Member Login | Become a Member
Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association
  • Dealer Resources
    • Endorsed Services
    • Find a Legislator
    • Forms & Products
    • Government & Industry Relations
    • Useful Links
    • WATDA Bulletins/Online Learning
  • Upcoming Events
    • Calendar
  • Membership
    • Join the Association
    • Member Login
    • Member Spotlight
    • WATDA Dealer Bonds
  • About Us
    • Advocacy
    • Board Members
    • Contact
    • History
    • WATDA Staff
  • The Foundation
    • ASE Wisconsin
    • Charter Founders
    • CONTACT
    • Ford Scholarship
    • Foundation Board of Directors
    • Major Contributors
    • Nitro-X Summer Camp
    • Question & Answers
    • Scholarship Information
    • SkillsUSA
    • Summer Institute
    • WATDA Transportation Career Showcase

Our Achievements

1928 - Present
  • IMPLEMENTED FIRST FRANCHISE LAW IN THE NATION to protect dealers from unfair termination and coercion by manufacturers.
  • GAINED REMOVAL OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX on cars and trucks.  Includes dealer inventory.
  • OBTAINED PRICE PROTECTION on inventory and sold orders.  FirstStateLaw.
  • Preserved use of FLAT RATE pricing/system.  Attorney General tried to ban use, assert antitrust claim.
  • GAINED EQUALITY BY MAKING ALL REPAIR SHOPS, not just dealers, subject to regulation.  Circuit Court blocked attempt to discriminate against dealers.
  • Secured changes in state’s VENTILATION CODE to save heat.
  • Saved OVERTIME EXEMPTIONS for salespersons, parts-persons, and technicians…three times.  Federal and State.
  • GAINED SUNDAY CLOSING LAW.
  • Preserved credit life COMMISSIONS…twice.
  • Initiated improvements in FEDERAL ODOMETER LAW, through NADA.
  • ENSURED SURVIVOR RIGHTS franchise law passed.  First in Nation.  Manufacturers started to change successor language in franchises.
  • PASSED RELEVANT MARKET AREA law to protect rights of existing dealers from unfair and harmful appointments of additional dealerships for the same-make vehicle.
  • STRENGTHENED STATUTORY PENALTIES by providing treble damages in franchise cases.
  • Exposed manufacturer abuses of TRANSPORTATION CHARGES DURING wage-price freeze in the ‘70’s.
  • Gained right for dealers to have a SERVICES FEE.
  • Protected dealer RIGHT TO CHOOSE voluntary arbitration.
  • Got TRADE-IN CREDIT for sales tax computation.
  • Stopped attempt by DOT to permit VAN CONVERTERS to franchise and directly sell new vans.
  • CONVINCED WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT TO ADOPT RULE ALLOWING ASSOCIATIONS TO SUBMIT AMICUS BRIEFS on why court should accept jurisdiction of a case.
  • Prevented Credit Unions form Selling Cars & Trucks (Upholding Existing Law)
  • 2011 Passed warranty reimbursement law that allows dealers to receive full retail compensation for warranty repairs.
  • 2015 Passed a bill that eliminated the inclusion of Federal Excise Tax in the Wisconsin sales tax calculation on heavy duty Trucks.
  • 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award for NADA Membership Promotion
  • 2019 Passed law prohibiting manufacturers from assessing surcharges and taking other adverse actions against dealers who exercise right afforded them under the Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Franchise Law.

Bigger Achievements

  • REMOVED $25 cap for finance reserve payable to dealers.
  • Gained right of dealers to SELL THEIR DEALERSHIP to qualified buyers of their choosing.  First in Nation.
  • Gained the right for dealers to CHANGE THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT of their dealership.  First in Nation.
  • Gained LEMON LAW that protects dealers
  • Assured in law that MANUFACTURERS MAY NOT OWN, OPERATE, OR CONTROL A DEALERSHIP in Wisconsin, to assure fair competition.
  • Assured in law that manufacturers will not compete with their dealers in WARRANTY REPAIR.

Service "Firsts"

  • First Dealer Reference Manual, first on CD, first on Internet
  • First state dealer association with Education Department
  • First dealer association to develop formal policy and procedures for endorsements
  • First dealer association to have full time professional executive for its Foundation
  • First dealer association to grant 100 scholarships per year for technician development

First Big Events

  • Created Insurance Trust for group health insurance for dealers and employees.(1947)
  • Created partnership with “fledgling” WISCO (1973)
  • Created CARPAC for state elections support (1976)
  • Created a council for heavy truck dealers. (1978)
  • Created a legal department (1979)
  • Created a council for used vehicle dealers (1980)
  • Joined with Bart Starr and the Gillespie’s to give Rawhide a chance to expand with vehicle donation program. (1983)
  • First Dealer Point quarterly newspaper for “soft news.”  (1985)
  • Made commitment to RAWHIDE new children’s home (1989)
  • Created the Foundation of WATDA for philanthropy “good works” (1992)
  • Created Health Insurance Corporation (2001)
  • Created a Bankruptcy Manual for Dealer Members (2006)
  • Created a Dealer Viability Manual for Dealer Members (2007)
  • Began offering a free online course to assist in preparation for the Motor Vehicle Salesperson License Exam (2008)
Picture
 Copyright Wisconsin Auto & Truck Dealers Association 
All Rights Reserved.


150 E. Gilman, Suite A100  |  Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 251-5577 | watda.org | sitemap
  • Dealer Resources
    • Endorsed Services
    • Find a Legislator
    • Forms & Products
    • Government & Industry Relations
    • Useful Links
    • WATDA Bulletins/Online Learning
  • Upcoming Events
    • Calendar
  • Membership
    • Join the Association
    • Member Login
    • Member Spotlight
    • WATDA Dealer Bonds
  • About Us
    • Advocacy
    • Board Members
    • Contact
    • History
    • WATDA Staff
  • The Foundation
    • ASE Wisconsin
    • Charter Founders
    • CONTACT
    • Ford Scholarship
    • Foundation Board of Directors
    • Major Contributors
    • Nitro-X Summer Camp
    • Question & Answers
    • Scholarship Information
    • SkillsUSA
    • Summer Institute
    • WATDA Transportation Career Showcase