The Wisconsin MV1 Title/License Plate Application is the form you use to put a vehicle’s title in your name and get license plates from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You file it any time you buy a car, move to Wisconsin with an out-of-state vehicle, or change who owns a titled vehicle. The form runs under Chapter 342 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which gives the state the legal power to title vehicles.
Getting one box wrong can stall your title for weeks, and the version printed 10/2025 is the one DMV expects today. More than 9,600 customers fill out an MV1 every month, which is why the DMV calls it its most popular form, and why a small mistake on the VIN line or the tax box is so common. This guide walks you through every section so your title and plates come back clean the first time.
Here is what you will learn:
- 🚗 What the MV1 does and who has to file it
- 📋 The exact documents and numbers to gather before you start
- ✍️ How to fill out Sections A through H line by line, with real entries
- 💵 How to figure your title fee, 5% sales tax, plate fee, and surcharges
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get titles rejected and how to dodge them
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The MV1 is Wisconsin’s combined title and registration application. One form does two jobs: it transfers or creates the Certificate of Title (proof of ownership) and it orders your license plates and registration (your legal permission to drive on public roads). The form header cites Wisconsin Statutes 342.06, which is the law that requires a title application within a set time after you take ownership.
You must file an MV1 if you buy a vehicle from a private seller, receive one as a gift, inherit one, or move to Wisconsin with a vehicle titled in another state. Dealers usually file it for you when you buy from a lot, but a private-party sale puts the job on you. If you only want plates and the title is already in your name, you do not need a fresh MV1; you renew instead.
The agency that receives the form is the Wisconsin DMV, and the deadline matters. Under Wis. Stat. 341.08, you must display plates within two business days of taking the vehicle home, and the title transfer should be applied for promptly after purchase. Missing the title window can expose you to a late transfer fee and leaves you unable to prove you own the car. A common misconception is that holding a signed-over title is the same as owning the car in the eyes of the state. It is not. Until the DMV records the transfer, the electronic record still shows the old owner, and that record is the official title under Wis. Stat. 342.09(4)(b).
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. Filling the MV1 with missing numbers is the top reason applications bounce back from the P.O. Box 7949 mail unit in Madison. Use this pre-filing checklist:
- The original Certificate of Title, signed over by the seller. The DMV will not accept a copy, and a new vehicle needs the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin instead. Without it, there is no proof to transfer.
- The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), all 17 characters, copied straight from the title. A guessed VIN creates a record that does not match state files.
- Your Social Security Number or Wisconsin driver license number. Section A requires one of these by Wis. Stat. 342.06(1)(eg); leaving it blank stops processing cold.
- The exact purchase price from the bill of sale. The 5% state sales tax is built on this number, and understating it is a crime printed right on the form.
- Trade-in value, if any, because it lowers the amount subject to tax. Forgetting it means you overpay tax.
- Lienholder name, address, and secured party number, if you financed the car. A missing lien entry can void the lender’s security interest.
- Your county and city, village, or town, because local sales tax and wheel tax depend on where the vehicle is kept, not where you bought it.
- Odometer reading and the date you first drove the vehicle in Wisconsin, used for new residents and federal odometer disclosure.
- A check payable to “Registration Fee Trust” or a card for online payment. The wrong payee name delays your file.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can get the MV1 three ways, and all lead back to WisDOT. The fastest route for most people is the MV1 online application at mv1.wi.gov, which asks plain-language questions and builds the form for you. If you prefer paper, download the official MV1 PDF from the vehicle forms page and print both pages.
You can also pick up a blank MV1 in person at any DMV Customer Service Center or from an authorized third-party agent. Use the DMV center locator or the partner agent list to find one near you. Agents can issue metal or temporary plates on the spot, which the mail channel cannot do.
Whichever channel you choose, confirm the revision date in the corner reads 10/2025. Filing an outdated version is a real problem because the title fee and weight-fee schedule changed on October 1, 2025, and an old form will show the wrong amounts. Many filers assume any MV1 they find online is current, but stale copies float around on third-party sites, so always pull the form from a WisDOT address.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the MV1 Line by Line
Complete the form in blue or black ink, and fill only the sections that apply to your situation. Sections A through F sit on the front and back of page one and two; Sections G and H handle electronic notices and minors. Work top to bottom so the fee math in Section E flows from the choices you made above it.
