Lookup
License plates can be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles in Wisconsin. All Wisconsin residents must register vehicles they intend to drive on state roads.
When registering a vehicle in Wisconsin, it is possible to apply for a variety of different license plates. For example, personalized plates can include a custom plate number.
Sample Wisconsin License Plate
Registering for License Plates in Wisconsin
All vehicles operated on Wisconsin roads require registered license plates from the Department of Transportation (WisDOT) DMV Services.
DMV offices can be found in various locations throughout the state. Applications to register vehicles should be done in person.
The DMV requires new vehicle drivers to register immediately after their purchase. They have 2 days after purchasing a vehicle to display a temporary or registered license plate.
For new state residents, it is mandatory to convert out-of-state vehicles to Wisconsin license plates.
Types of License Plates in Wisconsin
The standard Wisconsin license plate has a white background with black and red lettering. There is an image of a farm and the quote “America’s Dairyland” across the bottom.
Other types of license plates available in Wisconsin include:
Specialty license plates
Disability license plates
Personalized license plates
The above plates require additional fees, which vary by plate type.
There are also temporary license plates, which cost $3 and up to $5 for service fees.
Specialty License Plates in Wisconsin
There are various colorful and commemorative license plates provide by the DMV in Wisconsin. The following are a few choices available:
Amateur Radio
Antique
Celebrate Children Foundation
Choose Life Wisconsin Inc.
Civil Air Patrol | Collector
Collector special
Cure Childhood Cancer
Disabled Parking
Disabled Veteran
Donate Life Wisconsin
Ducks Unlimited
Emergency Medical Services
Endangered Resources
Ex-Prisoner of War
Firefighter
Freemason
Gold Star
Golf Wisconsin
Green Bay Packers
Harley-Davidson/Share the Road
Historic Military Vehicle
Hobbyist
In God We Trust
Lao Veteran
Law Enforcement Memorial
Lions Foundation
Marquette University
Medal of Honor | Military
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Bucks
Nurses Change Lives
Personalized
Rescue Squad Member
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Sample
Scouting Alumni
Special Group
Trout Unlimited
University
U.S. Veteran Motorcycle
Whitetails Unlimited
Wisconsin National Guard
Wisconsin Salutes Veterans
Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation
Some of these specialty license plates have eligibility requirements that must be met before they are issued. For example, occupation plates require proof of a particular employment.
Costs vary, for example, Amateur Radio plates are $15 issuance and annual registration fee, Choose Life Wisconsin are $15 issuance fee and $25 annual donation and annual registration fee, and Antique plates are $5 one-time fee.
Disability License Plates in Wisconsin
Disability license plates and placards give people with disabilities access to designated parking spaces in the state. To qualify for these plates or placards, medical proof may be required.
Disability license plates are issued to:
Vehicles offering transportation services to people with disabilities
People with permanent disabilities
Disability placards are issued to people with:
Temporary disabilities
Permanent disabilities
Veterans with disabilities
Personalized License Plates in Wisconsin
Most of the standard license plates issued by the DMV in Wisconsin can be personalized with a custom plate number.
Personalized plates, depending on the type, can be 1 to 7 characters in length (letters and/or numbers). It is not permitted to create license plates with:
Indecent suggestions
Misleading suggestions
Crude language
Inappropriate slang
It is possible to check the availability of Wisconsin vanity plates before applying to the DMV, to ensure that a plate number is available for issue. You can run a free personalized plate search by using the search bar above.
Replacement License Plates in Wisconsin
Lost, stolen, or damaged license plates can be replaced by submitting an application to the DMV. Replacements can be provided for both license plates and decal stickers.
You may be required to report stolen plates to the police and obtain a police report.
When submitting an application, make sure you have the payment ready, i.e., the replacement plate fee of $10 for standard plates.
Transferring License Plates in Wisconsin
All license plates must remain with the registered person even if they sell their vehicle. License plates cannot be transferred to another person. They can only be transferred to a new vehicle that is titled in the same name as the original owner of the plates.
If license plates are not transferred and are no longer needed, it is legal to destroy the plates to prevent others from misusing them.
