When is odometer disclosure required in Wisconsin vehicle transactions?

• A. Only when the vehicle is more than 15 years old.
• B. Whenever a title is transferred for most passenger vehicles under federal requirements, with exceptions for certain exempt vehicles.
• C. Only for commercial vehicles.
• D. When the seller is a licensed dealer.

Answer: (B)

Odometer disclosure is required whenever a title is transferred for most passenger vehicles under federal requirements, with exceptions for certain exempt vehicles. This rule exists to protect buyers from odometer fraud by making sure the mileage is known and recorded at the point of sale. In practice, when the title changes hands for a passenger car or light truck, the seller must provide a written odometer disclosure showing the mileage on the odometer and whether that mileage is actual. The disclosure goes with the title transfer and becomes part of the official records the DMV uses to update ownership. Some vehicles are exempt from this requirement, such as certain large vehicles (for example, those with a GVWR over 16,000 pounds) and a few other categories. The rule applies regardless of whether a dealer or a private party is selling, and it isn’t based on the vehicle’s age.