To sell your car privately in Wisconsin, you must complete four mandatory steps: correctly sign over the vehicle title with an accurate odometer reading, create a bill of sale, remove your license plates, and file a Notice of Sale with the Wisconsin DMV within 30 days of the sale. Failing to report the sale can leave you liable for parking tickets, tolls, or accidents involving the vehicle after you’ve sold it.
Prepare Your Vehicle and Documentation
Begin by cleaning the car and gathering all maintenance and repair records. Consider obtaining a vehicle history report (like Carfax or AutoCheck) to increase buyer confidence. You must have the vehicle title. If it’s lost, apply for a duplicate from the Wisconsin DMV. If there’s an outstanding loan (a lien), you must pay it off with your lender to obtain the clear title before the sale.
Complete the Title Transfer and Bill of Sale
On the back of the Wisconsin title, fill out the “Assignment of Title by Registered Owner” section. Print your name exactly as it appears on the front, sign it, write the date of sale, and record the exact odometer mileage. Do not leave any seller information blank. The buyer must complete their section. While not strictly required if the title is fully filled out, a detailed bill of sale is highly recommended. It should include the VIN, make/model/year, sale price, date, and signatures of both parties. Clearly state the vehicle is sold “AS IS” with no warranties.
| Key Step | Specific Requirement & Details |
|---|
| Report the Sale | Seller must submit a Notice of Sale online to the WI DMV within 30 days. This is your primary liability release. |
| License Plates | Remove and keep your plates. They are not transferred with the car. You can reuse them on another vehicle or destroy them. |
| Buyer’s Duty | The buyer is legally required to title and register the vehicle in their name within two business days. |
| Secure Payment | Accept only secure payment methods—preferably a cashier’s check verified at the buyer’s bank or cash. |
Finalize the Sale and Protect Yourself
At the handoff, remove your license plates. Do not let the buyer drive away with them. Provide the buyer with the signed title and a copy of the bill of sale. Immediately after receiving payment, go online to the Wisconsin DMV website and complete the Notice of Sale. Keep copies of all documents for your records. This process definitively ends your registration and shifts future liability to the new owner, protecting you from unforeseen issues if the buyer delays their registration.
