not less than 6 months nor more than 18 months. The fees under this subsection shall be assessed according to the length of the registration periods.

341.295 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 126, 227, 270, 538; 1987 a. 349; 2021 a. 154.

341.297 341.297 Biennial registration. The following vehicles shall be registered on a biennial basis:

341.297(1) (1) A motorcycle, moped, or low-speed vehicle, as specified in s. 341.25 (1) (b).

341.297(2) (2) A farm truck having a gross weight of 12,000 pounds or less, as specified in s. 341.26 (3) (a) 1.

341.297 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1999 a. 142; 2007 a. 33; 2009 a. 311.

341.30 341.30 Quarterly registration.

341.30(1) (1) Any of the following vehicles may be registered on a quarterly basis in lieu of the annual registration specified in s. 341.29:

341.30(1)(a) (a) A motor bus having a registered gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds, except motor buses registered under s. 341.26 (2) (d) and (h).

341.30(1)(c) (c) A motor truck, road tractor or trailer having a registered gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds.

341.30(1)(d) (d) A truck tractor, when the aggregate combined registered gross weight of the truck tractor and any semitrailer operated in conjunction with it is more than 8,000 pounds.

341.30(1)(e) (e) Any of the vehicles subject to registration under s. 341.26 (3) (c), (d) or (e) having a registered gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds.

341.30(1)(f) (f) A motor home having a registered gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds and registered under s. 341.25 (1) (j).

341.30(2) (2) For the purpose of quarterly registration of vehicles, the quarters are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. A registration made on a quarterly basis expires on the last day of the quarter for which the vehicle is registered.

341.30(3) (3) The quarterly registration fee is 25 percent of the annual fee. The department shall register a vehicle subject to quarterly registration for as many quarters less than a full year as the applicant desires. The fee payable shall be the quarterly registration fee times the number of quarters for which registration is desired plus $5 for each application submitted. If satisfactory evidence is provided that a vehicle was not operated on the highways during any quarter it shall be exempt from the payment of fees for the quarter in which it was not used.

341.30 History History: 1977 c. 29 ss. 1441, 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 123; 2015 a. 197 s. 51.

341.305 341.305 Consecutive monthly registration.

341.305(1) (1) In this section, “consecutive monthly registration” means registration for a minimum of 3 consecutive months.

341.305(2) (2) Any of the following vehicles may be registered on a consecutive monthly registration basis in lieu of the annual registration specified in s. 341.29:

341.305(2)(a) (a) A motor truck or a trailer or a truck tractor used exclusively to transport concrete pipe or block and related materials, calcium chloride liquid, a weight transfer machine for purposes associated with truck or tractor pulling competitions or events, recycled metal salvage materials, logs or pulpwood, dirt, fill or aggregates, or fresh milk, or to transport perishable fresh fruits or vegetables for canning, freezing, dehydrating or storage prior to processing, including return of waste, or to transport petroleum products.

341.305(2)(b) (b) A motor truck or a trailer or a truck tractor equipped with a dump, box or other container used exclusively to transport gravel, concrete or cement and bituminous road construction materials or agricultural lime, feed, grain or fertilizer, or equipped with a mechanical mixer used exclusively to mix and deliver concrete.

341.305(2)(bm) (bm) A motor truck or truck tractor which is owned by a retail lumberyard and used exclusively to transport building construction materials from that lumberyard to a building construction site.

341.305(2)(c) (c) Any motor vehicle used exclusively for towing operations of stalled or disabled vehicles.

341.305(3) (3) The monthly registration fee is one-twelfth of the annual fee. A consecutive monthly registration period begins on the first day of the first month of the period. The department shall register a vehicle under this section for as many additional consecutive months as the applicant desires, and the fee payable shall be the monthly registration fee times the number of months for which registration is desired plus $15 for each application submitted. If satisfactory evidence is provided that a vehicle was not operated on the highways during any month for which registration is not requested, it shall be exempt from the payment of fees for the month in which it was not used.

341.305(4) (4) One additional month may be added once per calendar year to the registration period of a vehicle registered under this section upon payment of the fee in sub. (3) as provided in ss. 341.185 and 341.19.

