Chapter Trans 144

Chapter Trans 144

LICENSING PERIODS AND FEES FOR DEALERS,
MANUFACTURERS AND SALESPERSONS

Trans 144.01   Purpose.

Trans 144.02   Definitions.

Trans 144.03   License periods and expiration dates.

Trans 144.04   License and registration plate fees.

Trans 144.01 Trans 144.01 Purpose. This chapter describes the periods, expiration dates, and fees for licenses issued by the department under the authority found in ch. 218, Stats., to motor vehicle dealers and their salespersons; moped dealers; manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and their representatives; recreational vehicle dealers and their salespersons; motor vehicle auction dealers; salvage dealers; and buyer identification card holders. It also establishes the periods, expiration dates, and fees for registration plates issued to dealers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Trans 144.01 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; 2013 Wis. Act 363: am. Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14.

Trans 144.02 Trans 144.02 Definitions. Words and phrases used in this chapter have the same meaning as found in chs. 218 and 341, Stats., unless additional interpretations are specified. In this chapter:

Trans 144.02(1) (1) “Business license” means a license issued by the department under ch. 218, Stats., to a motor vehicle dealer, moped dealer, recreational vehicle dealer, motor vehicle auction dealer, motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or salvage dealer.

Trans 144.02(2) (2) “Department” means the department of transportation.

Trans 144.02(3) (3) “Individual license” means a buyer identification card or a license issued by the department under ch. 218, Stats., to a salesperson or representative.

Trans 144.02(4) (4) “Initial license” means a license issued to a person or business who does not have such a license at the time of application.

Trans 144.02(5) (5) “Renewal license” means a license issued to a person or business who has such a license at the time of application.

Trans 144.02(6) (6) “Representative” means a distributor representative or factory representative.

Trans 144.02 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; 2013 Wis. Act 363: am. (1) Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14.

Trans 144.03 Trans 144.03 License periods and expiration dates.

Trans 144.03(1) (1) Business licenses.

Trans 144.03(1)(a) (a) General licensing period and expiration dates. The license period for business licenses is 2 years. The department may issue business licenses that start and expire on the following dates:

Trans 144.03(1)(b) (b) Initial business licenses. The department may issue initial business licenses that go into effect on dates other than the first day of an even-numbered month. Such licenses shall expire before the end of 2 years, and their expiration dates shall be assigned as follows:

Trans 144.03 Note Note: A motor vehicle dealer whose license is first issued on October 8, 1992 would receive a license valid through September 30, 1994.

Trans 144.03(2) (2) Individual licenses.

Trans 144.03(2)(a) (a) Licensing period. The department may issue a salesperson license, representative license, or buyer identification card that remains valid until any one of the following conditions occur:

Trans 144.03(2)(a)1. 1. The business license held by the person’s current employer expires;

Trans 144.03(2)(a)2. 2. The person ceases his or her employment with the dealer or other licensed business;

Trans 144.03(2)(a)3. 3. The person’s employer goes out of business; or

Trans 144.03(2)(a)4. 4. The department suspends or revokes the person’s license.

Trans 144.03(2)(b) (b) Reissued licenses. A person whose salesperson or representative license is invalidated by ceasing the person’s employment with a licensed dealer or other licensed business may, when hired by a different employer, apply to the department for a reissue of the salesperson or representative license. The department shall reissue the license without charge if both of the following conditions are true:

Trans 144.03(2)(b)1. 1. The department receives the application for a reissue before the previous employer’s business license expires; and

Trans 144.03(2)(b)2. 2. The person’s current employer holds the same type of business license as the person’s previous employer when the person ended his or her employment.

Trans 144.03 Note Note: 1992, and the dealer’s license in effect on that date was set to expire on November 30, 1992, the person may not apply for a reissue on or after December 1, 1992. After November 30, the person must apply for an initial salesperson license. Also, a person may not apply for a reissue of the person’s previous salesperson license for employment by a motor vehicle dealer if that license was held while working for a mobile home dealer, since the two employers hold licenses of different types.

Trans 144.03(3) (3) Registration plates. The department may register and issue plates to business licensees for periods concurrent with the license periods described in this section.

Trans 144.03 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; CR 22-048: am. (2) (b) (intro.) Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.

Trans 144.04 Trans 144.04 License and registration plate fees.

Trans 144.04(1) (1) The department shall collect the fees described in the following table from applicants before issuing their licenses or registration plates.

Trans 144.04 Note Note: The amounts listed in the table are based on the statutory formula—described in s. 218.0114 (14), Stats., and elsewhere—which is the number of years in a licensing period multiplied by the current annual fees.

Trans 144.04(2) (2) When the department issues a salesperson license, buyer identification card, or representative license for less than the employer’s business license period, it may reduce the license fee by $4 for each full year reduction in the salesperson or representative license period; or by $6 for each full year reduction in the buyer identification card license period.

Trans 144.04 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; 2013 Wis. Act 363: am. (1) Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14.