Chapter 342 — VEHICLE TITLE AND ANTI-THEFT LAW

342.01 Words and phrases defined. (1) Words and phrases defined in s. 340.01 are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided. (2) In this chapter: (ac) “Automated format,” with respect to any document, record, or other information…

342.02 Excepted liens and security interests. This chapter does not apply to or affect: (1) A lien given by statute or rule of law to a supplier of services or materials for the vehicle. (2) A lien given by statute to the United States, this state or any political subdivision of …

342.03 Motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer leases. Notwithstanding s. 401.201 (2) (t) or ch. 409, a transaction involving a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer does not create a 342.16 342.17 342.18 342.19 342.195 342.20 342.21 342.22 342.23 342.24 342.245 342.25 342.255 342.…

342.05 When certificate of title required. (1) The owner of a vehicle subject to registration in this state, whether or not such vehicle is operated on any highway of this state, shall make application for certificate of title for the vehicle under the following circumstances: (a…

342.06 Application for certificate of title. (1) An application for a certificate of title shall be made to the department upon a form or in an automated format prescribed by it and shall be accompanied by the required fee and any applicable taxes. Information obtained by the dep…

342.065 Title for salvage vehicle. (1) (a) A purchaser of a salvage vehicle that is not currently titled as a salvage vehicle shall, promptly after delivery to him or her of the salvage vehicle, apply for a salvage vehicle certificate of title by submitting to the department the …

342.07 Title for repaired salvage vehicle. (1) Application for registration of and a new certificate of title for a repaired salvage vehicle must be accompanied by all of the following: (a) The required fees. (b) A properly assigned salvage certificate of title or a properly assi…

342.08 Department to examine records. The department shall check the application for a certificate of title against records of stolen vehicles: (1) Before issuing a certificate of title for a vehicle last previously registered in another jurisdiction. (2) Upon receipt of an appli…

342.09 When department to issue certificate and to whom; maintenance of records. (1) (a) The department shall maintain a record of each application for certificate of title received by it and, when satisfied as to its genuineness and regu- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (…

342.10 Contents of certificate of title. (1) Each certificate of title issued by the department shall contain: (a) The name and address of the owner. (b) The names of any secured parties in the order of priority as shown on the application or, if the application is based on anoth…

342.11 Grounds for refusing issuance of certificate of title. The department shall refuse issuance of a certificate of title if any required fee has not been paid or for any of the following reasons: (1) The department has reasonable grounds to believe that: (a) The person allege…

342.12 Withholding certificate of title; bond. (1) No certificate of title shall be issued by the department until the outstanding evidence of ownership is surrendered to the department. (2) If the department is not satisfied as to the ownership of the vehicle or that there are n…

342.13 Lost, stolen or mutilated certificates. (1) If a certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, or becomes illegible, the owner or person in possession of the certificate, as shown by the records of the department, shall promptly make application for and ma…

342.14 (3m) separately from the fee under s. 342.14 (1) or (3). (2) Any person who knowingly makes a false statement in an application for a certificate of title is guilty of a Class H felony. (3) Any person intending to use a vehicle as a taxicab or for public transportation who…

342.15 (1) (c) or other evidence of ownership, the applicant’s statement that the vehicle is a salvage vehicle, an application for a salvage certificate of title and the required fee. (b) The owner of a salvage vehicle that is not currently titled as a salvage vehicle shall promp…

342.155 Mileage disclosure requirements of transferors and transferees. (1) (a) Unless exempted by rule of the department, no transferor may transfer ownership of a motor vehicle without disclosing the vehicle’s mileage in writing to the transferee by specifying the odometer read…

342.156 Transfers of leased motor vehicles. (1) Prior to transferring ownership of any leased motor vehicle, the lessor shall notify in writing the lessee of the vehicle that the lessee is required to provide the lessor with a written disclosure specifying the leased vehicle’s mi…

342.157 Motor vehicle salvage pools and auction companies to maintain records. For each motor vehicle sold by a motor vehicle salvage pool or auction company, the motor vehicle salvage pool or auction company shall establish and maintain a record of each sale, including the milea…

342.16 Transfer to or from dealer. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), if a dealer acquires a new or used vehicle that is not a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale, or acquires a salvage vehicle that is currently titled as a salvage vehicle and holds it for resale or acce…