341.305(5) (5) Registration under this section precludes registration under s. 341.30 if the consecutive monthly registration period begins during the current annual registration period.

341.305 History History: 1983 a. 469; 1985 a. 202; 1987 a. 123, 207; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 408.

341.308 341.308 Optional trailer fleet registration.

341.308(1) (1) The owner of a fleet of 100 or more trailers, each having a gross weight of 4,500 pounds or less and used for hire or rental, may register the trailers for a 6-year period under this section.

341.308(2) (2) The registration of trailers under this section shall be valid for a 6-year period. Upon receipt of an application and the initial registration fees under sub. (3), the department shall issue a registration plate for each trailer. The registration of trailers added to the fleet during the 6-year registration period shall expire on the expiration date of the original fleet registration. If trailers are removed from the fleet during the 6-year registration period, the fleet owner shall dispose of the plates in the manner prescribed by the department.

341.308(3) (3) The fleet owner shall pay an initial annual registration fee for each trailer registered under this section and an additional annual fee for each trailer each subsequent year of the 6-year registration period. If the annual registration fee for a trailer is not paid when due, the department shall suspend the registration as provided in s. 341.63. Any fee imposed under this subsection shall be the same fee as prescribed in s. 341.25 (1) (gd) or (ge).

341.308 History History: 1987 a. 212; 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 80.

341.31 341.31 When part-period fees payable for vehicles other than automobiles and certain motor trucks; computation of part-period fees.

341.31(1) (1) The annual registration fee shall be paid in full on all vehicles registered pursuant to s. 341.29 or 341.295, the biennial registration fee shall be paid in full on all vehicles registered pursuant to s. 341.297 and the quarterly registration fee shall be paid in full on all vehicles registered pursuant to s. 341.30 unless the vehicle comes within one of the following categories, in which event the applicant is liable for the payment of only a part-period fee to be computed in accordance with sub. (2):

341.31(1)(a) (a) The vehicle has not previously been registered in this state; or

341.31(1)(b) (b) The vehicle previously was registered in this state but:

341.31(1)(b)1. 1. The vehicle in the meantime has been registered in another jurisdiction and such foreign registration was in effect during or subsequent to the expiration of the previous registration in this state; or

341.31(1)(b)2. 2. The vehicle was transferred or leased to the applicant after the expiration of the last registration in this state; or

341.31(1)(b)3. 3. At least 12 months have elapsed since the end of the period for which the vehicle previously was registered and the applicant files with the department a statement that the applicant did not, during such 12-month period, operate or consent to the operation of the vehicle under circumstances making the vehicle subject to registration in this state; or

341.31(1)(b)5. 5. The vehicle is a motorcycle which has been transferred or leased to the applicant and for which current registration plates had been issued to the previous owner; or

341.31(1)(b)6. 6. The vehicle that has been transferred to or leased by the applicant is a motor home or a dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck that had been registered by the previous owner at a gross weight of 8,000 pounds or less, other than a dual purpose motor home to be registered as a motor truck, or is a farm truck that had been registered by the previous owner at a gross weight of 12,000 pounds or less; or

341.31(1)(c) (c) The vehicle is a replacement for a registered vehicle which has been junked or is no longer used on the highway; or

341.31(1)(cm) (cm) The vehicle is a replacement for a registered vehicle eligible for quarterly registration under s. 341.30 which has been traded, sold or removed from this state but for which the annual registration fee has been paid; or

341.31(1)(d) (d) The vehicle is owned by a person who has been in active military service or who is a member of the U.S. foreign service appointed under 22 USC 3942 (a) (1) or 3943 who has been in active service and less than 12 months of nonoperation have elapsed since the end of the period for which the vehicle was previously registered, provided the applicant files with the department a statement of such nonoperation.

