You have up to 60 days to register your vehicle when you move to Wisconsin
. You’ll need a copy of your vehicle title, the MV1 form, and a way to pay for the fees. Several counties require an emissions test, but it is not a state-wide requirement.
How to register a car in Wisconsin
Wisconsin requires fewer steps than most states—you’ll need your original title, an ID, an odometer reading on the title, a completed MV1 form
, and a method of payment. If you live in one of the seven counties that need an emissions inspection, you’ll have to complete that as well, but most of the state does not require one.
If you just moved to Wisconsin
If you just moved to the state, Wisconsin gives you up to 60 days to switch your registration over and get a Wisconsin driver’s license
—be aware you only have 30 days if the license is a CDL. You will work with the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles. You need an emissions test
if you live in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, or Waukesha County. To register your vehicle, you’ll need the following:
A driver's license or identification card
The original vehicle title with signatures from the seller
An odometer reading completed on the back of the title
A lien release if a lien holder is listed on the title and the car loan
was paid off Proof of paid sales tax if the vehicle was bought in the past 90 days
A way to pay for the fees
Once you have your stack of documents, head to your local DMV. Unlike most states, Wisconsin does not require proof of insurance unless your license is suspended—but you are still legally required to have insurance for your vehicle.
The fees will vary based on several factors, such as whether your county has additional taxes, and the class of vehicle. The title transfer fee is $164.50, the registration is $85 for automobiles, while the other fees will be added to the overall cost.
Once you get the paperwork completed and you pay the fees, you’ll get the new registration and title.
If you just bought a car
Be aware you’ll need to get a temporary license plate
within two days of the purchase to legally drive the vehicle. You’ll follow the same steps for registering a new vehicle. If the car was purchased from a dealer, they should complete the registration and title paperwork on your behalf
The lienholder will take care of the registration if you bought the vehicle with a loan.
How much insurance coverage do you need in Wisconsin?
While the state doesn’t require proof of insurance to register your vehicle, you still need to follow Wisconsin's car insurance laws
to hit the road. Here’s what you need: At least $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage
Be sure to update your policy when you move so that you have at least the minimum coverage.
How to renew your Wisconsin vehicle registration
You’ll need to renew your registration every year—they’ll send you a notice about a month in advance.
If you want to double-check the date, look at the registration sticker on your license plate. It will list the month and year the registration expires—however you do not have until the end of the month. You have a year from the day your registration was completed—your renewal notice will list the specific day.
Wisconsin doesn’t require a state inspection, but if you live in a county with an emissions requirement, you’ll need an inspection every two years—you’ll get a notification in the mail for that, as well.
Renew online: Wisconsin has an online option for renewing your registration, just use their online portal
. You need a way to pay the fees online, such as a credit card, but you can save yourself a trip to the DMV at least.
Renew by mail: For the majority of vehicles, you can send in your renewal paperwork and the required fees to the following address:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
You’ll have a pre-printed renewal form to fill out and return, which will be mailed to you as part of your reminder notification. Renewals for commercial and other vehicles, such as trailers, should be sent to a different address:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The renewals are generally processed in about 14 days, and you should receive your updated stickers in the mail.
How to replace a lost registration sticker or license plate
If your plates or registration sticker was damaged or lost for some reason, you can request a replacement online.
For a license plate, you need to fill out form MV2118
, and for replacement stickers, use form MV2026
. You will need to complete additional parts of the process using the “Replace your title, plates or stickers” link
. “Jerry
handles everything from finding quotes to signing on new policies right in the app. No more filling out hundreds of forms! Thank you, Jerry, for helping my move to a new state feel hassle-free.” —Dolores T.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
FAQs
4.7
