Wisconsin Automotive Truck & Education’s
Wheels to Work
Program Description

1. Wheels to Work Program Overview

   The Wheels to Work program helps income eligible individuals and families secure reliable and affordable transportation so they can find and keep a job. Its goal is to promote economic self-sufficiency for individuals and families in north central Wisconsin. Wheels to Work funding is jointly provided by the Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP) and the Wisconsin Automotive Truck and Education Association (WATEA).

2. Wheels to Work Program Eligibility
   1. Participants in the Wheels to Work program need to meet income requirements to be eligible for the program.
   2. Eligible WETAP applicants must have a household/family income less than or equal to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, as established by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Eligibility will be established using the following income and documentation:
      1. Income from work, using pay stubs or other employer issued documents, as well as through tax documents;
      2. Child support payments, using bank statements or other forms of documented receipt of payment;
      3. W-2, verified with pay statements or through local provider;
      4. SSI/SSDI, verified with pay statements or bank statements; and
      5. Unemployment, verified with payment stubs and/or bank statements.
   3. Applicants may also have to supply copies of birth certificates, social security cards, and drivers’ licenses for all family members.
   4. The Wheels to Work Mobility Manager may perform a background check on an applicant, which can include a criminal background check and a copy of the applicant’s driving record from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
   5. Applicants may be required to provide a credit report/history or co-signer for the loan if needed.
   6. Wheels to Work respects the confidentiality of your personal information and will not share this beyond staff involved in the program without your signed consent. Wheels to Work staff may ask you to sign a release of information form in order to request information from organizations outside of the program.
   7. False information knowingly entered on the Wheels to Work application may result in the applicant and his/her immediate family being deemed ineligible or dismissed from the program.
3. Budget Class

   Wheels to Work program participants must attend financial literacy and budgeting workshops as part of the program and submit a completed budget to the Mobility Manager showing an ability to repay a loan and associated costs of car ownership. This budget must be approved prior to receiving a loan for donated vehicles, vehicle purchase, or repair.

4. Maintenance Class

   Wheels to Work program participants must attend a basic vehicle maintenance course prior to taking possession of a repaired, donated, or purchased vehicle. This course is designed to increase basic automotive knowledge and understanding of the maintenance process participants can maintain their vehicles and maximize the usable lifetime of that resource.

5. Insurance

   As required by Wisconsin law and the Wheels to Work Policy Agreement, all participants in the Wheels to Work program must obtain or maintain insurance on a vehicle being repaired or obtained. Vehicle insurance will be verified before participant takes possession of a vehicle.

6. Job Access Loans and Repayment Terms

   Wheels to Work program will make no-interest job access loans to eligible program participants for vehicle repairs, donated vehicles, or vehicle purchases. The intent is that these loans are available once per applicant/participant but extenuating circumstances may be considered during the eligibility determination process with final authorization of extenuating circumstances by the Wheels to Work Advisory Board. The loan repayment period is a maximum of 30 months at a maximum monthly payment of $150 with final terms to be determined between the Mobility Manager and applicant. Full repayment of the loan within the specified time period is the responsibility of the program participant; there is no penalty for early repayment. A brief description of the 3 types of services follows:

   1. Vehicle Repairs

      Wheels to Work vehicle repair services provide cost-effective repairs of vehicles owned by an applicant/participant. Wheels to Work participating repair shops have agreed to make repairs for participants at discounted costs for both parts and labor.

      Working with the Mobility Manager, the applicant/participant must present the vehicle to be repaired at 2 of the participating Wheels to Work repair shops for an inspection and written estimate. Applicant/participant will be responsible for $29 for each of these inspections, which can be part of the job access loan. The Mobility Manager, Forward Service Corporation, and the Wheels to Work Advisory Board will review all vehicle repair requests to ensure that the vehicle is worth repairing by comparing estimated costs against Bluebook value.

      Participating repair shops will need approximately 1-2 weeks to complete repairs.

      Job access loan for vehicle repairs are available in 2 tiers:
      Loans up to $1500

      1. No-interest loan to get the vehicle repaired at an authorized service center. The loan will cover the actual amount of the discounted parts and labor related to the repair.
      2. No prompt payment device required.

      Loans of $1500 or more

      1. No-interest loan to get the vehicle repaired at an authorized service center. The loan will cover the actual amount of the discounted parts and labor related to the repair.
      2. $100 prompt payment device installation due at time of loan signing must return prompt payment device once loan is paid in full.
   2. B. Donated Vehicles

      Under the Wheels to Work program, WATEA receives donated vehicles from private parties and repairs these vehicles to road-ready standards. WATEA then makes these vehicles available through job access loans to Wheels to Work program participants. Loans will be determined based upon the blue book value of the donated vehicle and are divided into 2 tiers:

      Vehicles with blue book value of $2500 or more

      1. No-interest loan in the amount of $1500 to cover the average vehicle repair costs, title and registration fees, and the prompt payment device fee.
         1. Average vehicle repair cost $975
         2. Title and Registration $175
         3. Prompt payment device $350
      2. WATEA will hold a lien on the vehicle until loan has been paid in full.
      3. Recipient of vehicle will maintain full coverage insurance with WATEA listed as an additional insured, as per Wheels to Work Policy Agreement.

      Vehicles with blue book value of $2499 or less

      1. No-interest loan in the amount of $1150 to cover the average vehicle repair costs, title and registration fees.
         1. Average vehicle repair cost $975
         2. Title and Registration $175
      2. No prompt payment device required.
      3. Recipient of vehicle will maintain a minimum of liability insurance, as per Wheels to Work Policy Agreement.
   3. C. Vehicle Purchases
      Wheels to Work vehicle purchase loans help applicants/participants purchase vehicles from designated participating Wisconsin-licensed independent dealerships. Vehicles available under this part of the Wheels to Work program have been pre-approved for purchase or must be inspected by designated dealers or repair shops. Loans are available up to a maximum of $4,500, which includes the following stipulations:
      1. i. No-interest loan up to $4500 to cover the purchase price of a vehicle plus tax, a prompt payment device fee, title and registration fees and a lien fee.
         1. Maximum vehicle purchase amount is $3950 to include tax
         2. $350 prompt payment device fee
         3. $175 Title and Registration
         4. Lien fee
      2. Loan repayment period up to a maximum of 30 months at a maximum monthly payment of $150.
      3. WATEA will hold a lien on the vehicle until loan has been paid in full.
      4. Recipient of vehicle will maintain full coverage insurance with WATEA listed as an additional insured, as per Wheels to Work Policy Agreement.