Electric Vehicle Surcharge Fee
On July 6, 2023, a new law created an additional $75 annual surcharge fee to be added and collected for electric vehicles in addition to the existing $100 annual surcharge fee. The annual combined electric surcharge fee is now $175 for
electric vehicles (defined as motor vehicles propelled solely by electrical energy and not capable of using gasoline, diesel fuel, or alternative fuel).
The surcharge applies to vehicles registered as an automobile or as a light truck up to 8,000 lbs. gross weight, including dual purpose vehicles. The surcharge will be collected whenever the regular annual registration fee is paid for plate issuance and registration renewal.
Sticker Requirement for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
License plates registered to electric or hybrid vehicles will need to display stickers indicating the vehicle is an electric or hybrid vehicle. There is no fee for the stickers.
Current owners of electric and hybrid vehicles were issued stickers via mail in February or March 2024. DMV began issuing stickers with new plates and plate transfers in Summer 2024.
Special note, the following plate types issued to electric or hybrid vehicles will receive EV hybrid stickers along with new plates in Spring 2025: autocycle, collector cycle, cycle, disabled cycle, heavy farm, historic military cycle, hobbyist cycle, moped, municipal cycle, veteran’s cycle, and Wisconsin national guard. The current plate designs will be updated to allow room for the stickers.
Replacement Plate Fee Increase
Effective July 1, 2022, the replacement plate fee increases from $2 to $4 for single-plate vehicles and trailers (e.g. motorcycle/moped, trailer, tractor). The replacement plate fee for non-personalized plate vehicles increases from $4 to $8 (automobile, truck, bus and motorhome).
Duplicate personalized standard automobile, truck, motorcycle or motorhome license plate(s) fee increases from $2 to $4 for a single plate and from $4 to $8 for two plates.
The fee increase does not affect replacement or duplicate specialty, personalized and other plate types that are currently more than $2 per plate.
2019-2021 Biennial Budget
Wisconsin's 2019-2021 biennial budget includes a provision to increase motor vehicle title and registration fees and implements a hybrid electric vehicle surcharge. These fees are effective October 1, 2019.
For vehicles that currently are registered, the new registration fees and the hybrid electric vehicle surcharge will be assessed on vehicles with an expiration date of September 30, 2019, or later, even if renewal payment is submitted before October 1, 2019.
Vehicle Title Fee Increase
Effective October 1, 2019, the vehicle title fee increases from $69.50 to $164.50. The title fee for a surviving spouse/surviving domestic partner or a low-speed vehicle (LSV) increases from $62 to $157.
Registration Fee Increases
Annual registration fees have increased for automobiles, light trucks and some other gross weight vehicles registered at less than 8,000 pounds.
The increased fees will be assessed for current registrations expiring September 30, 2019, or later and for new registrations with a starting operation date on October 1, 2019, or later.
Registration Fee Changes
Registration Type |
Weight Class |
Fees expiration before 9/30/2019 |
New fees expiration 9/30/2019 and later |
Automobile (AUT) Human Service Vehicle (HSV) | Not applicable | $75 |
$85 |
Light Truck (LTK) Dual-Purpose Farm (DPF) Dual-Purpose Vehicle (DPV) Bus (BUS) | 4,500 pounds | $75 |
$100 |
Light Truck (LTK) Dual-Purpose Farm (DPF) Dual-Purpose Vehicle (DPV) Bus (BUS) | 6,000 pounds | $84 |
$100 |
Trailer (LTL) | 3,000 pounds | $37.50 |
$50 |
Trailer (TRL) | 4,500 pounds | $37.50 |
$50 |
Trailer (TRL) | 6,000 pounds | $42 |
$50 |
Dairy (DRY) trailer Farm Trailer (FTL) Raw Forest Product (RFP) trailer Special Z (SPZ) | 4,500 pounds | $18.75 |
$25 |
Dairy (DRY) trailer Farm Trailer (FTL) Raw Forest Product (RFP) trailer Special Z (SPZ) | 6,000 pounds | $21 |
$25 |
Farm Truck Tractor (FTR) | 6,000 pounds | $39 |
$43 |
Truck Tractor (TOR) | 6,000 pounds | $102 |
$118 |