Section A — New Vehicle Owner Information: Owner Legal Name
This field asks for the name that will appear on the new title, written as Last, First, Middle Initial (or the full business name). Write it exactly as it reads on your Social Security card or driver license, in capital letters, one character per box if you use the boxed online print version. For example, LOPEZ, MARIA E is how Maria Lopez enters her name. If you go by a nickname, ignore it here and use your legal name, because the DMV cross-checks the name against state and federal records.
A common edge case is a name change after marriage or divorce; use the current legal name that matches your license, not your old one. The most frequent mistake is reversing first and last name, which creates a mismatched record and a hold while the DMV sorts out identity. People often think the title name has to match the insurance policy name, but the controlling match is your government ID, not your insurer.
Section A — Co-Owner Name and the “Or” / “And” Box
This field captures a second owner and, just as important, the small box where you check OR or AND. The conjunction decides how the car can be sold later: And means every owner must sign to transfer it, while Or means any single owner can sign alone. A married couple titling jointly might write NGUYEN, DAVID H as owner and NGUYEN, LISA M as co-owner, then check OR so either spouse can sell without chasing the other’s signature.
The edge case worth flagging is estate planning. Choosing Or lets a surviving co-owner transfer the car without probate, which can save weeks. The common mistake is leaving the conjunction blank, which forces the DMV to default to And and can trap a vehicle when one owner is unavailable. Many people believe the conjunction is just a formality; in reality it is one of the most consequential choices on the entire form.
Section A — Social Security, Driver License, or FEIN Number
This field asks for an identifying number, and at least one is required by law. An individual enters a nine-digit Social Security Number, or may give a Wisconsin driver license number instead, while a company must enter its Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). Maria Lopez writes her license number L123-4567-8901-23 in the driver license boxes and leaves the SSN line blank.
If you have both an SSN and a Wisconsin license, you only need one, so pick the license number to keep your SSN off the paper. The most common mistake is leaving this entirely blank because it feels private; that single omission stops processing under Wis. Stat. 342.06(1)(eg). A frequent misconception is that the DMV will sell your SSN, but federal law under 42 USC 405 limits its use to authorized government purposes.
Section A — Address and the Opt-Out Box
This field collects the street address (including a P.O. Box if you have one), city, state, ZIP, and daytime phone. Use the address where you actually receive mail, because your title or confirmation document is sent there. Next to the name line sits the Opt Out box, which removes individuals from open-records mailing lists of ten or more names; businesses cannot opt out.
If your mailing address differs from where the car is kept, that is fine here, but remember the “kept” location in Section B drives your taxes. The common mistake is using an old address, which sends your title to a place you no longer live and risks losing it. People often assume checking the opt-out box hides their record entirely, but it only blocks bulk mailing lists, not lawful individual record requests.
Section B — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
This field asks for the 17-character VIN, the unique fingerprint of your vehicle. Copy it one character at a time directly from the Certificate of Title, not from the windshield or a memory, and never substitute the letter O for a zero. For a 2019 Honda Civic, David Nguyen writes 19XFC2F59KE201234 exactly as it prints on the title.
The edge case is older vehicles with VINs shorter than 17 characters; enter what the title shows and do not pad it. The most common and damaging mistake on the whole form is one wrong VIN character, which creates a title for a vehicle that does not legally exist and forces a full reapplication. A persistent misconception is that any of the several VIN locations on the car is fine to copy from; the title VIN is the one the DMV matches, so use it.
Section B — Year, Make, Type, Color, and Plate to Transfer
This grouping asks for the model year, make, body type (Car, Truck, Van, etc.), color, and either a Wisconsin plate you are transferring or a temporary plate number. Fill each from the title and your own observation, writing 2019, HONDA, CAR, and BLUE for the Nguyens’ Civic. If you have plates from a vehicle you no longer use, list that plate number to transfer it at no charge.
