Registration FAQs

Here is a collection of some of the more frequently asked questions about registrations and titling motor vehicles.

Note that we refer you to several applications online; all applications can be obtained by using the free Adobe Reader.

What's the deadline for the application to title and register a vehicle?

You are required to apply for title transfer immediately, and you must have license plates on the vehicle within two days of purchase. If you do not have your own license plates for the vehicle and are ordering specialized or personalized license plates, you may request temporary plates be issued to you for a fee of $3, in addition to a $5 service fee and the registration fees for the vehicle you have purchased.

What form do I use to transfer my plates to another vehicle I purchased?

Use the Wisconsin Title & License Plate Application to transfer the plates from one vehicle to another.

I need to find a list of the local DMV offices. Can you help?

Sure! Check this online listing from the Wisconsin DMV Web site for offices, addresses, and hours.

How often do my motor vehicle hobbyist plates expire?

They do not expire; they are issued to you for life and can be transferred from one hobby vehicle to another.

I'm new to Wisconsin. Where do I start with my changeover of driver's license and car registrations?

First, let us extend a warm Wisconsin welcome!

The best place to start is our section created just for new residents. On that page, you'll find links and information to help you get your vehicles registered, make any title transfers, and make arrangements for your license plates and placards, plus you can get the information you need to change your license from your former state to Wisconsin.

How much does it cost to register my car in Wisconsin?

Here's a copy of the fee chart for registration and one for license plates. If your vehicle is new, of course there are taxes to pay but that figure is based on the value of the vehicle.

I'm disabled and have a parking placard, but what I really need is license plates because I misplace this card too often. How can I get the plates, instead?

Wisconsin provides a page that has all the information you'll need about disabled license plates. You'll need to complete a Disabled Parking License Plates Application, but if you have been determined permanently disabled already you will not be required to have the confirmation signed by a medical professional. Just check the box for license plates and one placard (unless you still have one) and you'll get your plates in the mail shortly.

For more information, see Drivers with Disabilities

A friend told me that I had to have my Bill of Sale and other things signed by a notary before I can sell my car. Is he pulling my leg?

Well, maybe not. Some states do require certain documents to be notarized before a sale can proceed, but for a normal sale of a motor vehicle, as long as all of the title and registration paperwork is in place and there are no liens remaining on the title, you do not need the services of a notary public.

What's the turnaround time to get my title back from the DMV?

Usually about six weeks from the time you apply. The Wisconsin DMV has a handy processing time chart that lets you know what is in process right now, listed by the date it was received by the DMV.

If it has been more than six weeks, check the chart before calling the DMV as they may have been a cog in the system that slowed things down of a few days.

How do I change my name on my title?

Before rushing to the nearest DMV office, keep in mind that
Wisconsin does not require filing a title name change if you changed your name on your license or ID card. Your updated name information is on file and will be reflected should another title be requested in the future.

However, if you feel more comfortable having your title immediately amended, visit any DMV location with your existing title and $5 for a processing fee. Alternatively, you can have your title changed for free through the mail.

Help! I lost my title. How do I apply for a duplicate?

No problem. All you have to do is mail a completed Wisconsin Title & License Plate Application along with a $20 fee. If you opt to visit a DMV office in person, you will be charged an additional $5 processing fee and be required to show identification in the form of a driver's license or ID card.

How do I acquire replacement license plate stickers?

Easy. You can e-mail the Bureau of Vehicle Services at bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us. Be sure to include your license plate number, full name (including middle initial), mailing address, and a telephone number where you can be reached during the work week between 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

You can also call (608) 266-1466 and leave all of the above information on a 24-hour message machine. Your stickers will be mailed the next work day.

Hey, where's my new registration? I renewed it ages ago.

If you renewed your registration but never received it in the mail, either call WisDOT at (608) 266-1466 or send an e-mail to bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us. If you send an e-mail, be sure to include your license plate number. Expect a reply within four business days.

Someone stole my license plates. What should I do?

First, alert local law enforcement so you aren't blamed for infractions by the car now carrying your stolen plates. Then complete a Replacement or Duplicate License Plate Application and send it, along with a fee of $2 to $6 (see the fee list on the form), to:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• P.O. Box 7949

• Madison, WI 53707-7949

If your license plates were mutilated rather than stolen, destroy them after you receive your new plates. Your new plates will have a new number; a new registration reflecting the change will be sent separately.

Refer to the Department of Transportation's replacement license plate information page for further details.

I just can't find my registration certificate. Can I get a duplicate?

You sure can, and it costs only $2. Complete a Duplicate Certificate of Registration Application and send it with payment to:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• P.O. Box 7911

• Madison, WI 53707-7911

If you're in a hurry, send the form with $4 to this address for Fast Service:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• P.O. Box 7306

• Madison, WI 53707-7306

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.

What's the story on non-operational vehicles?

Your vehicle qualifies for non-operable status if it has been off the road for one full license period. Depending on your registration schedule, a full license period can mean:

• One complete calendar year if your vehicle was registered annually

• One or more complete quarters if your vehicle was registered quarterly

• One or more complete months if your vehicle was registered under Wisconsin's consecutive monthly registration program

To renew, you must submit a Vehicle Nonoperation Statement. This form will allow you to retain your expired plates and save you from getting slugged with registration fees for when your vehicle was nonoperable.

Questions? Call (608) 266-1466.