5 th Edition. Wisconsin CAR REGISTRATION. Easy Guide. Licensed by: Car-Registration.org

Transcription

1 5 th Edition Wisconsin CAR REGISTRATION Easy Guide Licensed by: Car-Registration.org

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4 Table of contents Updating Your Vehicle Registration Page 15 Car-Registration.org is a privately owned website that is not owned or operated by any government agency.

5 Vehicle Registration Getting a vehicle is always an exciting adventure. It doesn t matter if it is your first car or if you have already purchased many vehicles in the past, making the decision to obtain a car is a big step and it must be taken carefully to avoid any inconveniences. Whenever you purchase a car, whether it is new or used, it must be registered to be legally driven in your state of residence. Also, when you change your residential address to another state, you will have to follow the procedure to transfer your registration. The entire process looks very complicated, but it doesn t have to be. Our Easy Guide will provide you step-by-step information on how you can register your vehicle. Learn how you can also transfer your out-of-state registration and renew proper credentials at the appropriate time. Additionally, we will make sure you have all the necessary documents and forms on your person, so you do not experience any delay to your car registration process. Sit back and relax while we guide you towards getting your vehicle registration in no time. 5

6 Minimum Insurance Requirements Before you register your car, you will need to have proper insurance on it and maintain it throughout the entire registration period. You will have to contact an insurance company licensed in Wisconsin. Licensed insurance companies report to the DMV whenever you purchase or renew your insurance. They also report if your insurance is expired or if it has been suspended or cancelled for any reason. Although, you will still need to keep proof of your vehicle insurance with you every time you drive it in case a police officer asks your for it or if there is an accident. When acquiring your liability coverage in Wisconsin take into account that you must meet the following minimum requirements: $10,000 to cover property damage. $25,000 for injuries or death caused to a third party. $50,000 for injuries or death of more than one person. Not having these minimum coverages or not having insurance on your vehicle may lead to severe penalties. You may be fined with $500 for not having insurance. You must also carry your insurance card as proof that you have already purchased coverage for your vehicle. If you don t have it at the time you are stopped or if you are involved in a car accident, you will get fined with $10. Falsifying insurance papers may result in a $5,000 fine. 6

7 Registering Your Vehicle In Missouri When you buy a vehicle, either from a dealership or from a private party, you will need to have it registered to be able to use it in Wisconsin. Even if you want to move it out of the state, you will need a temporary registration. What really matters is that you must hold valid registration papers at all times while driving the vehicle. You must show them to the authorities at their request. If you don t have them with you, you may face fines and tickets. So, to be safe, read below to find out how to get your registration papers. REGISTERING A NEW VEHICLE When you buy a new car from an authorized dealership, they will process the registration for you. With the Electronic Temporary Registration (ETR) and the Electronic Filing System (EFS) the dealer can notify the DMV of your new vehicle registration. This is only a temporary registration and will not have your personal information on it. The dealer must transfer the registration to your name afterwards. Before leaving the dealership, make sure you receive your temporary plates valid only for 90 days while you receive your plates in the mail. Driving without registration in Wisconsin is illegal. You must always make sure that all your papers are in order to avoid penalties and other inconveniences. Registration fees are usually not included in the original price of your vehicle. Dealers may not charge more for your registration fees, although they may include a separate registration filing fee as long as you are aware of it. You may report the dealer to the DMV if you think you are being charged incorrectly for your vehicle registration. Temporary license agents may charge up to $3 for each temporary tags application and a $5 service fee. REGISTERING A USED VEHICLE If you purchased your vehicle from a private party or if your car dealer is not able to process your registration, you must complete this process on your own. Fortunately, the Wisconsin DMV offers many ways to register your vehicle. You can do it in person, online or by mail, based on your specific needs. The quickest way to obtain your temporary license plates as proof that you registered your vehicle is by going in person to a DMV office. There is a $5 counter fee that must be paid in addition to the regular registration fees. 7