341.31(2) (2) Part-period registration fees shall be computed as follows:

341.31(2)(a) (a) For vehicles registered under the conditions in sub. (1) (a), (b) or (d), the fee for the current registration period shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual registration fee or one twenty-fourth of the biennial registration fee prescribed for the vehicle multiplied by the number of months of the current registration period which have not fully expired on the date the vehicle first is operated by or with the consent of the applicant under circumstances making it subject to registration in this state plus, in case of a quarterly registration, $5. In the case of a vehicle which has not previously been registered or which has not been registered in this state by the present owner since the owner last acquired ownership of the vehicle, the department shall assume that the date of first operation is the date of the bill of sale evidencing transfer of ownership to the applicant or, with respect to a leased vehicle, the date of commencement of the lease by the applicant, unless he or she files with the department a statement that the vehicle was not so operated until a later date, specifying the date of such first operation. The department may refuse to accept any statement which projects the date of first operation into the future.

341.31(2)(b) (b) For the registration of a replacement vehicle under the conditions set forth in sub. (1) (c) or (cm), the fee shall be computed as for a vehicle not previously registered in this state but a credit shall be allowed for the unused portion of the fee paid for the vehicle being replaced. Such credit shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual registration fee or one twenty-fourth of the biennial registration fee prescribed for the vehicle being replaced multiplied by the number of months of registration which have not fully expired at the time the vehicle being replaced was junked, traded, sold or removed from the state. Except for a vehicle registered on a biennial basis, it is not necessary that the replacement vehicle be of the same type as the one being replaced in order for the applicant to take advantage of the credit but the credit may be applied toward registration of the replacement vehicle only up to the date when the registration of the vehicle being replaced would have expired.

341.31(4) (4) 

341.31(4)(a) (a) The transferee or lessee of a vehicle registered as provided in s. 341.29, 341.295 or 341.30 is not subject to the payment of any registration fee for the remainder of the period for which the vehicle is registered unless, by reason of his or her status or the use to which the vehicle is put, the fee prescribed by law is higher than that paid by the former owner. In such event, the fee shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the difference between the 2 annual fees multiplied by the number of months of the current registration period which have not fully expired on the date, after the vehicle is acquired by the applicant, when such vehicle is first operated by him or her or with his or her consent under circumstances making it subject to registration in this state.

341.31(4)(b) (b) A person retaining a set of plates removed from a vehicle under s. 342.15 (4) (a) or 342.34 (1) (c) or (2) (c) and which was junked or transferred, is no longer leased to the person or 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) may receive credit for the unused portion of the registration fee paid when registering a replacement vehicle of the same type and gross weight.

341.31(4)(c) (c) A person retaining a set of plates removed from a motorcycle may receive credit for the unused portion of the registration fee paid when registering a replacement motorcycle.

341.31(5) (5) This section does not apply to vehicles registered at a fee of $5 under s. 341.26. Such vehicles, whether registered for a full period or part thereof and whether or not previously registered, shall be registered at the full fee. If a person authorized to register a vehicle at a fee of $5 under s. 341.26 transfers the vehicle to a person not so authorized or no longer leases the vehicle, the fee payable by the transferee shall be computed as for a vehicle not previously registered in this state.

341.31 History History: 1975 c. 32 s. 5; 1975 c. 297; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 129, 273, 418; 1983 a. 27, 126, 227, 270, 538; 1987 a. 216, 349; 1989 a. 31, 137; 1993 a. 165; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 80; 2015 a. 323; 2021 a. 154.

341.32 341.32 Vehicle to be reregistered if subject to a different fee.

341.32(1) (1) Whenever the construction or the use of a registered vehicle is changed in a manner making the vehicle subject to a different registration fee than the fee for which the vehicle currently is registered, the owner shall immediately make application for reregistration. The fee payable upon such reregistration shall be computed as for a vehicle not previously registered in this state but a credit shall be allowed for the unused portion of the fee paid for the previous registration if the registration plates issued upon the previous registration are returned to the department. The credit shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual registration fee or one twenty-fourth of the biennial registration fee prescribed for the vehicle as previously registered multiplied by the number of months of registration which have not fully expired on the date the vehicle became subject to the different fee. The credit may be applied toward the reregistration of the vehicle only up to the date when the previous registration would have expired.

