Title Transfers in Wisconsin

What is a Title Transfer

Your title confirms you're the legitimate owner of your vehicle. When it comes time to transfer ownership, you'll need the title to make the deal legally official. When you're the buyer or receiver, you must title the vehicle in your name as soon as possible. Unlike many other states, there are no set time limits or late titling fees.

Typical title transfer transactions include:

• Paying off a car loan

• Gifting or donating a vehicle

• Inheriting a vehicle

• Selling or buying a vehicle

• Transferring to family

• Adding or deleting a name

Selling a Vehicle

Before advertising your vehicle, order a vehicle history report. This will ease the selling process by giving you a gauge on an appropriate asking price, and give you a heads-up on what potential buyers may inquire about.

After agreeing to sell, you must:

1. Sign and date the title.
2. Include the odometer reading.
3. Complete the brand disclosure section on the title, if applicable.
4. Write the sale price on the title.
5. Write the name and address of the buyer on the title.
6. Pay off the car loan, if applicable, and give the lien release document to the buyer.
7. Remove your license plates from the car (plates stay on trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more, farm trucks weighing 16,000 pounds or more, mopeds, trailers and mobile homes.

Though a bill of sale is not required, the DMV recommends creating one for your own records.

Buying a Vehicle

New Cars

The dealer will manage and submit all documents to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

If you have yet to settle on a specific vehicle, you can car-shop online from the convenience of home.

Used Cars

Budget should be your number one factor when shopping for a car. To help find a budget you can comfortably manage, explore every auto finance option before buying. The same applies for insurance. Before settling with the first carrier you spy in the phone book, shop around for different rates at our Insurance Center.

And to protect from getting saddled with a lemon, be sure, before buying, to order a vehicle history report.

After purchasing, you must visit any DMV center and bring:

1. The original title, signed by the previous owner.
2. A completed Title Application.
3. Current identification.
4. A license plate to transfer. If you don't have plates to transfer or if your plates are expiring in the next three months, you'll instead have to pay the annual registration fee.
5. Check or money order for title fee ($69.50).
6. Check or money order for 5% sales tax.
7. Check or money order for local sales tax, if applicable.
8. Check or money order for wheel tax, if applicable.

If you don't need license plates, you can apply for your title by mail. Send to:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• P.O. Box 7949

• Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7949

Expect your title to arrive in the mail within eight weeks.

Depending on your situation, you may have to register the vehicle during the titling process.

Removing a Lien

After paying off your car loan, you're free to remove the lienholder from your title. To do so, you must mail to the DMV:

1. Your original Wisconsin title (no photocopies).
2. The lien release card sent to you by your lender.

Mail to:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• P.O. Box 7949

• Madison, WI 53707-7949

Your new title should arrive in the mail in about six weeks.

If you lose your lien release card, you must then have the lender supply you with a letter on their letterhead with the following information:

• The make and model of the vehicle.

• The vehicle identification number (VIN)―you can find the VIN on either your registration card or on the vehicle itself.

• The authorized person's signature.

• That person's job title or position.

• The lien release date.

Or, your lender may stamp your title "PAID" as long as the title also includes:

• The name of the financial institution.

• The signature of the person who is releasing the lien.

• That person's job title or position.

• The lien release date.

Transferring to Family Member

You may transfer your title to the following family members:

• Mother

• Mother-in-law

• Father

• Father-in-law

• Stepparent

• Child

• Stepchild

• Daughter-in-law

• Son-in-law

To Waive The Sales Tax however, the vehicle must be registered in the name of the “Seller.” In other words, the person transferring the vehicle must be the person the vehicle is registered to. Also note: The sales tax exemption does not apply if the seller is a motor vehicle dealer.

In addition, the vehicle must already be registered in Wisconsin in order to have the sales tax waived.

If you're the receiver, either mail or drop-off at any DMV center the following:

1. The original title, signed by the family member giving you the vehicle. It does not matter if the sales price or the word "GIFT" is included on the title, for sales tax is waived when transferring a title to any of the above mentioned family members IF the seller is also the same person the car is registered to.
2. A completed Title Application.
3. Current identification.
4. A license plate to transfer. If you don't have plates to transfer or if your plates are expiring in the next three months, you'll instead have to pay the annual registration fee.
5. Check or money order for title fee ($69.50).
6. Check or money order for local sales tax, if applicable.
7. Check or money order for wheel tax, if applicable.

Mail to the address located on the title application.

Gifting a Vehicle

If someone gives you a vehicle as a gift, you will need to submit either in person at any DMV center or by mail:

1. A completed Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application. Make sure in section D you write "zero, gift" as the purchase price.
2. A reassigned title with the odometer reading.
3. A $69.50 title-transfer fee.

Mail to the address located on the application.

Donating a Vehicle

With so many causes and charities to choose from, it's easy to feel good about donating your car. For complete information, visit our Car Donation page.

Consulting a tax attorney is not required, but will improve your chances of receiving a maximum tax credit on your donation.

Inheriting a Vehicle

To help cut through the tangle of legal jargon, consulting a probate lawyer is highly advisable.

If you're a surviving spouse, looking to transfer the ownership of a vehicle into your name (there's a five vehicle limit), you must submit by mail or in person at any DMV center the following:

1. A completed Statement of Transfer of Vehicle(s) to a Surviving Spouse or Surviving Heir form.
2. The current certificate of title showing the deceased as owner.
3. A completed Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application.
4. Check or money order for $62 transfer fee.

If you're an heir, all of the above applies as long as the value of the vehicle or vehicles does not exceed $50,000. And instead of paying $62, you must pay $69.50.

As long as the vehicle, or vehicles, in question are currently registered, you won't have to pay new registration fees.

You will need to insure the vehicle or vehicles. You can, if needed, compare rates of various carriers at our Insurance Center.

NOTE: A death certificate is not required provided the deceased owner resided and died in Wisconsin.

Making Name Corrections

Changing a Name

Before amending your title to conform with a name change due to marriage, divorce or court judgement, you will need to take the following steps, in order:

1. Change your name on your Social Security card.
2. Change your name on your driver's license.

The change on the Social Security card is required in order to change your name on your driver's license, and the updated driver's license is required before you may change your title.

However, once you have changed your name on your driver's license, your name is changed on everything you have on file with the DMV. The next time the DMV sends you a new title or registration, it will show your new name.

If you want to immediately obtain a title reflecting your new name, you will have to request one when changing your name and pay a $5 fee. There is no fee, however, if you request an updated title by mail.

Though not required, consider obtaining a vital record as just-in-case proof, confirming your name. For more thorough information on this topic, visit our page on Changing Your Name.

Deleting a Name

This requires visiting a DMV center and submitting:

1. A completed Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application.
2. If the names on the title are connected by "AND" the person whose name is being deleted must sign-off on the title. But if the names are connected by "OR" no sign-off signature is required.
3. An odometer reading on the title.
4. A $69.50 title-transfer fee.
5. A license plate renewal fee if the plates have expired, or a new license plate fee if new plates are needed.

Adding a Name

You must bring to any DMV center:

1. A completed Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application.
2. A reassigned title with the odometer reading.
3. Payment for a $69.50 title-transfer fee.
4. Payment for a license plate renewal fee if the plates have expired, or a new license plate fee if new plates are needed.

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