8 Documents Before leaving home make sure your car is insured in Wisconsin and you have all the proper documentation to register it: Present the original Certificate of Title of the vehicle signed by the previous owner. Complete and sign a Title/License Plate Application. Provide proof of identification, such as your WI driver s license or ID card. License plates to transfer, if applicable. In case you don t have license plates, the DMV will issue a pair for you, together with your Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Title. You may ask for temporary plates, if you don t already have them, to be able to drive your vehicle while your permanent plates arrive in the mail. By law, you are required to show valid plates, either permanent or temporary, within two business days from the day you purchased the vehicle. Allow two to three weeks for the permanent plates to arrive; if it takes longer, contact the DMV at (608) Online Registration If you are not in a rush to obtain your license plates and registration papers, you may also process it online. You will need to have the vehicle s title signed by the previous owner to be able to use this system. You will be prompted to enter your title number in order to find your records and begin the process. With this information the DMV will make sure that your vehicle is insured in Wisconsin and that meets all other eligibility requirements. The system will also ask you to enter your driver s license number and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Once you complete the online portion of the process, you must mail the supporting documents to the DMV with: Printed receipt from your online application. Wisconsin title signed by the seller. Lien release, if applicable. Payment, in the form of a check or money order only. You will also be able to print your temporary license plates to display while you wait for your permanent plates to arrive by mail. Make sure you have a working printer hooked up to your computer. You must display temporary plates within two business days after purchasing a vehicle. 8

9 By Mail Registration You can also register your car by mail, but take into account that you will not have the option to get your temporary plates immediately and you will have to wait two to three weeks for your permanent plates. You can obtain temporary plates at a DMV office or through an authorized agent. When you are ready to process your registration by mail, download and complete the Title/License Application and send it with the original vehicle title and the fees to: WI Dept. of Transportation PO Box 7949 Madison WI Fees must be paid by check or money order only. do not send cash by mail since it will not be accepted as a valid form of payment for your registration. REGISTERING AN OUT-OF-STATE VEHICLE If you recently changed your address to Wisconsin, you most likely brought your vehicle with you. Since your vehicle insurance, registration and driver s license are from a different state, you have to transfer all of them to Wisconsin to be allowed to drive legally. You have 60 days to complete this errand. But, first things first, get a Wisconsin driver s license and talk to your insurance company about transferring to Wisconsin. Once you have done this, it is time to register your car. go to a DMV office with: Completed Title/License Plates Application. Your vehicle s out-of-state title and registration card. Proof of identity, such as your driver s license or ID card. There is a $5 counter fee to process your registration in person. If you wish, you may also mail the application with the vehicle s original title and registration card to: WisDOT P.O. Box 7949 Madison, WI There are also authorized agents that can help you process your registration. These agents may charge you up to $19.50 for registration and titling services. You can also present the documents at a DMV Temporary License Plate agent. These agents charge up to $3 to issue you a temporary license plate and a $10 service fee to title and register the vehicle. 9

10 Tip If you have any questions about the process, you may contact the DMV directly at (608) REGISTRATION FEES There are many fees and taxes involved in the registration process of your vehicle. Registration fees vary based on the gross weight of your vehicle. You may also be required to pay the local sales tax at your county with a few exceptions. There is a 5% state sales tax that must be paid on top of that. to determine the amount you have to pay, read carefully the fee schedule on the Title/License Plate Application. 10

11 Renewing Your Vehicle Registration It is of paramount importance that you keep in mind the date your registration expires. Not renewing your registration on time or driving without valid registration could result in severe penalties and fines. Avoid the hassle by renewing on time. In Wisconsin, you may renew your registration in person, online or by mail. You must renew your registration one year after your initial registration date. License plates can be renewed either annually or biennially depending on the term you chose during your initial registration. Special vehicles may apply for different registration periods. Important dates or timeframes The DMV will send you a renewal notice 30 days before your renewal date. RENEWING IN PERSON You can renew your vehicle registration in person at any DMV service center or at an authorized agent. There is an extra $5 counter fee to renew your registration in person. The process is very simple; you just have to take with you your completed renewal notice. If you did not receive your renewal notice you can get one here and print it before going to the DMV. Most offices accept cash, credit or debit cards, checks and money orders. You will receive your renewed stickers and registration certificate immediately. RENEWING ONLINE To renew your Wisconsin registration online, you must be subscribed to electronic notifications and have received a renewal notice by . If you haven t registered to enotify, you won t be able to renew online. To subscribe, click here and follow the prompts on screen. If you are subscribed to enotify and have received an with your renewal notice, you may go ahead and renew your registration using the online system. You will be requested to enter the Renewal Reference Number located at the right of the return mailing address on the notice or you may search for it using the license plate lookup. Fill out the online form and submit it to have your registration renewed. Fees must be paid by debit or credit card or through Automatic Clearing House (ACH). 11

