License plate renewal notices are sent out (by mail or email/text message) at least one month before the current license plate expiration date. If you are not signed up to receive email/text messages and would like to do so, please visit our
eNotify page.
The DMV has started replacing old plates. This process is called reissuance. Over the next 10 years your plates will be automatically replaced at an additional charge. This fee will be added to the cost of your renewal. See “Plate Reissuance” for more information.
Use the
License plate search to:
- Check when your plate expires
- Check to see if an
emissions test is required for the vehicle
- Check whether your plate is suspended or valid
If you receive a license plate renewal notice for a vehicle you no longer own and do not wish to renew the license plates, you can disregard the renewal notice.
By not renewing those license plates this year, you will not receive a notice for the plates next year.
Because renewal notices are printed two months in advance of the expiration date, if you transferred the plates from the vehicle listed on the renewal notice to a different vehicle, you may receive a renewal notice with the old vehicle’s information. You may use this renewal notice as is. Your renewal notice does not need to be updated since you are renewing the plates, not the vehicle. You will receive a new Certificate of Registration with the correct vehicle information after you renew your plates.
When selling your vehicle, if you are unsure if your plate(s) stays with the vehicle or is transferable, see
Wisconsin license plate guide.
Have these ready:
- Plate number
- A valid email address
- Payment information (one of the following)
- Credit/debit card (convenience/service fee applies)
- PayPal (convenience/service fee applies)
- Checking/savings account and avoid the convenience fee
Note: If you need to update your address or where your vehicle is kept, you will also need:
- Your Wisconsin Driver License or ID card number
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
OR
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Your complete Social Security number
After you renew online, your plate’s new expiration date will be immediately updated. You can confirm the new expiration date through our
License Plate Search.
Upon completion, you will receive an email confirmation as proof of current license plate/registration. We will mail a new Certificate of Registration and license plate sticker within 7-10 business days.
Note: There are some heavy vehicle plate/registration types that cannot use this online renewal service. See
Renew Registration for heavy (over 55,000 lbs.) vehicles.
A
late fee is due for auto, light truck, motorcycle and moped renewals received by DMV after the date of expiration.
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Mail the renewal notice and fee to the address shown on the notice. You will receive a new plate sticker and Certificate of Vehicle Registration within 10 business days. If you lost your notice or did not receive one, you may download a
Substitute Renewal Notice form MV2016.
Send automobile (AUT), light truck (LTK) and most other plate types with a pre-printed renewal notice to:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 3279
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3279
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Send truck (HTK), tractor (TOR), insert trailer (TRL), motor home (MTM) and bus (BUS) plate types with a pre-printed renewal notice to:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
PO Box 3279
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3290
Make your check or money order payable to: Registration Fee Trust.
A
late fee is due for auto, light truck, motorcycle and moped renewals received by DMV after the date of expiration.
If you prefer, you may renew in person at a DMV customer service center that offers registration services or at a renewal service provider.
DMV services centers
Many, but not all, DMV customer service centers offer vehicle registration services. See our
DMV Customer Service Center page for details on services provided at each location. You will receive a new license plate sticker and Certificate of Vehicle Registration. There is a $3 counter service fee per renewal application.
DMV customer service centers accept cash, checks, debit cards and the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Debit cards will be processed as credit.
Registration service providers
DMV has authorized several agencies and businesses to act as agents to provide license plate renewal services. See our
Renewal Service Provider page. You will receive a new license plate sticker and Certificate of Vehicle Registration from the agent. These agents may charge a maximum service fee of $10 for a renewal transaction. Service hours and methods of payment vary.
In addition to renewal fees, a
late fee is due for auto, light truck, motorcycle and moped renewals received by DMV after the date of expiration.
If your vehicle has been out of operation for at least one full registration period, you can avoid paying registration and late fees for the time the vehicle was out of use by completing a non-operation statement. The regular registration fee for your vehicle would be due at the time you apply.
| Type of Registration | Time Period to Qualify | Example |
Annual and Biennial Registration
| 12 months | If your last registration expired on June 30th, you qualify for a period of non-operation if the vehicle was not operated after that date until July 1st of the following year, or later. |
Quarterly Registration
| 1 or more full quarters | If your last registration expired on June 30th, you qualify for a period of non-operation if the vehicle was not operated after that date until October 1st of that same year. |
|
How to submit a non-operation statement
- If you are eligible to renew online, and your vehicle has been out of operation for one full registration period since expiration, you will be asked for the non-operation dates.
- If your vehicle has been out of operation more than 3 years from the last registration expiration, you will not be able to use the online renewal application.
- If you are renewing by mail or in person at a DMV Service Center, you should complete the
Substitute Renewal Notice/Non-Operation Statement MV2016.
NOTE: Registration renewal third-party service providers cannot process renewals with a period of non-operation.
In addition to the
regular annual registration fee paid for a vehicle, all vehicles with automobile registration or truck registration at 8,000 lbs. or less (except dual purpose farm registration) may be subject to:
A
late fee is due for auto, light truck, motorcycle and moped renewals received by DMV after the date of expiration.
If you received a letter or postcard saying there are additional registration fees needing to be paid, please use
ePay online service.
Questions?
Email Wisconsin DMV email service
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