The law in Wisconsin states, “Before a vehicle is offered for sale, it must be inspected for safety and mechanical defects. Show the results of the inspection on the Wisconsin Buyers Guide. The guide must be attached to the window and readable from outside the vehicle. The purchaser keeps the window copy.”

How’s that for a good law? Wisconsin’s used car buyer’s guide should be the national standard.

The law also says, Required disclosure of vehicle history, prior use and title brands is limited to that which the dealer could find using reasonable care. Dealerships are required to test drive the vehicle and to inspect the interior and exterior of the vehicle including under the hood and under the vehicle. They are not required to take the vehicle apart (except brakes) or run tests unless necessary to diagnose apparent symptoms.”

What does that mean? You’re still going to want to get the vehicle inspected by your own mechanic and do a vehicle history report. We can help you read a CarFax report, for example, so you can pick up clues on a vehicle’s condition beyond what the dealer is legally obligated to tell you.

According to an article in the Lacrosse (Wisconsin) Tribune, “Chances are, you do not have a clue as to the condition of your car’s tie rods and ball joints, but you do know what a lemon is. The inspection of these steering components, a vehicle’s status as a ‘manufacturer buyback,’ or lemon, and more than a dozen other revisions soon must be included on Wisconsin used vehicle inspection reports, which state, dealer and consumer representatives describe as the first line of information for careful buyers.”

While researching this article, I came across the Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Salesperson Manual. Who knew some states like Wisconsin required salespeople to be licensed? The regulations don’t seem that stringent but it makes sense to check to see if the seller has a license before buying a used car in Wisconsin.

It says, among other things, when a dealer advertises a price of a used car, “The advertised price must include all charges that the customer will pay, except sales tax, title and registration fees. Post advertised prices on the vehicle. Don’t use phrases such as “write your own deal” or “name your own price” because they mislead customers.”

The Tribune article points out an important distinction that consumers should keep in mind. “The disclosure is not a legal warranty. However, DOT notes, it is an ‘unfair practice’ if a dealer refused to fix a known problem that existed at the time of the sale and should have been disclosed on the guide but was not.”

To use a bit of slang props to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for this sentiment expressed in the Journal article. “The DOT also advises that if a consumer is seriously interested in a used vehicle, a check-up from an independent mechanic might be a good idea.” Of course, here at usedcars.D106, we have all the information you might need on getting a used car inspected.

Among the items that a Wisconsin used car dealer must do:

• When selling a used vehicle make for which the dealer is franchised, disclose any unperformed manufacturer recalls in writing.
  
• Complete a contract whenever you accept a down payment, deposit or title for a trade-in vehicle. If the dealer does not accept the customer’s offer to purchase within 2 hours, the offer is automatically voided.
  
• The price due upon delivery and all of the components of that price
  
• A listing of any parts or accessories removed or installed by the dealer
  
• When a vehicle purchase contract is offered and accepted away from the dealer’s licensed place of business, the customer is entitled to three days to rethink the purchase.
  
• (If) vehicle was repurchased by the manufacturer under Wisconsin’s or another state’s Lemon Law
  
• Vehicle that was declared salvage and has now been rebuilt and has passed a Wisconsin salvage inspection.
  
• Vehicle used or registered as a taxicab or for public transportation.
  
• Vehicle damaged by flood to the extent that the estimated or actual cost of repairs exceed 70 percent of its fair market value