218.0101(6)
(6) "Distributor" or "wholesaler" means a person, resident or nonresident who in whole or part, sells or distributes 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 or wholesaler for the same purposes.
218.0101(8)
(8) "Distributor representative" means a representative similarly employed by a distributor, distributor branch or wholesaler.
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(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(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(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)(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(22)
(22) "Motor vehicle" means any motor-driven vehicle required to be registered under
ch. 341 except mopeds.
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)1.
1. Receivers, trustees, administrators, executors, guardians or other persons appointed by or acting under the judgment or order of any court.
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 instalment 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(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(30)
(30) "Relevant market area" means all of the area within a 10-mile radius of the site of an existing enfranchised motor vehicle dealership or the area of sales responsibility assigned to the existing enfranchised dealership by the manufacturer, factory branch or distributor, whichever is greater.
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 instalment contract" or "instalment 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 instalments 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 instalment contract to a buyer for the buyer's personal use or consumption.
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 instalment 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 instalment contract or consumer lease or acquires any retail instalment 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 History
History: 1999 a. 31 ss.
15 to
53.
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
(f) 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 instalment contracts and the financing and servicing of those retail instalment contracts.
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 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.
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 salesperson or sales finance company may engage in business as a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle salesperson 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 in his or her employ. Any person violating this subsection may be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000.
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.
218.0114(4)
(4) Application for a license under this section shall be made to the licensor, at such time, in such form and with such information as the licensor shall require and shall be accompanied by the required fees. An applicant for a sales finance company license, other than a motor vehicle dealer, shall pay to the division of banking a nonrefundable $300 investigation fee in addition to the license fee under
sub. (16). If the cost of an investigation exceeds $300, the applicant shall, upon demand of the division of banking, pay the amount by which the cost of the investigation exceeds the nonrefundable fee. A licensee is not required to pay an investigation fee for the renewal of a license. The licensor may require the applicant to provide information relating to any pertinent matter that is commensurate with the safeguarding of the public interest in the locality in which the applicant proposes to engage in business, except that information relating to the applicant's solvency and financial standing may not be required for motor vehicle dealers except as provided in
sub. (20) (a). The information provided may be considered by the licensor in determining the fitness of the applicant to engage in business as set forth in
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163.
218.0114(5)(a)(a) A motor vehicle dealer or an applicant for a motor vehicle dealer license shall provide and maintain in force a bond or irrevocable letter of credit of not less than $25,000 or, if the dealer or applicant sells or proposes to sell motorcycles and not other types of motor vehicles, a bond or irrevocable letter of credit of not less than $5,000. The bond or letter of credit shall be executed in the name of the department of transportation for the benefit of any person who sustains a loss because of an act of a motor vehicle dealer that constitutes grounds for the suspension or revocation of a license under
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163.
218.0114(5)(b)
(b) A sales finance company or an applicant for a sales finance company license shall provide and maintain in force a bond or irrevocable letter of credit of not less than $25,000 issued by a surety company licensed to do business in this state or a federally insured financial institution, as defined in
s. 705.01 (3). The bond or letter of credit shall be payable to the state of Wisconsin for the use of the state and of any person who sustains a loss because of an act of a sales finance company that constitutes grounds for the suspension or revocation of a license under
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163.
218.0114(6)
(6) Except as provided in this section every dealer and distributor of new motor vehicles shall, at the time of application for a license, file with the department of transportation a certified copy of the applicant's written agreement and a certificate of appointment as dealer or distributor, respectively. The certificate of appointment shall be signed by an authorized agent of the manufacturer of domestic vehicles on direct manufacturer-dealer agreements; or, where the manufacturer is wholesaling through an appointed distributorship, by an authorized agent of the distributor on indirect distributor-dealer agreements. The certificate shall be signed by an authorized agent of the importer on direct importer-dealer agreements of foreign-made vehicles; or by an authorized agent of the distributor on indirect distributor-dealer agreements. The distributor's certificate of appointment shall be signed by an authorized agent of the manufacturer; or by an agent of the manufacturer or importer of foreign manufactured vehicles.
218.0114(7)(a)1.1. A written agreement need not be filed for each dealer or distributor if the manufacturer or importer, for direct dealerships, or distributor, for indirect dealerships, utilizes the identical basic agreement for all its dealers or distributors in Wisconsin and certifies all of the following in the certificate of appointment:
218.0114(7)(a)1.a.
a. That the blanket agreement is on file with the department of transportation.