12 Once you have processed the payment, you will be able to print your renewal confirmation, which you must keep in your vehicle to provide in case an officer asks for it. Allow ten business days for your renewed papers to arrive by mail. RENEWING BY MAIL You can renew by mail by simply filling out your renewal notice and mailing it back with the fees to the address printed on it. If you did not receive a renewal notice, print a replacement from the DMV website and fill it out, then mail the notice and the fees to: Wisconsin Department of Transportation P.O. Box 7911 Madison, WI Allow ten business days for your request to be processed. Remember that you must pay with a check or money order when registering by mail. Renewal Fees Renewal fees vary according to the type of vehicle you own: Automobiles $75 per year. Motorcycles $23 every two years. 12

13 Replacing Your Vehicle Registration Driving without your vehicle registration papers may lead to severe penalties and fines. If your registration documents get lost, stolen or damaged, you may easily request a duplicate online or by mail. ONLINE Replacing your Certificate of Registration duplicate using the online system is very simple, just make sure you have a working printer hooked up to your computer and a debit or credit card to pay the replacement fee. First, access the official DMV website to retrieve the information from your last registration. You will then be required to enter your driver s license or identification number. The vehicle must be registered in your name to use this system. You will also be prompted to enter the last four digits of your Social Security Number and date of birth. Lastly, you will have to enter the Vehicle Identification Number and pay the $2 fee to receive your printable duplicate. Credit and debit card payments have an extra $0.50 convenience fee. BY MAIL To obtain a duplicate by mail, just complete the Duplicate certificate of registration application and mail it with the $2 fee in the form of a check or money order to: Wisconsin Department of Transportation PO Box 7911 Madison, WI Checks must be made payable to Registration Fee Trust. 13

14 REGISTRATION STICKERS Documents If what you are looking to replace is just your registration stickers, call (608) and provide: Your vehicle s year, make and model. Your license plate number. Your full name as it appears on your registration. Your current mailing address including city, state and zip code. Your address or phone number in case the DMV needs to contact you. Requests for duplicate stickers are processed in one business day and sent by mail to the address you provided. 14

15 Updating Your Vehicle Registration When you make any changes to your address or name, you have to report it to the DMV and get your documents updated. Police officers check that your registration papers match the official records and if yours is different, you may get into trouble since your identity can t be verified completely. That is why if you make any changes, try to report it to the DMV as soon as possible. CHANGING THE NAME ON YOUR REGISTRATION There are many reasons why you may need a name change. In Wisconsin, if you get married or divorced, you don t have to change the name on your registration because it is easy to verify that you are the owner of the vehicle. But, if you made any major changes to your name due to a court order, for example, you will have to update your registration. Doing this is very simple, but first you need to follow the procedure to change the name on your driver s license. Once you receive your license with your new name on it, the DMV will automatically update your record and if a police officer requests your registration papers, it will be easy to verify your identity. You may request a duplicate certificate of registration at the DMV office for $5 to reflect your new name, but it is not mandatory. If you request your duplicate by mail, the fee will be waived, as long as your name is the only piece of information that changed. You will need to provide your current title or proof of ownership when requesting a duplicate. Tip Update your information on your Social Security card before going to the DMV to avoid delays. CHANGING THE ADDRESS ON YOUR REGISTRATION The DMV uses your address to send you important notifications and documents. For example, before your registration expires, you will get a courtesy note reminding you to renew it. Also, when you request your services using the online system, your documents are sent to the address specified in the records. This is why it is of paramount importance that you keep your address up to date with the DMV. 15