342.17 Involuntary transfers. (1) If the interest of an owner in a vehicle passes to another other than by voluntary May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 342.17 VEHICLE TITLE AND ANTI-THEFT LAW transfer, the transferee shall, except as provided in sub. (2), …

342.18 When department to issue a new certificate. (1) The department, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee and any other transfer documents required by law, to support the transfer, shall i…

342.19 Perfection of security interests. (1) Unless excepted by s. 342.02, a security interest in a vehicle of a type for which a certificate of title is required is not valid against creditors of the owner or subsequent transferees or secured parties of the vehicle unless perfec…

342.195 Notification of person who has perfected security interest. Upon request of a person who has perfected a security interest under s. 342.19, as shown by the records of the department, in a vehicle titled in this state, whenever the department receives information from anot…

342.20 Duties on creation of security interest. If an owner creates a security interest in a vehicle, unless the name and address of the secured party already is contained on the certificate of title for the vehicle: (1) The owner shall immediately execute, in the space provided …

342.21 Assignment of security interest. (1) Except as otherwise provided in s. 409.308 (5), a secured party may assign, absolutely or otherwise, the party’s security interest in the vehicle to a person other than the owner without affecting the interest of the owner or the validi…

342.22 Release of security interest. (1) Within one month or within 10 days following written demand by the debtor after there is no outstanding obligation and no commitment to make advances, incur obligations or otherwise give value, secured by the security interest in a vehicle…

342.23 Secured party’s and owner’s duties. (1) A secured party named in a certificate of title shall, upon written request of the owner or of another secured party named on the certificate, disclose any pertinent information as to the party’s security agreement and the indebtedne…

342.24 Method of perfecting exclusive. Subject to s. 409.311 (4), the method provided in this chapter of perfecting and giving notice of security interests subject to this chapter is exclusive. Security interests subject to this chapter are hereby exempted from the provisions of …

342.245 (1) and (2). (3) Upon receipt of the certificate of title, application, and the required fee, or upon receipt of the security interest statement and required fee if the secured party has utilized the process specified in s. 342.245 (1), the department shall issue to the o…

342.25 Suspension or revocation of certificate. (1) The department shall suspend or revoke a certificate of title if it finds any of the following: (a) The certificate of title was fraudulently procured, erroneously issued or prohibited by law. (b) The vehicle has been scrapped, …

342.255 Cancellation of title or registration. The department shall cancel a title or registration whenever: (1) A transfer of title is set aside by the court by order or judgment; or (2) Fraud on the department or an agent of the department is discovered by the department; or (3…

342.26 Hearings and appeal. Any person aggrieved by an act or omission of the department under this chapter is entitled, upon request, to a hearing and judicial review thereof in accordance with ch. 227. Contested cases shall be heard and decided by the division of hearings and a…

342.30 Identification numbers. (1c) In this section, “owner” includes the lessee of a vehicle if the vehicle is registered, or required to be registered, by the lessee under ch. 341. (1g) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may remove, alter or obliterate or intentional…

342.31 Report of stolen or abandoned motor vehicles. (1) Each sheriff and police department in the state shall immediately report to the department of justice each motor vehicle reported stolen or recovered within its jurisdiction. (2) An owner of a garage or trailer park or of a…

342.32 Counterfeiting and unlawful possession of certificate of title. (1) No person may counterfeit, possess, sell, offer for sale or supply a forged, fictitious, counterfeit, stolen or fraudulently or unlawfully obtained certificate of title or registration, manufacturer’s docu…

342.33 Sale of vehicle used as taxicab. No person shall sell or exchange, authorize or direct the sale or exchange of, or offer for sale or exchange any motor vehicle which the person knows has been used as a taxicab or for public transportation unless the certificate of title fo…

342.34 Department to be notified of destruction or junking of vehicle. (1) Any person owning or possessing a junk vehicle shall, within 10 days after determining that the vehicle is a junk vehicle do all of the following: (a) Notify the department of the junk condition of the veh…

342.40 Vehicle abandonment prohibited; removal; disposal. (1c) In this section, “owner” includes the lessee of a vehicle if the vehicle is registered, or required to be registered, by the lessee under ch. 341. (1m) No person shall leave unattended any motor vehicle, trailer, semi…

342.41 Identity of buyer. (1) Notwithstanding s. 342.15, after December 31, 2015, no individual may sell a motor vehicle to another individual, including transferring a junk vehicle by bill of sale, unless within 30 days of the sale the seller reports to the department the identi…