It is not necessary to surrender license plates when they are no longer required for use.
Renewing License Plates in Wisconsin
You should apply for renewal before your Wisconsin license plate registration expires. You can do this online, in person, or by mail.
If you go to a DMV office in person, they will provide new decals immediately. Online and mailed-in renewals may take a couple weeks before the decals arrive.
Typically, a vehicle’s registration is valid for 1 year, though other options may be available for different vehicle types.
All vehicles must have up-to-date decals that are clearly visible to avoid penalties.
Fees for Wisconsin License Plates & Registration
Registering a vehicle in Wisconsin entails numerous fees, such as:
Service fees
Vehicle registration fees
Titling fees
Wheel tax (if applicable)
Here are some fees that are required when registering or renewing a vehicle with Wisconsin license plates:
Vehicle Registration Fee:
Passenger Vehicles: $85
Motorcycle: $23 (biennial)
Electric Vehicles:
Electric Vehicle Surcharge: $175
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Surcharge: $75
Duplicate Registration Fee: $2
Temporary Plate Fee:
Order: $3
Service Fee: $5 (if applicable)
Replacement Fee:
Standard plates: $10
Decals: Free
Titling Fee:
Original or Transfer of Title: $164.50
Title Replacement: $20
Wheel Tax (for all vehicles less than 8,000 lbs):
Fees are determined by the resident’s location, e.g., Lincoln County: $20
Looking Up License Plates in Wisconsin for Free
It is possible to look up license plates numbers in Wisconsin and other states in the U.S.
You can find out information about a vehicle, such as:
Bad drivers
Car accidents
Car history (e.g., thefts)
Media (pictures, videos, etc.)
Submitted reports
When considering purchase of a used vehicle from a private seller, you can use this information to make an informed decision.
Car Ownership in Wisconsin
Wisconsin ranks 27th on the list of states with the highest car ownership rates. Idaho and Wyoming are at the top of the table. The District of Columbia and New York are at the bottom.
93.70% of households in Wisconsin have at least one vehicle. This is compared to 96.20% in Idaho and Wyoming (the states with the highest car ownership rates) and 64.30% in the District of Columbia, where the vehicle ownership rates are the lowest in the US.
Wisconsin ranks 35th (tied with Indiana) for electric vehicle ownership in the US. Approximately 0.17% of all registered vehicles in Wisconsin are electric vehicles. California (1.61%) and Hawaii (1.32%) top the list. Mississippi and North Dakota (both 0.05%) are at the bottom of the list for electric vehicle ownership rates.
Wisconsin is ranked 48 on the list of most expensive states to own a car in the US. California and Nevada top the table (most expensive) and Ohio is at the bottom of the table (least expensive) for car ownership costs in the US, based on auto loan payments, gas prices, car repairs, and car insurance costs.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in Wisconsin is $1,905. In New York, the most expensive state for full coverage car insurance, it costs $4,769 per year on average. The least expensive full coverage car insurance is in Vermont and Ohio.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Wisconsin is $361, compared to $418 in Connecticut which the state with the most expensive car repair costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wisconsin have 2 license plates?
Yes, the WisDOT (Wisconsin Department of Transportation) issues two license plates to passenger vehicles. These must be attached to the front and rear of the vehicle.
Are license plate covers legal in Wisconsin?
Any cover or bracket that covers a part of the license plate is illegal in Wisconsin.
Why are Wisconsin license plates falling apart?
One of the reasons Wisconsin license plates have a shorter lifespan compared to other states is exposure to extreme cold temperatures in the state’s harsh winters. For this reason, the WisDOT replaces plates every 10 years when the owners apply for vehicle registration renewals.
Does Wisconsin require a vehicle inspection?
Vehicles registered in seven counties in Wisconsin require an emission test. These include Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, and Waukesha counties. A test may also be required in the following circumstances:
Within 45 days of purchasing a vehicle or adding/removing an owner from the vehicle’s title
Within 45 days of new residents transferring a vehicle to Wisconsin
Every other year before plates are renewed