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How much are tax, title and license fees in Wisconsin?
By Product Expert | Posted in Community, Tips and Info on Thursday, June 25th, 2020 at 12:27 am
Badger State Tax, Title and License Charges
If you’ve been looking to buy a new vehicle, especially one with special offers in play, you may have seen a recurring phrase: “tax, title and license fees not included.” This ubiquitous disclaimer can get a little tiring. It likely leaves you wondering, “how much are tax, title and license fees, exactly?”
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Standard fees charged by the state when purchasing a new vehicle in Wisconsin are:
- 5% Sales Tax
- $164.50 for an original title or title transfer
- $85 Registration Fee
Note that while tax, title and license fees can differ based on the type of vehicle being purchased, we’ve compiled the ones that can be expected when purchasing and owning a standard automobile in Wisconsin.
Tax Fees
The sales tax charged on car purchases in Wisconsin is 5%, so you can expect to pay at least 5% of the total vehicle price for the tax fee. In addition, there may be county taxes of up to 0.5%, along with a stadium tax of up to 0.1%.
Title Fees
Title fees for a standard automobile in Wisconsin cost $164.50 for the original title or title transfer. A title replacement is $20. There’s no fee to transfer a title to a surviving spouse or registered domestic partner. A title for a low-speed vehicle costs $157.
Annual Registration Fees
A standard automobile is charged an $85 annual registration fee. If you’re driving a hybrid or an electric ride, it’ll be a bit more; hybrid vehicles are saddled with a $75 surcharge, while electric vehicles must pay $100.
Why are these fees collected?
Tax, title and license fees are collected by the state help offset operation costs and support the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) budget.
Ever Wonder: Can a bad battery make a car already in motion stop moving?
Additional fees
Though the fees above are the main ones to be conscious of, other charges from the state may occur as well throughout the vehicular ownership experience. For example, getting a registration renewal at a DMV customer service center costs an additional $3 for the service fee. Initial registration has a $5 service fee.
Those that provide title and registration services can charge a maximum service fee of up to $10 for a registration renewal transaction, or up to $19.50 for a title transaction. Some dealerships also have the option of a charging a dealer service fee that can reach up to $99.
