What must a dealership provide to customers before they can legally operate a purchased vehicle?

To legally operate a purchased vehicle, a dealership must provide a temporary or permanent license plate. This requirement ensures that the vehicle is registered and identifiable on the road, which is essential for compliance with state laws and regulations.

In Wisconsin, as in many other states, the provision of license plates is critical because it allows law enforcement and other entities to verify the vehicle's registration status. When a customer purchases a vehicle, the dealership is typically responsible for facilitating the registration process, either by providing a temporary plate for immediate use while the permanent registration is finalized or issuing a permanent plate if all necessary paperwork is complete at the time of sale.

The other options, while related to vehicle ownership or operation, do not address the immediate legal requirement for operating a vehicle on public roads. A permanent registration confirms ownership but does not itself allow operation; a vehicle inspection report may be necessary for certain vehicles but is not a legal requirement for operation; a financing plan is related to how the vehicle is paid for but does not impact the legal ability to operate the vehicle.