218.0114(7)(a)1.b.
b. That the manufacturer's, distributor's or importer's agreement with each of its dealers or distributors, respectively, is identical to the filed blanket agreement.
218.0114(7)(a)1.c.
c. That the manufacturer, distributor or importer has filed one basic agreement together with a list of its authorized dealers or distributors with the department of transportation.
218.0114(7)(a)2.
2. A manufacturer, distributor or importer shall notify the department of transportation immediately of any of the following:
218.0114(7)(a)2.a.
a. The appointment of any additional dealers or distributors not included in the list filed under
subd. 1. c.
218.0114(7)(a)2.c.
c. Any individual dealer or distributor supplements to the basic agreement on file under
subd. 1. a.
218.0114(7)(a)3.
3. Except as provided in
par. (b), a manufacturer, distributor or importer shall notify a dealer or distributor, forwarding a copy of the notice to the department of transportation, of the discontinuation or cancellation of the agreement of any of its dealers or distributors at least 60 days before the effective date of the discontinuation or cancellation together with the specific grounds for discontinuation or cancellation of the agreement.
218.0114(7)(b)
(b) The manufacturer, distributor or importer shall send a notice of discontinuation or cancellation by certified mail, and forward a copy of the notice to the department of transportation, not less than 20 days before the effective date of discontinuation or cancellation of the agreement, if the dealer or distributor fails to conduct its customary sales and service operations during its customary business hours for 7 consecutive business days unless the failure is caused by an act of God, by work stoppage or delays due to strikes or labor disputes or other reason beyond the dealer's or distributor's control or by an order of the department of transportation or the division of hearings and appeals.
218.0114(7)(c)
(c) The notice served upon a motor vehicle dealer under
pars. (a) 3. and
(b) is not effective unless it conspicuously displays the following statement:
NOTICE TO DEALER
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: 1) MEDIATE IF YOU OPPOSE THE PROPOSED TERMINATION OR NONRENEWAL OF YOUR FRANCHISE AND 2) A HEARING BY THE DIVISION OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS IF MEDIATION DOES NOT RESOLVE THE DISPUTE. TO PRESERVE THESE RIGHTS, YOU MUST TAKE CERTAIN STEPS ON OR BEFORE THE DATE THAT THE PROPOSED TERMINATION OR NONRENEWAL TAKES EFFECT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY OR CALL THE DEALER SECTION, WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AT.... (insert area code and telephone number).
218.0114(7)(d)
(d) Any dealer or distributor discontinued or canceled may, on or before the date on which the discontinuation or cancellation becomes effective, file with the department of transportation and division of hearings and appeals and serve upon the respondent manufacturer, distributor or importer a complaint for a determination of unfair discontinuation or cancellation under
s. 218.0116 (1) (i). Allowing opportunity for an answer, the division of hearings and appeals shall schedule a hearing on and decide the matter. Agreements and certificates of appointment shall continue in effect until final determination of the issues raised in the complaint. If the complainant prevails the complainant shall have a cause of action against the respondent for reasonable expenses and attorney fees incurred by the complainant in the matter.
218.0114(7)(e)
(e) Agreements and certificates of appointment are considered to be continuing unless the manufacturer, distributor or importer has notified the department of transportation of the discontinuation or cancellation of the agreement of any of its dealers or distributors, and annual renewal of certifications filed as provided in this section is not necessary.
218.0114(8)
(8) Within 60 days after the department of transportation issues a declaratory ruling under
s. 227.41 that an agreement is inconsistent with
sub. (9), a manufacturer, distributor or importer shall remove or revise any provision of the agreement declared to be inconsistent with
sub. (9).
218.0114(9)(a)(a) Except as provided in
sub. (10), provisions of an agreement which do any of the following are void and prohibited:
218.0114(9)(a)1.
1. Waive a remedy or defense available to a distributor or dealer or other provision protecting the interests of a distributor or dealer under
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163 or under rules promulgated by the department of transportation under
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163.
218.0114(9)(a)2.
2. Prevent a dealer or distributor from bringing an action in a particular forum otherwise available under the law.
218.0114(9)(a)3.
3. Require a motor vehicle dealer to pay the attorney fees of a manufacturer, importer or distributor.