You may transfer plates only between the same vehicle type that belongs to you, your spouse, or your domestic partner under Ch. 770. The common mistake is trying to move plates between unrelated family members, which is not allowed and gets rejected. Many filers think the body type is cosmetic, but it must match the plate type in Section E or the fee will be wrong.
Section B — County and Date First Driven in Wisconsin
This field asks where the vehicle is kept (county, plus city, village, or town) and the date you first drove it in the state. The “kept” location sets your local sales tax and wheel tax, so enter where the car sleeps at night, not where you bought it. A new resident from Illinois, Aisha Carter, writes DANE county, MADISON city, and 03/14/2026 as the date she first drove her car in Wisconsin.
If you live in one county but garage the car in another, use the garaging county, because that is what the tax rule follows. The common mistake is listing the purchase county to dodge a higher local tax, which is the wrong basis and can trigger a tax correction bill later. People often assume county does not matter for a private car, but Wisconsin’s combined local rates and wheel taxes vary widely by location.
Section C — Non-Operation
This short section is used only if the vehicle was not driven on public highways during a stated period, and you enter the From and Through dates. Most private buyers leave it blank. A snowbird who stored a classic car all winter might write From: 11/01/2025 Through: 04/01/2026 to document the gap.
The edge case is seasonal or project vehicles that sat unregistered; this line creates a record that the car was off the road. The common mistake is filling it in when you actually did drive, which can conflict with other records. A misconception is that non-operation erases past registration fees, but it is simply a statement about road use during the listed dates.
Section D — Loan Information
This section is for adding a new lien, and it asks for the lending agency name, the secured party number, address, and phone. Get these directly from your lender, since a wrong digit can break the lien filing. If you financed through a credit union, you might enter SUMMIT CREDIT UNION with its assigned secured party number on the line provided. Use form MV2051 to add a second lender and attach it.
Any title with a lien listed on or after July 30, 2012 is mailed to the lienholder, and you receive a Confirmation of Ownership until the loan is paid. The common mistake is leaving the secured party number blank, which can delay the lender’s security interest and even your title. Buyers often think a financed car’s title comes to them right away, but the lender holds it until the lien clears.
Section E — Title Fee, Purchase Price, and Sales Tax
This is the money section, and it starts with the Title Fee – $214.50, the amount that took effect October 1, 2025. Enter the purchase price from your bill of sale, subtract any trade-in allowance, and the result is the Amount subject to tax. For a $20,000 car with a $5,000 trade-in, you write $15,000 subject to tax, then $750 for State Sales Tax (15,000 x 0.05).
Add Local Sales Tax by multiplying the taxable amount by your county and municipal rate from the Department of Revenue rate lookup. The most serious mistake here is understating the purchase price, which the form warns in bold is a crime and can bring tax fraud penalties. A common misconception is that a gift between non-family is tax-free; only specific transfers, like one between spouse, parent, or child, qualify for a tax exemption code.
Section E — Tax Exemption Codes
If your transfer is tax-exempt, you enter the matching code instead of paying the 5%. Code 1 covers a vehicle previously titled in Wisconsin and bought from a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, or stepchild, and you must list the relationship. A father gifting a car to his daughter enters code 1 and writes PARENT TO CHILD in the relationship line.
Other codes cover carriers, lessors, government units, tax paid to another state (code 5, with proof), and nonresidents removing the car from Wisconsin. The common mistake is claiming a family exemption for an in-law or sibling not on the list, which the DMV rejects. Many people assume any family gift is exempt, but the law names specific relationships only, so a gift between siblings is still taxed.
Section E — License Plate Fee and Issuance Fee
This field asks you to check your plate type and enter the fee. A Passenger Vehicle plate is $85, a light truck at 6,000 pounds or less is $100, and a light truck up to 8,000 pounds is $116.60 under the schedule effective October 1, 2025. Below it, the License Plate Issuance Fee – $12 covers $6 per plate for the two plates a car receives.
If you are transferring current plates instead of buying new ones, there is no plate fee, only any renewal due within 30 days. The common mistake is picking passenger plates for a truck used to haul, or the reverse, which mismatches the registration. People often forget the separate $12 issuance fee and short their check, which delays the order.
