Wisconsin vehicle bill of sale

Fill in the free Wisconsin bill of sale on this page and print it.

WisDOT says the bill of sale on form MV2928 is provided for convenience and is not a required form. Ownership moves on the back of the title, which includes the selling price. WisDOT suggests a bill of sale with the make, year, model, VIN and odometer reading; the buyer's and seller's names, addresses and phone numbers; both signatures; and the price and date sold. No notarization is mentioned.

Use the official form if you prefer it: Instructions for Selling a Vehicle (MV2928).

Wisconsin doesn't publish a required list. A complete bill of sale usually has:

• The seller's and buyer's names and addresses
• Year, make, model and VIN
• Odometer reading
• Sale date and price
• An "as is" statement if there's no warranty
• Both signatures and the date

1. Make sure the vehicle is titled in your name, and pay off any loan first. If a lien is listed on the title, give the buyer the lien release from your lender.
2. On the back of the title, sign and date in the selling owner area. If owners are joined by 'and', all must sign; if joined by 'or', any one may sign.
3. Fill in the odometer statement (model year 2011 and newer), the brand disclosure if it applies, the selling price, and the buyer's name and address.
4. Remove your license plates, except on heavy trucks, farm trucks, mopeds and trailers. Transfer them to a similar vehicle titled to you, your spouse or domestic partner, or destroy them. Do not return them to DMV.
5. If you sold to another individual, submit seller notification to WisDOT within 30 days.
6. Keep a record of the sale, such as a copy of the bill of sale on form MV2928.
7. If you left the plates on the vehicle, file the License Plates Cancellation Application (MV2514).

The back of the Wisconsin title, in the area for the signature of the selling owner or owners. Sign and date it, and fill in the odometer statement, any brand disclosure, the selling price, and the buyer's name and address. The buyer signs too and submits the original title with Form MV1. The title signature does not need a notary in Wisconsin.

Required. File it within 30 days of the sale. You can file it online. It protects you if the buyer gets tickets or tolls, or abandons the car, before retitling it.

Remove the plates when you sell an auto or light truck. Plates stay with the vehicle only on trucks registered at 10,000 pounds or more, farm trucks registered at 16,000 pounds or more, mopeds, and trailers or RV trailers. You may transfer unexpired plates to a similar vehicle titled to you, your spouse or domestic partner, at no charge. Otherwise destroy them. Do not return them to DMV, and there is no refund for unused registration. If you left the plates on the vehicle, file form MV2514.

Inspection. Vehicles kept in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington or Waukesha County may need an emissions test within 45 days after they are purchased and registered, or after an owner is added to or removed from the title. Testing covers auto and light truck plates on model year 1996 to 2006 gas or hybrid vehicles under 8,501 pounds GVWR and model year 2007 and newer vehicles up to 14,000 pounds. WisDOT notifies the vehicle owner when a test is required.

Odometer disclosure. For model year 2011 and newer vehicles, the seller writes the odometer reading on the back of the title and marks whether the miles are actual, not actual, or in excess of mechanical limits. WisDOT says this is required under federal law. The reading is the miles on the vehicle, not on the engine.

Sales tax. The buyer pays 5% state sales tax on the purchase price, less any trade-in, plus any county and municipal sales tax for where the vehicle is kept, when applying for title on form MV1. Exemptions include a vehicle previously titled in Wisconsin and bought from a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, stepchild, spouse's parent or child's spouse. The Department of Revenue checks titles and investigates suspiciously low prices, and MV1 warns that it is a crime to understate the price.

The buyer has 2 days to apply for a new title. The title fee is $214.50.

Forms used in the transfer:

• Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application (MV1)
• Instructions for Selling a Vehicle (MV2928)
• License Plates Cancellation Application (MV2514)

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so check with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles if anything about your sale is unusual. Last verified October 20, 2026.

Listing it first? Good photos sell cars faster: see how to take pictures of a car to sell, and read the full guide to selling a car. Buying or selling in another state? Pick it on the bill of sale page.