Am I required by law to inform the car dealership that it was in an accident?

Full question:

My car was just in a accident recently and fixed. I am going to be trading it in. Am I required by law to inform the car dealership that it was in an accident?

• Category: Automobiles
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Wisconsin

Answer:

Brand disclosure

A "brand" is a permanent note on a title that gives a prospective buyer important information about the history of a car.

 

Your title must be branded if, during the time you owned the car, you could answer "yes" to any of the following questions:

* Was your car used as a taxi or for public transportation?

 

* Was it salvaged? A "salvage" brand is needed if your car is less than 7 model years old and was damaged more than 70% of its fair market value.

 

* Was it flood damaged? A "flood damaged" brand is needed if water damage was more than 70% of its fair market value.

 

* Was it used as a police vehicle?

 

* Was it imported without US emission and safety certification?

 

 

If your vehicle was salvaged, repaired, and passed inspection, your title should have the brand "rebuilt salvage." The brand "manufacturer buyback" on your title means the car was bought back under the lemon law. A brand of "stfarm not inspected" is placed on a vehicle declared by State Farm Insurance as a total loss, but not submitted as salvage, and was part of the State Farm settlement with the Department of Justice. The vehicle has not passed an inspection by a certified state salvage inspector. This is not a salvage brand.

To get your title branded, ask for the Vehicle Brand Disclosure Statement (Form MV2848), and the Application for Title and Registration (MV1) at any DMV service center.

Please see the information at the following links:

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/consumer/car/sellrite.htm

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/vehicles/sold.htm