16 To do this, you will have to contact your local Post Office and change your address with them first. The DMV retrieves records from the US Postal Service to update your address. Once you have done this, you can download and address change notice and send it to: Division of Motor Vehicles Wisconsin Department of Transportation PO Box 7983 Madison, WI Changing your mailing address is free of charge. to update it immediately use the online system. CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS ONLINE To change your address online you will only require to log on to the change of address page of the DMV website and provide: Your driver s license number. The last four digits of your Social Security Number. Your date of birth. After completing the process, your information will be updated and the next time you renew your documents, the change will be reflected on them. 16

17 License Plates When you register your vehicle, the DMV assigns a license plate number to you. Whenever you renew your registration, your license plates are also renewed. Some plates may be renewed every two years, though. The DMV will give you a sticker that you must attach to the license plate. The sticker has the expiration date of your registration and must be up to date at all times. There are also specialty plates which are made around a specific theme or cause, such as professional associations, sports, universities and environmental themes. They may be purchased at an additional cost which helps fund the particular cause. You may request them at your local DMV office. You can also obtain personalized and military license plates. REPLACING YOUR LICENSE PLATES Your license plate is what identifies your vehicle to the authorities and is used to keep track of your driving behavior. This is why it must always be in good conditions and completely legible. If your license plate gets lost, stolen or defaced, you may request a new one by mail to the DMV. To do this first, download the Replacement License Plate Application. Fill it out completely and mail it with a check or money order to: Wisconsin Department of Transportation PO Box 7911 Madison, WI Checks must be made payable to Registration Fee Trust. Fees vary depending on the type of plate you are replacing. Regular plates cost $2 to duplicate while duplicates of specialized plates may cost up to $6. The amounts are specified on the application. Allow two to four weeks for your plates to arrive in the mail. GETTING CUSTOM PLATES Custom plates are just a little bit more expensive, but you get to personalize them by selecting your unique combination of letters and/or numbers. First, you need to check if the combination you will be requesting is available for purchase, to avoid having two different customers with the same plate combination. Log on to the Personalized Plate Lookup website to find out if your selection is available. If it is, then you will be able to either reserve this combination for later purchase or order your personalized plates. 17

18 If you wish to complete your order, download the Personalized License Plate Application, print it, and fill it out completely. You will have to specify the characters you would like for your license plate, maximum seven for automobiles, and the meaning or what they represent (i.e. your initials, names of your children, birthdate, etc.). Then, mail the form with a $15 fee in the form of a check or money order to: Wisconsin Department of Transportation Special Plates Unit P.O. Box 7911 Madison WI You will have to pay the $15 fee for every year you have your personalized license plates. The DMV will issue a new Certificate of Registration for you and three to four weeks later you will receive your personalized plates by mail. SURRENDERING WISCONSIN LICENSE PLATES License plates in Wisconsin are your property. When you sell a vehicle, you must keep the plates to either transfer them to another vehicle or destroy them on your own. The WI DMV does not require you to surrender your plates at any time, although, if you are coming from another state, you may want to check with their motor vehicle division to inquire about license plate disposal. In Wisconsin the DMV will assign you a new set of plates when you register and you won t need the old ones anymore. If you wish to make sure nobody else uses a plate combination assigned to you, you may fill out a License Plate Cancellation Application. This also applies if your license plates were stolen, destroyed or left on the vehicle after selling it. When you cancel your plates, the alphanumeric combination will not be related to your name anymore. 18