Section E — Miscellaneous Fees and Fee Total
This grouping captures extras: the annual $175 electric or $75 hybrid surcharge, wheel tax if your municipality charges one, a $10 loan filing fee per lien, a $3 temporary plate fee, and a $5 counter service fee if you file in person. Add only the ones that apply, then sum everything into ENTER FEE TOTAL. An EV buyer in a wheel-tax city stacks the title fee, sales tax, $85 plate, $12 issuance, $175 EV surcharge, and the local wheel tax.
Check the current wheel tax list because rates differ by city and county. The common mistake is skipping the EV or hybrid surcharge, which leaves your total short and bounces the application. A frequent misconception is that the surcharge is one-time; it is an annual charge tied to registration.
Section F — License Plate Type (Back of Page)
This section is only for plates other than regular passenger or light truck, such as motorcycle, motor home, farm, or special plates. Find your plate code, write the type and fee in Section E, and complete the matching detail here. A motorcycle owner checks CYC, notes the $23 two-year fee, while an autocycle owner uses ACY at $45.
Insurance must be on file with the DMV for For-Hire Auto, Driver Education, Bus, and similar types. The common mistake is using Section F for a normal car, which is unnecessary and confusing. People often assume special plates cost the same as passenger plates, but many follow the gross-weight fee schedule instead.
Section G — eNotify Electronic Renewal (Mailed Applications Only)
This optional field lets mailed-in filers sign up for electronic renewal notices by listing an email address. Enter a working email if you want future reminders sent digitally through wisconsindmv.gov/enotify. Lisa Nguyen writes lisa.nguyen@email.com to get her next renewal by email instead of postcard.
The edge case is shared family emails; use one you check often so you do not miss a renewal. The common mistake is a typo in the address, which sends notices into the void and risks a late renewal fee. People think signing up here changes their title; it only sets how renewal reminders arrive.
Section H — Consent to Purchase (Owner Under 18)
This section is required only when an owner is under 18, and a parent, legal guardian, or custodian signs to consent and has it notarized. The adult signs and dates the consent line, and a notary completes the county, commission date, and signature block. When 17-year-old Tyler buys his first car, his mother signs X on the custodian line and a notary public completes the sworn statement.
The edge case is a guardian who is not a parent; legal custody documents may be requested. The common mistake is skipping notarization, which voids the consent and returns the whole application. A misconception is that a parent simply co-signing is enough, but the form specifically requires the notarized Section H for any minor owner.
Vehicle Owner Certification — Signature Block
The final step is the certification, where each owner shown in Section A signs and dates to swear the information is true. Both owners must sign when the form lists co-owners, regardless of the Or / And choice. David and Lisa Nguyen each sign on the Owner and Co-Owner lines with the date 03/20/2026.
