How To Transfer A Wisconsin Car Title

Transferring a Wisconsin car title is a simple process. You just have to make sure that you have filled out all of the proper paperwork and submitted it correctly to the Department of Motor Vehicles. This is what proves your legal ownership of your vehicle.

Here is everything you need to know about how to transfer a car title in Wisconsin.

Are You New To Wisconsin?

If you are a new resident of Wisconsin, you are required to register your vehicle as soon as you can, and to get new Wisconsin license plates once you establish residency. You will also transfer your vehicle title to a Wisconsin title during this process.

To get a new vehicle title, you must submit the following forms and information to the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles:

• Your current vehicle title
• If you are still making payments on your car, the lender will possess your vehicle title. You will not be able to get a Wisconsin title until you have paid off your car entirely.
• Form MV1, your Title/License Plate Application
• Your driver’s license or another valid form of government issued photo ID. This can also be state ID, a passport, a Social Security Card, or other documents that are accepted in Wisconsin.
• If you have owned the car for less than three months, you have to provide proof that you paid sales tax in a different state. This exempts you from having to pay sales tax in Wisconsin.
• You have to supply a check or money order to pay the title fee, wheel tax, and the registration fees.

When You Buy Or Sell A Vehicle

Here is how to transfer a car title to fulfill state law when you are buying or selling a vehicle.

Buying A Car From A Dealer

When you buy a car from a dealership, your dealer is responsible for sending your title and vehicle registration applications to the Division of Motor Vehicles. This is usually a smooth process that lets you receive your registration, title, and license plates in the mail. Each of these items arrives separately, and processing times can vary. However, you can track their progress online.

Buying A Car From An Individual

The process of buying a car from an individual seller is a little bit different than the process of buying a car from a dealership. If you do this, you have to apply for a duplicate car title immediately. This is something that you can do online, in person, or by mail.

If you are applying online or by mail you can take the following steps:

• Get the vehicle title and fill out all of the information for both yourself and the person who sold it to you. This includes both the odometer reading and the lien release paperwork, if relevant.
• After this, you can start the application on the Division of Motor Vehicles website. When you do this you will need to provide them with the last four digits of your social security number, your driver’s license, and your birthday.
• After all this, you need to print your receipt and mail it along with the rest of your paperwork to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
• After you do all of this, you also have to apply for new license plates. You have to display permanent or temporary plates on your vehicle within two days of purchasing it.

Selling A Car

The rules about how to transfer a car title are a little bit different when you are selling your car to another person. In this case, you have the responsibility to provide odometer disclosure statements, any relevant lien release documentation, and you have to complete and sign the title assessment paperwork on the car’s current title.

You should give these documents to the person buying the car, so that they can fulfill their responsibility of completing the title transfer with the DMV. If you do not have the original title anymore, you should apply for a duplicate one before you attempt to complete the sale.

Get Help With An Online Title Loan

One of the benefits that comes with learning how to transfer a car title is that you will be able to apply for an online title loan. This is a way to borrow emergency cash based on the value of your vehicle’s title in order to pay for an urgent expense that you are facing.

Some of the advantages of applying for an online title loan include:

• There is no store visit required, they will come to you
• You can get your money the same day that you apply, or the very next business day
• You can keep your car while you are paying off your loan
• You can apply with good, bad, or nonexistent credit

Final Thoughts

This is all of the most important info about how to transfer a car title. Whether you have recently moved to Wisconsin, or if you are buying or selling a vehicle, this information will help you out. And don’t forget that one of the benefits of owning a car title is your ability to apply for Wisconsin title loans in an emergency.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.