How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Wisconsin

To legally drive in Wisconsin, you must register your vehicle with the State Department of Motor Vehicles. You are required to register your vehicle each year and if you are late with registration you will have to pay a $10 fine. If your registration has expired, you cannot drive until it has been renewed. Fortunately, there are several ways to renew your registration, including online, in person, and by mail.

Your renewal notice

Keep an eye on your mail for renewal notifications. The state automatically sends them out every year, just before your current registration expires. Here you will find important information, including the amount you must pay to renew your registration and the expiration date for your current registration.

Please note that depending on where you live, you may be required to pass an emissions test before you can renew your registration. You can find a complete list of areas in the state with mandatory emissions testing on the DMV website.

In terms of renewal fees, the amount you pay will depend on the type of vehicle you drive. Cars are $75/year, while trucks are $75, $84, or $106/year depending on weight. Motorcycle registration costs $23 for two years.

Renew by mail

If you want to renew your registration by mail, you need to:

• Turn on renewal notification
• Include emission test confirmation if applicable
• Send a check or money order for the amount of the renewal fee to the address on the renewal notice.

To renew your registration online

To renew your registration online, you need to:

• Go to the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles website.
• Enter the renewal number from your notice
• Pay the fee with an accepted credit card
• Print receipt/confirmation
• Your registration should arrive in the mail within 10 business days.

Renew your registration in person

If you want to renew your registration in person, you need to:

• Visit DMV Service Login
• Visit a participating third party agency
• Bring proof of insurance
• Bring a renewal notice
• Bring payment for renewal (cash, check, debit/credit card)
• Note. If you use a third party agency, you may be charged 10% more for renewal.

For more information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles website.