19 Vehicle Safety Tips The most important thing before you begin driving any vehicle is that both you and the vehicle are well prepared for any trip you make. This means checking and making any changes to your vehicle or your behavior to make sure that you are able to drive safely at all times. EMERGENCY KIT One of the essentials to safe driving is having a basic emergency kit available in your vehicle at all times. This kit should include basic items such as water, extra batteries, rope, First Aid kit, matches, a whistle, etc. During winter months it is also important to carry items such as blankets, non-perishable foods, extra gloves and socks, and a shovel. WINTER DRIVING One of the most dangerous times to drive is during the winter, especially if you live in an area that snows. Therefore, it is best to consider these tips to drive safely during the winter. Don t Rush! Roads are often covered in snow and ice after it snows, so instead of driving fast and risking an accident in your rush to get to your destination try leaving a few minutes earlier than usual. This will allow you to drive slower and help to avoid rushing other drivers by not tailgating them if they are going slower. Don t Panic If You Skid or Slip In the case that your vehicle does ski or slip while driving make sure you do not panic and slam down on your brakes. Instead all you need to do is apply slow and even pressure on your brakes until you stop. This will prevent you from spinning further out of control. Check Your Vehicle Before you even leave your house make sure your vehicle s controls, brakes, tank, tires, antifreeze, exhaust, etc. are all working properly. It is also important that you remove all ice and snow from your car before you begin driving; this prevents the snow from blocking your view while you drive. 19

20 DRINKING AND DRIVING Every year thousands are killed as a result of drinking and driving. This is something that is very easily prevented; it only requires that you plan ahead of time by taking these steps. Even before you begin drinking you should arrange for someone else to be the designated driver. In the case that they also become intoxicated, it is important that you arrange to take a taxi. Never allow someone drunk to drive, instead take away their keys and call for alternative transportation. If you see someone who you suspect is drunk, and they signs of intoxication while driving such as making wide turns, weaving, swerving, braking erratically, turning abruptly, etc. call 911 and contact authorities immediately. also make sure to avoid them on the road to ensure your own safety. USING YOUR PHONE Driving while using your cell phone is one of the most dangerous things you can do because during those few seconds your attention is diverted to your phone, a major accident could occur. So, make sure you don t text, use of the internet on your phone, or receive calls while you drive to prevent accidents as best as possible. THINGS TO AVOID Driving isn t always a relaxing experience. There are certain actions that can be both an annoyance and dangerous to you while on the road driving. These things are often avoidable if you make sure to take the necessary steps towards preventing them, as well as stopping them after you discover them to be occurring. Car Accidents The best way to avoid car accidents is to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive and will not cause you any problems. to do this you only need to regularly check that your brakes are functioning properly, your tires are inflated and not worn out, and that the steering and suspensions are checked by a mechanic and will not fail while you drive, especially at high speeds. Wasting Gas As the price of gas goes up you may begin to start looking for ways to save on those expensive trips to the pump. Well, saving on gas is something that is possible if you take a few steps towards ensuring that you waste less gas. 20

21 Some of the ways you can start saving gas are: not using air conditioning, not leaving your engine running, or speeding above 60 mph. These things are preventable and not necessary for you to drive, therefore you can quickly reduce the amount of gas you waste. Another way to save on gas is to make sure that your vehicle is functioning properly, you can do this by checking that your tires are properly inflated, your engine is well tuned, and check that your octane level is the correct amount to your vehicle s needs. Aggressive Driving Aggressive driving and drivers are both things that should be avoided to prevent any on-road aggression or accidents. Aggressive driving is categorized as exhibiting behaviors such as aggressive tailgating, verbal or physically harassing another driver, preventing another driver from merging or passing. However, if you are an aggressive driver, you are putting others at risk every time you do any of the above behaviors. If you encounter a frustrating situation on the road, instead of becoming aggressive you should instead take for a moment, breathe, and continue moving. 21

22 DMV Hours and Locations The DMV has offices conveniently located across the state. Click here to learn more about DMV office locations, schedules, and waiting times. Have you ever visited the DMV and realized that you forgot a document? Now you can avoid that and save the trip by using the online services. You will be able to: Register your vehicle. Renew your vehicle s registration. Obtain duplicate license plates, stickers or registration documents. Verify the status of your registration and license plates. If you have any questions regarding your vehicle s registration, you can call the DMV at (608) Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For general inquiries, you may contact customer service by by filling out the form available here. DON T WASTE TIME AND MONEY DRIVING TO THE LICENSING OFFICE. 22

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