AutoTaxCalculatorWhat is the Wisconsin wheel tax?
The Wisconsin wheel tax is a yearly local vehicle registration fee that a town, village, city or county can add on top of the state registration fee. Amounts range from $10 to $50, and you pay both a municipal and a county wheel tax if both places charge one.
State law doesn't set the amount. Each local government chooses its own, but it must spend all the revenue on transportation. WisDOT collects the wheel tax for them when you first register and at every renewal, keeps an administrative fee of about 3 cents per application, and sends the rest to the local government. Your registration certificate shows that a municipal or county fee was paid.
Milwaukee wheel tax
Milwaukee's city wheel tax is one of the highest in the state. The City of Milwaukee charges $41, and Milwaukee County charges $30. A car kept in the city pays both, so $71 a year on top of the regular registration fee. Elsewhere in Milwaukee County, such as Wauwatosa ($15), Cudahy ($25) or Shorewood ($30), you pay your municipality's amount plus the $30 county wheel tax.
Example: renewing a car registered in the City of Milwaukee
- Automobile registration: $85
- City of Milwaukee wheel tax: $41
- Milwaukee County wheel tax: $30
- Total: $156 a year
Every Wisconsin wheel tax (2026)
| Jurisdiction | Type | Wheel tax | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | City | $25 | In effect |
| Appleton | City | $30 | In effect |
| Arena | Township | $20 | In effect |
| Ashland | City | $20 | In effect |
| Augusta | City | $25 | In effect |
| Baraboo | City | $40 | In effect |
| Beloit | City | $20 | In effect |
| Bellevue | Village | $25 | In effect |
| Berlin | City | $25 | In effect |
| Boscobel | City | $10 | In effect |
| Chilton | City | $20 | In effect |
| Cudahy | City | $25 | In effect |
| Delavan | Township | $15 | In effect |
| Doylestown | Village | $20 | In effect |
| Eden | Village | $30 | In effect |
| Eau Claire | City | $50 | In effect |
| Evansville | City | $40 | In effect |
| Fitchburg | City | $40 | In effect |
| Fort Atkinson | City | $20 | In effect |
| Gillett | City | $20 | In effect |
| Grand Chute | Township | $30 | Starts January 1, 2027 |
| Green Bay | City | $25 | In effect |
| Hustisford | Village | $35 | In effect |
| Iron Ridge | Village | $10 | In effect |
| Janesville | City | $40 | In effect |
| Kaukauna | City | $10 | In effect |
| Lodi | City | $20 | In effect |
| Lomira | Village | $30 | In effect |
| Madison | City | $40 | In effect |
| Manitowoc | City | $20 | In effect |
| Merrimac | Township | $25 | In effect |
| Milton | City | $30 | In effect |
| Milwaukee | City | $41 | In effect |
| Mishicot | Village | $20 | Starts February 1, 2027 |
| Montello | City | $20 | In effect |
| Neenah | City | $30 | In effect |
| New London | City | $20 | In effect |
| Onalaska | City | $25 | In effect |
| Oregon | Village | $40 | In effect |
| Oshkosh | City | $35 | In effect |
| Platteville | City | $20 | In effect |
| Portage | City | $20 | In effect |
| Port Edwards | Village | $35 | In effect |
| Potosi | Village | $10 | In effect |
| Prairie du Sac | Village | $20 | In effect |
| Redgranite | Village | $25 | In effect |
| Rice Lake | City | $20 | In effect |
| Ripon | City | $25 | In effect |
| River Falls | City | $10 | In effect |
| Sauk City | Village | $20 | In effect |
| Saint Croix Falls | City | $30 | Starts January 1, 2027 |
| Shawano | City | $40 | In effect |
| Sheboygan | City | $30 | Starts February 1, 2027 |
| Shorewood | Village | $30 | In effect |
| Sun Prairie | City | $30 | In effect |
| Tigerton | Village | $10 | In effect |
| Valders | Village | $20 | In effect |
| Waterloo | City | $15 | In effect |
| Wauwatosa | City | $15 | In effect |
| Crawford | County | $20 | In effect |
| Dane | County | $40 | In effect |
| Dunn | County | $20 | In effect |
| Eau Claire | County | $30 | In effect |
| Green | County | $25 | In effect |
| Iowa | County | $25 | In effect |
| Langlade | County | $15 | In effect |
| Marathon | County | $25 | In effect |
| Milwaukee | County | $30 | In effect |
| Pierce | County | $35 | In effect |
| Portage | County | $30 | In effect |
| Richland | County | $20 | In effect |
| St. Croix | County | $20 | In effect |
| Vernon | County | $25 | In effect |
The highest combined wheel tax in Wisconsin is $80: Madison, Fitchburg and Oregon each charge $40 on top of Dane County's $40, and the City of Eau Claire's $50 (the highest single municipal amount) plus Eau Claire County's $30 also comes to $80. That's more than Milwaukee's combined $71. A few new wheel taxes, in Grand Chute, Saint Croix Falls, Mishicot and Sheboygan, begin in 2027 and are marked in the table.
Which vehicles pay the wheel tax
The wheel tax applies to vehicles customarily kept in a jurisdiction that charges one and registered as:
- Autocycles
- Automobiles
- Trucks registered at 8,000 pounds or less (except dual-purpose farm trucks)
That includes most special plates on those vehicles. Antique, collector (but not "Collector Special"), ex-prisoner of war (when issued without a registration fee), historic military, hobbyist and Medal of Honor plates are exempt, as are all special plates on farm trucks, dual-purpose farm trucks and motor homes.
It's based on where the car is kept
The wheel tax follows the location on your vehicle registration record where the car is customarily kept, not your mailing address. Check it on your renewal notice. If you've moved, WisDOT usually updates it automatically, but you can correct it on the notice or online. Giving a false location to avoid the wheel tax can bring a fine of up to $200, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I owe a wheel tax?
Your WisDOT renewal notice includes any municipal and county wheel tax in the total due, based on where the vehicle is kept.
What's the lowest wheel tax in Wisconsin?
$10, charged by Boscobel, Iron Ridge, Kaukauna, Potosi, River Falls and Tigerton.
Can I get a refund if I paid the wheel tax by mistake?
Yes. Contact WisDOT if you paid a wheel tax in error, for example because your vehicle location was wrong.
Does the wheel tax apply to motorcycles?
No. Only autocycles, automobiles and light trucks of 8,000 pounds or less pay it.
Sources
- WisDOT: Municipal or county vehicle registration fee (wheel tax), current jurisdictions and rules
- Wisconsin Administrative Code Trans 126: Municipal or county vehicle registration fee
This calculator gives an estimate. Your WisDOT renewal notice shows the exact total. How we calculate