$BillOfSale.app

Free Wisconsin Used Car Bill of Sale

Used-car sales in Wisconsin follow the same DMV process as any vehicle transfer: assigned title, Form MV1 to apply for new title, an optional bill of sale, and 5% state tax (plus county and stadium add-ons) collected at titling. The wrinkle for used cars is consumer protection — Wisconsin's lemon law and dealer disclosure rules largely do not apply to private-party sales, so buyers take the car "as-is" unless the bill of sale says otherwise. Document the real price — it sets the sales tax.

Wisconsin Requirements: If the vehicle will be operated, WisDOT says the buyer should title and register it within two business days after purchase (Wis. Stat. §341.04(1)(bm)2). 5% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Used Car Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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Selling a used car as-is? Our private sale checklist walks you through price research, safely screening buyers, and the exact paperwork steps — so nothing slips through and you stay protected from post-sale disputes. Read: Private Car Sale Checklist →

Wisconsin Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Wisconsin Bill of Sale (optional — sample in WisDOT Form MV2928)
Agency
WisDOT DMV
Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
5%
Title Required
Yes
Used cars require a properly assigned Wisconsin Certificate of Title with seller signature, buyer information, sale date, and odometer reading. Federal law requires odometer disclosure on vehicles of model year 2011 or newer. Buyer files Form MV1 with WisDOT — within two business days after purchase if the car will be driven.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

5% Wisconsin state sales tax applies to used-car purchase prices the same as new cars, plus 0.5% county tax and 0.5% stadium-area tax in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha counties. Tax is calculated on the purchase price.

Exemption: Transfers between qualifying close relatives can be exempt from sales tax; confirm with WisDOT which relationships qualify. Trade-in credit is not available on private-party sales — only when trading in at a licensed Wisconsin dealer.

Inspection Requirements

No statewide safety inspection required. Emissions testing required in 7 southeastern counties (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington) for 1996-and-newer gas vehicles. Wisconsin is also a "buyer beware" state for private sales — used-car lemon law protections apply mainly to dealer sales, not private-party transactions.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Wisconsin DMV — not the same agency that handles cars in Wisconsin. Plan for separate filings.

Wisconsin Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Use a bill of sale (WisDOT's optional sample is in Form MV2928) with year/make/model, VIN, odometer reading, sale price, and "as-is" disclosure
  2. Seller assigns title (signature, date, odometer, buyer name) — do not write on the front of the title
  3. Provide service records and any remaining warranty paperwork to the buyer
  4. Buyer files Form MV1 (within two business days after purchase if the car will be driven); DMV collects 5% state tax + 0.5% county tax (+ 0.5% stadium tax in 5 SE counties)
  5. Confirm emissions status if buyer is in Milwaukee/Waukesha/Kenosha/Ozaukee/Racine/Sheboygan/Washington counties
  6. Seller removes Wisconsin plates and notifies DMV of the sale online or by mail
  7. Buyer secures Wisconsin auto insurance before driving (Wisconsin requires 25/50/10 minimum liability)

Common Pitfalls

  • Writing an unrealistically low sale price ("$100 for a 2020 Toyota") — misreporting the price that sets the sales tax is tax fraud
  • Skipping the "as-is, no warranty" language — without it, a buyer may argue an implied warranty under Wisconsin UCC Article 2
  • Forgetting that trade-in tax credit only applies at licensed dealers, not private sales
  • Buyer driving the car home on the seller's plates — Wisconsin plates stay with the seller, and the buyer needs a temporary plate from DMV ($3) to drive legally
  • Not running a Wisconsin title check or NMVTIS report — Wisconsin brands titles "salvage," "rebuilt," and "flood" and these brands carry over

Pro Tip

Used-car private sales in Wisconsin are buyer-beware: write "as-is," disclose known defects, document the real price, and pull a vehicle history report. The two-business-day MV1 window (for a car that will be driven) and 5%-plus tax don't change just because the car has miles on it.

Wisconsin Used Car Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do Wisconsin lemon laws cover used cars from a private seller?
No. Wisconsin's lemon law (Wis. Stat. § 218.0171) covers new and used vehicles purchased from licensed dealers within the warranty period, but private-party used-car sales are treated as "as-is" transactions under the Wisconsin Uniform Commercial Code. Buyers have no statutory right to return a private-sale used car for mechanical problems unless the seller misrepresented the condition or concealed a known defect (which would be common-law fraud). Always test drive, get a pre-purchase inspection, and run a vehicle history report before buying private-party.
Can I sell a used car "as-is" in Wisconsin?
Yes, private-party used-car sales in Wisconsin are presumed "as-is" with no warranties unless the bill of sale or a separate document creates one. Best practice is to write "Sold AS-IS, WHERE-IS, with no warranty express or implied" on the bill of sale and have the buyer initial it. This blocks later UCC implied-warranty-of-merchantability claims. Note that "as-is" does not protect a seller who actively lies about the car's condition or rolls back the odometer — those are separate fraud claims.
How does Wisconsin calculate sales tax on a used car?
Wisconsin charges 5% state sales tax on the actual purchase price stated on Form MV1 and the bill of sale, plus 0.5% county tax in most counties and a 0.5% local stadium-area tax in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha counties. DMV collects the tax when the buyer titles the vehicle. Record the real price.
What's the difference between a Wisconsin "salvage" and "rebuilt" title?
A Wisconsin salvage title is issued when an insurance company declares a vehicle a total loss — typically when repair cost exceeds 70% of fair market value. The vehicle cannot be legally registered or driven on public roads with a salvage brand. After repairs, the owner can apply for a "rebuilt salvage" title by passing a Wisconsin salvage inspection (Form MV2486), which verifies the repairs and that no stolen parts were used. Rebuilt-salvage vehicles are road-legal but the brand stays on the title forever and significantly reduces resale value.
Do I need a temporary plate to drive home a used car I just bought?
Yes. Wisconsin license plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle, so when you buy a used car privately you cannot legally drive it on the seller's plates. Buyers can get a temporary operating permit (a paper plate, $3) at any WisDOT DMV service center, valid for 90 days, which lets you drive the car home and to inspections while you finish the title and registration paperwork. Bring the assigned title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance to obtain the temp plate.

Other Wisconsin Templates

Vehicle Bill of SaleCar Bill of SaleMotorcycle Bill of SaleBoat Bill of SaleTrailer Bill of SaleHorse Bill of SaleATV Bill of SaleGun / Firearm Bill of SaleRV Bill of SaleGeneral Bill of SaleFree Printable Bill of SaleOdometer Disclosure Bill of SaleAs-Is Bill of SaleGift Bill of Sale

Used Car in Other States

TexasFloridaGeorgiaMissouriUtahOregonAlabamaColoradoConnecticutArkansas

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