Section 154.15. Odometer reading and notations required on title.

 

(1)   Title to include odometer reading. Each certificate of title issued to a transferee by the department shall include a printed odometer reading to reflect the odometer reading which was disclosed by the transferor in conjunction with the transferor's assignment or reassignment of ownership and odometer disclosure to the transferee. If there is no transfer of ownership involved and the department is issuing the certificate of title to the same owner as named on the previous title, the odometer reading and the associated date which is printed on the certificate of title shall be the same as that printed on the previous title, unless the odometer information is being corrected by the department.

(2)   Title to include notation which clarifies odometer reading. Each certificate of title issued by the department shall include, in conjunction with the printed odometer reading, a notation which clarifies the odometer reading. The notation shall be based on the transferor's odometer disclosure to the transferee, the notation printed on a certificate of title issued by another jurisdiction or from information gained as the result of an investigation of the vehicle's odometer history and shall be limited to the following:

(a) Actual mileage. A notation to indicate that the vehicle's mileage is actual shall be printed on the certificate of title when the department receives certification on the odometer disclosure statement that the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage or the department determines that the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage.

(b) Not actual mileage. A notation to indicate that the vehicle's mileage is not the actual mileage shall be printed on the certificate of title when the department receives certification on the odometer disclosure statement that the odometer reading does not reflect the actual mileage or the department determines that the odometer reading differs from the actual mileage and that the difference is greater than that caused by odometer calibration error.

(c) Mileage exceeds the mechanical limits. A notation indicating that the vehicle's mileage exceeds the mechanical limits of the odometer shall be printed on the certificate of title when the department receives certification on the odometer disclosure statement or the department determines that the odometer reading reflects the amount of mileage in excess of the odometer's mechanical design limit.

(d) Not actual mileage and odometer tampering verified. A notation indicating that the odometer had been tampered with shall be printed on the certificate of title in conjunction with the notation which indicates that the vehicle's mileage is not the actual mileage when the department has, as a result of a thorough investigation of the facts, reasonable grounds to believe that the odometer has been disconnected, reset, tampered with, altered or replaced with the intent to change the number of miles which otherwise would be indicated.

(e) Mileage is unverified. A notation indicating that the mileage is not actual mileage and the mileage is unverified shall be printed on a subsequent certificate of title issued to a vehicle if the certificate of title previously issued for that vehicle includes a notation indicating that the mileage is unverified.

(f) Exempt from odometer disclosure. This notation applies to all vehicles that are 10 model years old or older. It also applies to truck-tractors, trailers and mopeds, and to vehicles that are registered or have a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 16,000 pounds. Once a vehicle becomes exempt due to age, the last odometer record information including the odometer reading, the date of the odometer reading and the notation clarifying the odometer reading will be carried forward for the life of the vehicle. Once a vehicle becomes exempt for any reason, it remains exempt. Vehicles registered with the IRP are exempt.

(3)   Title to include date associated with odometer reading. Each certificate of title issued by the department shall include the date of the odometer reading which is printed on the transferee's title. The date on the title shall correspond with the "date of statement" included on the transferor's odometer disclosure statement or may be the date of issue of the transferee's title, providing that the date of issue is not more than 60 days after the "date of statement.' If the vehicle which is the subject of an application for title was last titled in another jurisdiction in the name of the applicant, the same odometer reading and associated date as printed on the out-of-state title shall be printed on the Wisconsin title issued by the department to the applicant. If the out-of-state title does not have the date associated with the odometer reading printed on it, or it is not possible to readily determine the date of issue of the certificate of title, the department shall, in place of the date, print on the Wisconsin title the notation "none" along with the odometer reading.

History: Cr. Register, January, 1996, No. 481 , eff. 2-1-96.