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Titles and plates for new residents

When you become a Wisconsin resident, you must register your vehicle and get Wisconsin license plates. You are considered a Wisconsin resident if:

• Your principal residence is in this state
• You pay your income taxes here
• You are registered to vote here

If you submit your title when you apply for Wisconsin license plates, you will be issued a Wisconsin title. If you submit only a registration card with your application, you will be issued Wisconsin license plates and a registration card, which will allow you to operate your vehicle legally, but the registration card can not be used for selling the vehicle.

You will need proof that you own the vehicle

• The vehicle title or registration card from your previous state of residence is acceptable proof. You will be required to give up this document when you apply. It will be replaced with a new title or registration card from Wisconsin.
• If you submit your registration card as proof of ownership, Wisconsin law requires title fee payment. If you later submit your out-of-state title to the DMV, a Wisconsin title will be issued to you at no additional charge when the title is mailed to:

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 7949
Madison, WI 53707-7949

• You can obtain your Wisconsin title in person at a DMV customer service center for an additional $5 counter service fee.
• If you have owned your vehicle for less than 90 days, you will need to bring proof of sales tax paid to your former state of residence.

You will need to verify the identification number

• You will need to verify the identification number on the vehicle against the identification number shown on the title or certificate of registration when filling out the Wisconsin application for title and registration MV1 (401 KB). The application for title and registration is also available from any DMV service center (DMV customer service centers accept cash or checks only.)

You must display Wisconsin license plates within 2 business days

• To legally operate your vehicle you must display Wisconsin license plates within 2 business days of establishing residency. (See Mandatory display and temporary plate information.)
• You may submit the MV1 application, along with the title or registration card and appropriate fees, by mail or at any DMV service center offering registration service or at one of our DMV Agents. If you apply at a customer service center, there is a $5 counter service fee in addition to title and registration fees. An agent will charge a $3 plate fee and/or a service fee up to $5.

If you have questions:

• E-mail bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us. If you e-mail us about a specific vehicle, we need your license plate number, the year and make of the vehicle and/or the vehicle identification number to respond.
• Call (608) 266-1466, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Bureau of Vehicle Services, bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: January 18, 2008