Section 156.04. Selection of agents.

 

(1)  A person, business or organization desiring to contract with the DMV as an agent under s. 341.21 (2) , Stats., shall comply with all of the following:

(a) The applicant shall enter into an agreement with a vendor. An agent may request service from and enter into an agreement with only one vendor.

(b) The applicant shall submit to the DMV a letter on company letterhead requesting appointment as a provider of processing or distribution services for vehicle registration or certificates of title. The letter shall include the legal business name and address of the physical location of the business.

(c)

1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , the applicant shall provide a surety bond or letter of credit along with the request for appointment in a form prescribed by the DMV. Except as provided in subd. 2. , the bond or letter of credit shall be $10,000 for an agent doing renewal transactions and $25,000 for an agent doing title transactions and original registration. The bond shall indemnify the department against claims arising from the acts or omissions of agents under the contract including, but not limited to, missing or stolen license plates, stickers, and temporary certificate of registration paper stock. The requirement for a bond does not apply to units of government or to financial institutions.

2. A contractor with the department under s. 110.20 (8) (am) 1. , Stats., having more than 100 subcontractors, as described in s. 110.20 (8) (am) 7. , Stats., that are applicants under this section may provide the surety bond or letter of credit on behalf of these applicants. The bond or letter of credit shall be $2,000 for each applicant on whose behalf the bond or letter of credit is provided.

(d) The applicant shall submit a signed agent contract to the DMV.

(e) The applicant shall be in compliance with all applicable laws governing the applicant's industry and not be under investigation by any regulatory or enforcement agency for suspected violations of applicable laws or regulations.

(f) The applicant shall employ at least one primary processing person and have at least one other employee trained as a back-up in order to ensure adequate service during business hours and that reports and documentation of registration and titling Transactions are submitted to DMV within required time limits.

(2)  Before entering a contract with an agent, DMV may consider all of the following:

(a) The type of business the agent is in.

(b) The agent's familiarity with and relationship to Wisconsin motor vehicle titling and registration.

(c) The agent's past practice, reliability, and record of customer service.

(d) The amount of technical support the agent is likely to need from DMV to competently process title or registration Transactions.

(e) The anticipated benefit to DMV and DMV customers, such as the projected volume of title and registration or renewal transactions and the location of the agent in the state. DMV may require a prospective agent to develop a business plan to demonstrate that the person, organization or company has assessed the business venture and projects adequate volume to maintain a viable business.

(f) The results of background checks on the agent and its owners and employees including arrest and conviction records.

Cr. Register, January, 2001, No. 541 , eff. 2-1-01; CR 06-101 : am. (1) (c), (2) (a) to (d) and (f) Register April 2007 No. 616 , eff. 5-1-07; 2013 Wis. Act 363 : renum. (1) (c) to (1) (c) 1. and am., cr. (1) (c) 2. Register May 2014 No. 701 , eff. 6-1-14.