How To Sell A Car in Wisconsin and Follow All State Mandates

Have you been looking for complete steps to sell your car in Wisconsin? Do you feel unsure as to what you should fill out and submit? Are you currently trying to figure out what you can do online as well as what to do in person? Do you feel stressed about what you need to do and pay for?

⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️

If you’ve been attempting to find guidelines and state regulations on how to sell a car in Wisconsin privately, we are here to assist now!  Check out our guidelines as well as mandates, that will help you stay structured with all you have to do, to sell your car in Wisconsin!

Before Selling Your Vehicle in Wisconsin

Selling your vehicle here in Wisconsin can be quite easy, but it helps to know what forms to fill out and in what manner. Check out what to do, even before you sell your vehicle here in Wisconsin.

• Make sure that you have the vehicle title in your name. Even if you have never driven the car before, the vehicle title must STILL be in your name. Here in Wisconsin, you cannot sell a vehicle that is not titled to you. This rule does not apply if you are a licensed vehicle dealer.
• If you owe money on the vehicle, you must pay what you owe on the vehicle. If money is owed on the vehicle, this will be reflected on the title. It will show that the car has a lien holder or a lender. You have to pay what you owe on the vehicle and get the lien released. Otherwise, you cannot sell the car. If you have a lender that holds your title, you can connect with them on the procedures for releasing your lien and obtaining the title.

Selling the Vehicle

After your sale, you, as the seller have some obligations.

• You are required to complete seller notification for the private sale of the vehicle. This means if the vehicle was sold from one person to another.
• You are required to sign as well as date the title in the area that allows such. If the vehicle title shows more than one owner, the names should be separated by the word “and,.” This allows for all owners to sign the title. If the word “or” separates the names, any one of the listed owners can sign the title.
•  A  complete vehicle odometer mileage statement is required. This is federal law and cannot be left blank!
• You must continue on and fill out the brand disclosure area on the title if it applies to your vehicle.
• The next step is to complete the selling price on the title. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue checks . titles and investigates low sale prices that they deem suspicious or questionable.
• Moving forward, be sure to complete the name and address of the buyer or buyers on the title.
• If a lien is listed on the title, you must provide the buyer with a lien release document from your lien holder; the buyer will need both of the papers to obtain the vehicle title.
• If you lost the original title, you would need to apply for a replacement title. Be sure to sign the replacement title and offer it to the buyer, even if you find the original title at a later date.  It is important to note when you have a duplicate vehicle title and you find the original, that original title is no good.
• Don’t forget to remove the license plates from the vehicle. You can transfer them to another vehicle that you own.

How to Sell a Car in Wisconsin – the Bill of Sale

If you wish to have documentation of the sale, you can fill out the Instructions for Selling a Vehicle form MV2928.

Although the Bill of Sale is provided, it is not a required a form. Here in Wisconsin. You may decide to keep a copy for your own personal records as well as make a copy for the buyer.

What About the Odometer Statement?

Here in Wisconsin, vehicles that are the model year 2010 or newer, or are otherwise not exempt from mileage disclosure, you can write in the odometer reading.

The odometer reading is the number of miles on the vehicle. It is not the number of miles on the engine, even though you may have a newer engine. You can write the miles in the space provided on the title and show whether the miles display:

(a) actual- the odometer has always worked precisely to calculate the miles

(b) non-actual- the odometer statement wasn’t filled out by the owner at the time of sale; the odometer was replaced and then set back to the number zero due to a repair; the odometer ceased to work, and the vehicle was driven more than 30 days before getting fixed; or, the odometer numbers were turned backward.

(c)  In Excess of Mechanical Limits = The odometer showed 99,999 miles and not turn to 100,000, but instead, turned back to zero. Click here to gather more information about odometers.

How to Sell a Car in Wisconsin and Knowing About Brand Disclosures

Here in Wisconsin, a brand is permanent designation on the vehicle record that provides a prospective buyer detailed and essential information about the history of a vehicle. It’s important to note that there are penalties up to $5,000 for failing to disclose title brand information.

Therefore, your vehicle title must be branded if, during the time you owned the vehicle, your vehicle met the following qualifications:

1. The vehicle was used as a taxi or for public transportation.
2. Your vehicle was salvaged, meaning if the vehicle was less seven model years old and was damaged more than 70% of its fair market value. For a vehicle that was repaired, salvage and then passed inspection, your vehicle title should have on it the phrase, “rebuilt salvage.”
3. Floods damaged the vehicle. Water had to consume more than 70% of the vehicle.
4. The vehicle was used as a police vehicle. Click here for additional information.

What About Transferring Plates?

If you sell your vehicle and the plates on it haven’t expired, you can transfer them to a vehicle of the same type that is titled to you, your partner, spouse or same sex partner.

Under Wisconsin law you can't transfer the plates to the buyer, even if that buyer is another family member.  If you don't want plates, you can't get a refund for any time left on the registration.

What About Selling My Wisconsin Vehicle Online?

Now that you have a good grasp of all you need to sell your vehicle successfully and all that you need to complete at the seller, it’s time to get that car sold! So, you are thinking of selling your car online. Great! With a look at Facebook, Twitter and even Craigslist, you can see that you have some fierce competition. All car online ads have pictures. So, you will have to have them too.

Secondly, you have to write a description of your car, letting buyers know all about your car. Finally, you have to provide an email or a phone number, so that perspective buyers can get in touch with you.

Selling a car online is challenging, but doable. It may be helpful to be firm about the price of there are no room for negotiations. But if there are, then go for it!

Many times, the thought of quick cash can lead a car seller to sell online. But the reality is, your car may take awhile to sell. It may take days, weeks or even months. So, you have to be patient.

For additional questions, issues and other matters about how to sell your car in Wisconsin, be sure to visit your Wisconsin Department of Transportation!

How To Sell My Car Privately

Selling a car privately may prove to be a viable option, just like selling online. You may choose to go and purchase some “for sale signs” and place them in the window of the car you are looking to sell.

Once you do, you will definitely get some calls about your car. When you see that those and calls increase, you may choose to have a flyer about your car that allows buyer to know about your car at a glance.

Preparing a Car For Sale

Check out some tips below that offer some ways to get your car ready!

1. Get that car washed. You may want to spring for a good wash or detail job. Don’t forget to vacuum the inside of the car too! You may also go over the interior with a cloth to make everything shine and look presentable.
2. Fixes and Repairs. If your car needs a new fender or has a “ding” somewhere, you need to get that fixed. If not, it’s a good idea to let the buyer know about that, before he or she buys the vehicle.
3. Replacement Parts. If you can, try to replace parts such as belts, hoses and other elements. Buyers are going to lift the hood of that car and see what’s under there.

As a car seller, honesty, transparency and straightforwardness will take you far! So, sell that car and put your best foot forward to make a quick sale!