The motorcycle/moped box must be checked if it applies, or the form warns the entire application is returned. The most common mistake is one co-owner forgetting to sign, which invalidates the filing. People assume a typed name counts as a signature, but the DMV needs an actual handwritten signature in ink.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three walkthroughs show how different filers complete the same form. Each follows one person from top to bottom.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez buys a used car from a private seller
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Section A – Owner Name | LOPEZ, MARIA E |
| Section A – ID Number | Driver license L123-4567-8901-23 |
| Section A – Address | 742 ELM ST, MADISON, WI 53703 |
| Section B – VIN | 1HGCM82633A004352 |
| Section B – Year/Make/Type | 2015 / TOYOTA / CAR |
| Section B – County kept | DANE / MADISON (city) |
| Section E – Purchase Price | $9,000 |
| Section E – State Sales Tax | $450 (9,000 x 0.05) |
| Section E – Title + Plate + Issuance | $214.50 + $85 + $12 |
| Signature | Maria signs and dates 03/20/2026 |
Scenario 2: Aisha Carter, a new resident, titles an out-of-state car with a loan
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Section A – Owner Name | CARTER, AISHA M |
| Section A – ID Number | SSN in the SSN boxes |
| Section B – VIN | 5NPE34AF4FH012345 |
| Section B – Date first driven in WI | 03/14/2026 |
| Section B – County kept | MILWAUKEE / MILWAUKEE (city) |
| Section D – Lienholder | SUMMIT CREDIT UNION + secured party number |
| Section E – Tax exemption code | 5 (tax paid to another state, with proof) |
| Section E – Loan Filing Fee | $10 |
| Section E – Title + Plate + Issuance | $214.50 + $85 + $12 |
| Signature | Aisha signs and dates 03/16/2026 |
Scenario 3: A father gifts a car to his daughter (family transfer)
| Form Section | What the Daughter Enters |
|---|---|
| Section A – Owner Name | REYES, SOFIA L |
| Section A – ID Number | Driver license number |
| Section B – VIN | 2C4RDGBG7FR512345 |
| Section B – Year/Make/Type | 2015 / DODGE / VAN |
| Section B – County kept | BROWN / GREEN BAY (city) |
| Section E – Purchase Price | $0 (gift) |
| Section E – Tax exemption code | 1 with PARENT TO CHILD |
| Section E – State Sales Tax | $0 |
| Section E – Title + Plate + Issuance | $214.50 + $85 + $12 |
| Signature | Sofia signs and dates 03/22/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file the MV1 by mail, online, or in person, and each channel has its own steps. Pick the one that fits your need for speed and same-day plates.
- By mail: Send the original title (not a copy), the completed MV1, and a check payable to Registration Fee Trust to WI Dept. of Transportation, P.O. Box 7949, Madison WI 53707-7949. There is no extra counter fee, processing takes a few weeks, and you should keep a photocopy of the full packet as your proof of filing.
- Online: Use the eMV Public service or the MV1 online application where eligible. Pay by ACH from your bank for no added fee, or by credit card, debit card, or PayPal with a convenience fee of up to 2.35%. Save the confirmation number that appears at the end as your proof.
- In person: Visit a DMV Customer Service Center that processes registration, or an authorized agent. A $5 counter service fee applies at a DMV center, agents may add a service fee up to $38 for a title transaction, and you can pay by card, check, or cash (cash only in person). The big advantage is leaving with metal or temporary plates the same day.
Keep your proof of filing no matter which channel you use, because it is your only evidence that you applied on time if a record question comes up later.
What Happens After You File
After the DMV records your application, it issues a Certificate of Title and mails your Certificate of Registration and plates. If your car has no lien, the title comes to you, usually within a few weeks of a clean filing. The electronic record updates first, and that record is the legally official title under Wis. Stat. 342.09(4)(b).
If you financed the vehicle, the paper title is mailed to your lienholder and you receive a Confirmation of Ownership instead. You get the actual title only after the loan is paid and the lien is cleared. This is normal and does not mean anything is wrong with your application.
If something is missing or wrong, the DMV mails the packet back with a note explaining what to fix, which restarts the clock. You can check on fees still owed through the ePay online service using your VIN or plate number. Respond fast, because a returned application can push you past the display and transfer deadlines.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Wrong VIN character: A single mistyped digit creates a title for the wrong vehicle and forces a full reapplication.
- Blank ID number in Section A: Leaving out your SSN or license number stops processing entirely.
- Reversed name order: Writing first name before last name causes an identity mismatch and a hold.
- Missing Or/And box: An unchecked conjunction defaults to And and can trap the vehicle when one owner is unavailable.
- Understating purchase price: This is a crime on the form and can bring tax fraud penalties.
- Forgetting trade-in allowance: Skipping it makes you overpay sales tax.
- Wrong county kept: Using the purchase county instead of the garaging county triggers a later local tax correction.
- Skipping the EV or hybrid surcharge: An incomplete total bounces the application back.
- Sending a title copy instead of the original: The DMV rejects copies, so there is nothing to transfer.
- Missing co-owner signature: One unsigned owner invalidates the whole filing.
- No notarized Section H for a minor: A missing notarization voids the consent and returns the form.
- Check made out to the wrong payee: It must read Registration Fee Trust, or your payment is delayed.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Use blue or black ink, because the DMV requires it for scanning.
