AutoTaxCalculatorWisconsin vehicle registration fees
Wisconsin automobile registration is $85 a year, whatever the car's weight, age or value. Hybrids pay $75 more and electric cars $175 more. Local wheel taxes are added on top.
Unlike states that tax registration by value or weight, Wisconsin charges every automobile the same $85. The extra charges come from three places:
- Hybrid electric surcharge: $75 a year for automobiles and light trucks up to 8,000 lbs, in place since October 2019.
- Electric vehicle surcharge: $175 a year for the same vehicle types.
- Wheel tax: a local fee some cities, villages, towns and counties charge based on where the vehicle is customarily kept. See our Wisconsin wheel tax list for every municipality and county that charges one.
Renewing late adds a $10 fee. A DMV customer service center adds $3 to a renewal and $5 to a title and registration transaction. Private title and registration service providers can charge up to $16.25 for a renewal or $38 for a title transaction.
Sales tax in Wisconsin for cars
Wisconsin charges its 5% state sales tax on vehicle purchases, plus the county tax and any city tax where the vehicle is customarily kept, regardless of where you buy it:
| Where the car is kept | Total rate |
|---|---|
| 69 counties with the 0.5% county tax | 5.5% |
| Milwaukee County (outside the city) | 5.9% |
| City of Milwaukee | 7.9% |
| Waukesha and Winnebago counties | 5.0% |
Milwaukee County's tax went from 0.5% to 0.9% on January 1, 2024, the same day the City of Milwaukee became the only Wisconsin municipality with a city sales tax, at 2%. Because the city reaches into Washington and Waukesha counties too, a car kept in the city part of those counties also pays the 2%.
Trade-ins and private sales
A trade-in allowance comes off the price before tax. The Department of Revenue's own example: a $20,000 car with a $4,000 trade-in is taxed on $16,000. Private sales are taxable too. When you buy from another person, you pay the sales tax when you register the car with WisDOT, and so does each later buyer.
Title fees
An original title or title transfer costs $214.50. Listing a lien costs $10. A replacement title costs $20. Transfers to a surviving spouse, registered domestic partner or qualifying family member have no title fee.
Worked examples
$35,000 car kept in Dane County with a $10,000 trade-in
- Sales tax: ($35,000 − $10,000) × 5.5% = $1,375.00
- Title $214.50 + registration $85
- Total before any wheel tax: $1,674.50
Used $20,000 car from a private seller, kept in the City of Milwaukee
- Sales tax: $20,000 × 7.9% = $1,580.00, paid when you register
- Title $214.50 + registration $85
- Total before Milwaukee's wheel tax: $1,879.50
New $45,000 electric SUV kept in Waukesha County
- Sales tax: $45,000 × 5% = $2,250.00 (no county tax)
- Title $214.50 + registration $85 + EV surcharge $175
- Total: $2,724.50
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay Wisconsin sales tax on a car bought in Illinois or Minnesota?
Yes. Wisconsin use tax applies to vehicles bought elsewhere that are kept in Wisconsin, at the same 5% plus county and city rates, unless the tax was already paid.
Is there a title fee when a car passes to my spouse?
No. Title transfers to a surviving spouse, registered domestic partner or qualifying family member have no title fee.
Is there a WI tax, title and license calculator for renewals?
Yes. Enter 0 as the price and the calculator shows the $85 registration, any hybrid or EV surcharge, and the wheel tax you enter.
Sources
- WisDOT: DMV fees
- Wisconsin DOR: Tax rates (state, county and city sales tax chart)
- Wisconsin DOR Publication 201: Sales and use tax information (PDF)
This calculator gives an estimate. WisDOT and the Department of Revenue set the final amounts. How we calculate