341.32(2) (2) Whenever the owner or other person responsible for registration of a vehicle required to be registered on the basis of gross weight desires to carry a greater load than that permitted under the current registration of such vehicle, he or she shall make application for reregistration of the vehicle at a higher gross weight. Whenever such person is convicted of carrying a greater load than that permitted under his or her current registration, the court, in addition to imposing the penalty prescribed by law, shall order such person to make application for reregistration of the vehicle at a gross weight sufficiently high to cover the load which he or she was convicted of carrying. The fee payable upon reregistration shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the difference between the annual fee prescribed for the vehicle as previously registered and the annual fee prescribed for the vehicle as reregistered or one twenty-fourth of the difference between the biennial fee prescribed for the vehicle as previously registered and the biennial fee prescribed for the vehicle as reregistered, multiplied by the number of months of the quarter or year for which the vehicle is being reregistered which had not fully expired when the vehicle became subject to the higher fee. This subsection does not apply under the circumstances stated in sub. (3).

341.32(3) (3) A motor truck with a registered gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less and loaded exclusively with fluid milk or cream may, during the months of May, June and July, carry from the point of production of such milk to the primary market therefor 1,500 pounds or less in excess of the gross weight for which such motor truck is registered without a reregistration of such motor truck on account of such excess loading.

341.32 History History: 1977 c. 29 ss. 1443, 1654 (7) (a); 1989 a. 31.

341.33 341.33 When fees refundable.

341.33(1) (1) The department shall not refund a fee paid to it except when expressly authorized or directed by this section or some other provision of the statutes to do so.

341.33(2) (2) The department shall refund the unused portion of a registration fee paid for the registration of a vehicle owned by a person who is entering active service in the naval or military forces of the United States or who is a member of the U.S. foreign service appointed under 22 USC 3942 (a) (1) or 3943 entering active service if the person makes application for such refund upon a form prescribed by the department, furnishes any proof that the department requires that the vehicle will not be operated in this or another state during the remainder of the period for which the vehicle is registered, and returns to the department the certificate of registration and registration plates. The refund shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual registration fee or one twenty-fourth of the biennial registration fee paid for the vehicle, multiplied by the number of full months remaining in the period for which the vehicle is registered when the vehicle ceases to be operated.

341.33(3) (3) Upon request, the department shall refund 50 percent of a registration fee paid for a vehicle registered on a biennial basis if the person who registered the vehicle furnishes such proof as the department requires that the person has transferred his or her interest in the vehicle or terminated leasing the vehicle before the beginning of the 2nd year of the period for which the vehicle is registered or that the vehicle will not be operated in this state after the beginning of the 2nd year of the period for which the vehicle is registered. The department may require the person to return the certificate of registration and registration plates for the vehicle to the department. Except as provided in sub. (1), the department may not refund more than 50 percent of the fee paid for the registration of a vehicle registered on a biennial basis.

341.33 History History: 1975 c. 32, 199; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1444, 1654 (7) (a), (e); 1989 a. 31; 1997 a. 27; 2015 a. 323.

341.335 341.335 Notice of change of address, name or vehicle color.

341.335(1) (1) Whenever any person, after applying for and receiving registration plates, moves from the address named in the application for the registration plates or when the name of the licensee is changed by marriage or otherwise, the person shall within 10 days notify the department in writing of the old and new address or of such former and new names and of all registration plate numbers held.

341.335(1m) (1m) No person is required to notify the department before the next renewal of registration for the vehicle that a vehicle’s color has been changed from the color stated in the most recent application for registration of the vehicle.

341.335(2) (2) Any person who fails to comply with any of the requirements of sub. (1) may be required to forfeit not more than $50.

341.335 History History: 1973 c. 129; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (4); 1999 a. 90.

341.35 341.35 Municipal or county vehicle registration fee.

341.35(1) (1) Annual registration fee. In this section “municipality” means a town, village or city and “motor vehicle” means an automobile or motor truck registered under s. 341.25 (1) (c) at a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds. The governing body of a municipality or county may enact an ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal or county registration fee on all motor vehicles registered in this state which are customarily kept in the municipality or county. A registration fee imposed under this section shall be in addition to state registration fees.

341.35(1m) (1m) Registration period. A municipality or county shall establish the registration period provided by the department for the motor vehicle as the registration period for a motor vehicle registered by the municipality or county.

341.35(2) (2) Exemptions. The following vehicles are exempt from any municipal or county vehicle registration fee: