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1. When was Wisconsin Legislation passed to allow this fee?

The 1967 Legislature allowed municipalities to impose a vehicle registration fee on automobiles and station wagons. Since 1983, municipalities have been able to impose a flat fee on automobiles and trucks of not more than 8,000 pounds (with some exceptions).

2. Who collects the fee?

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) collects the fee on behalf of the City, less a 17 cent administrative fee per registration.

3. How is the fee collected?

The WisDOT collects the fee when a vehicle's annual state registration fee is paid. The fee will be paid by the registration applicant at the time that a motor vehicle is first registered and at each registration renewal. This fee is in addition to state registration fees. WisDOT sends vehicle registration renewal notices at least 30 days before plates expire. The renewal notice will show the total fee due including the $20.00 municipal vehicle registration fee for each vehicle that is subject to the fee.

4. What is the purpose of the fee?

The purpose of the vehicle registration fee is to provide the City of Lodi with a source of revenue to fund transportation purposes.

5. When and how was this fee enacted?

On January 19, 2016, the City of Lodi Common Council passed Ordinance A-499 to amend Chapter 57 of the Code of the city. This amendment added a new section providing a motor vehicle registration fee.

6. Are there any administrative costs?

At this time, the WisDOT charges a fee of 10 cents per vehicle application. The fee imposed is the same for all municipalities regardless of the fee imposed by the municipality or the number of vehicle registration fees collected.

7. What is the cost of the fee?

A flat fee of $20.00 is imposed on all automobiles and trucks with a gross weight not more than 8,000 pounds (with some exceptions).

8. Which vehicles are subject to the fee?

An automobile or a motor truck registered under 8,000 pounds gross weight and customarily kept in the City of Lodi. This includes:

- Automobiles, vans, and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) that qualify as a passenger vehicle.
- Motor trucks and dual-purpose motor homes (trucks that can be equipped with a slide-in
camper unit) registered at a gross weight of 8,000 pounds or less.

9. Are any vehicles exempt?

Some vehicles are exempt from the vehicle registration fee. This includes:

- Buses, motorcycles, mopeds, motor homes, low-speed vehicles and trailers.
- Trucks registered at more than 8,000 pounds or registered as Farm or Dual Purpose Farm.
- Vehicles registered as Antique, Collector, Driver Education, Historic Military Vehicle, Hobbyist, Human Service Vehicle, Low Speed Vehicle, Medal of Honor, Municipal, State-Owned or Special X, and one vehicle with Ex-Prisoner Of War registration issued to any qualified individual.
- Any vehicle with registration issued by a Wisconsin Indian tribe or band.
- Vehicles displaying Dealer, Distributor, Finance Company or Manufacturer plates.
- A motor vehicle which is a replacement for a motor vehicle for which a current city vehicle registration fee has been paid. (The replacement vehicle will be subject to the fee upon the annual registration.)

10. When will this fee be added to my vehicle registration fee?

The collection of fees by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will begin for vehicles with the registration or renewal date of May 1, 2016.

11. My vehicle is not located in the City of Lodi. Why did I receive this fee?

Verify the correct county and city, village or township where your vehicle is customarily kept when you applied for the registration on your vehicle and on your license plate renewal notice. If you recently changed your address, the WisDOT record for the vehicle location will update automatically in most cases. Contact the WisDOT for address corrections. Any person who gives false or fictitious location where a vehicle is customarily kept may be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than six months or both. (WI State Statute 341.60)

12. How will the City of Lodi use the money collected by this fee?

The flat fee of $20.00 is imposed on all motor vehicles registered in the state of Wisconsin that are customarily kept in the City of Lodi. All monies remitted to the City by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be deposited into the City’s Capital fund and used solely for assisting with transportation related purposes.

13. What is the policy for refunds and proration?

The fee is never prorated. The full fee is required whenever it is collected. Refund requests of the fee paid in error may be directed to the WisDOT Research and Information Unit:

Email: VehicleQuestions@dot.wi.gov
Telephone: (608) 266-1466
Mail: PO Box 8070, Madison, WI 53708-8070

14. Where can I find additional information on this fee?

Please visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's webpage.