- Copy the VIN straight from the title, since the title VIN is the one matched.
- Confirm the form reads 10/2025, so your fees and schedules are current.
- Keep a photocopy of the full packet, because it is your proof of timely filing.
- List your lienholder’s secured party number, so the loan files correctly.
- Check your county’s local tax and wheel tax, since they change your total.
Don’t:
- Don’t guess the purchase price, because understating it is a crime.
- Don’t use a nickname in the name field, since it must match your ID.
- Don’t mail cash, because cash is accepted only in person.
- Don’t transfer plates between unrelated family members, as the law forbids it.
- Don’t leave the Or/And box blank, because the default can lock up the title.
- Don’t forget the $12 plate issuance fee, or your check will be short.
Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing It Yourself | Using a DMV Agent or Professional |
|---|---|
| Pro: No service fee beyond the standard $5 counter charge, so it costs less. | Pro: Agents catch errors before submission, which lowers rejection risk. |
| Pro: You control your own timing and keep your documents in hand. | Pro: Agents can issue metal or temporary plates the same day. |
| Pro: The online MV1 guide walks you through each question step by step. | Pro: Helpful for tricky cases like liens, out-of-state titles, or minors. |
| Con: A small error means a mailed-back packet and weeks of delay. | Con: Agents charge a service fee up to $38 for a title transaction. |
| Con: You must track deadlines and tax rates yourself. | Con: You give up some control and hand over your documents. |
FAQs
Do I write my maiden name or married name in the Owner Name box?
Yes, write the name that matches your current driver license or Social Security card, because the DMV cross-checks it and a mismatch holds your title.
Do I have to give my Social Security Number on the MV1?
No, not if you have a Wisconsin driver license number, which you may provide instead under state law to keep your SSN off the paper.
Do I check “Or” or “And” in the co-owner box for my spouse?
Yes, most couples choose Or so either spouse can sell or transfer the vehicle alone without needing both signatures later.
Do I pay sales tax if a parent gives me the car?
No, a vehicle previously titled in Wisconsin and given by a parent qualifies for tax exemption code 1, but you must list the relationship.
Do I copy the VIN from the windshield or the title?
Yes, copy it from the Certificate of Title, since that is the VIN the DMV matches; a windshield typo can create a wrong title.
Do I owe the title fee if I move here from another state?
Yes, the $214.50 title fee applies when you title the vehicle in Wisconsin for the first time, even if it was titled elsewhere.
Do I need to notarize anything if the buyer is 17?
Yes, a parent or guardian must complete and notarize Section H, Consent to Purchase, or the entire application is returned.
Do I include the trade-in value to lower my tax?
Yes, subtract the trade-in allowance from the purchase price, because tax is figured only on the amount that remains after the trade-in.
Do I file the MV1 if I only want to renew plates?
No, the MV1 is for new titles and transfers; an existing owner renews registration instead of filing a fresh MV1.
Do I send the original title or a copy?
Yes, send the original Certificate of Title, never a copy, because the DMV cannot transfer ownership from a photocopy.
Do I pay the EV surcharge every year?
Yes, the $175 electric or $75 hybrid surcharge is an annual charge added to your registration, not a one-time fee.
Do I list my lender in Section D if I financed the car?
Yes, enter the lender’s name, address, and secured party number, because the title is then mailed to the lienholder until the loan is paid.
Do I get the paper title right away if there is a loan?
No, the lienholder holds the title and you receive a Confirmation of Ownership until the lien clears.
Do I use the county where I bought the car for taxes?
No, use the county and municipality where the vehicle is kept, because local sales tax and wheel tax follow the garaging location.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out New York Form NY DMV MV-82 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Wisconsin DMV Application for Duplicate Title (MV2) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out a Wisconsin DMV Bill of Sale (Form MV2928) — With Examples + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Wisconsin DMV Vehicle Registration Application (Form MV1) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Montana MVD Application for Certificate of Title + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Wyoming DOT Application for Certificate of Title (Form MV-300A) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Delaware DMV Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV213) + FAQs