How to Sell a Car in Wisconsin

Quick answer: To sell a car in Wisconsin you sign the title over to the buyer, complete the odometer statement, take your plates off the vehicle, and report the sale to the DMV within 30 days. The buyer then has two business days to title and register it. Wheelers Chevrolet of Merrill will also buy your vehicle outright, whether or not you buy one from us.

What Wisconsin Actually Requires When You Sell a Car

Four things, in order. None of them are hard, but the third one catches almost everybody.

1. Sign the title and fill it out completely. The Wisconsin DMV asks for all of the information on the title, including the odometer statement and any brand disclosure, and your signature as the seller.
2. Take your plates off the vehicle. They stay with you, not with the car. WisDOT is blunt about it: never leave the plates on an auto or light truck of 8,000 pounds or under when you sell it. Move them to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. Do not mail them back to the DMV.
3. Report the sale within 30 days. This is the step private sellers miss. Wisconsin Statute 342.41 requires you to notify WisDOT when you sell a vehicle to another individual. You will need the VIN, the buyer’s information, the sale price and the date. It can be done online through the Wisconsin DMV seller notification service.
4. Write your own bill of sale. Wisconsin form MV2928 is instructions, not a bill of sale, and WisDOT says so plainly. Write your own with the VIN, the odometer reading, both parties’ names and contact information, the price, the date and both signatures. Keep a copy.

One more thing worth telling your buyer: they have two business days after the purchase to title and register the vehicle. Until they do, it is still showing in your name. And if you still owe on the car, your lender holds the title, so call them before you list it and find out how the payoff and title release will work.

The Part That Costs Money: The Trade-In Tax Credit

Here is what does not show up in the private sale price you have in your head.

In Wisconsin, when you trade a vehicle in as part of buying another one, the trade-in allowance comes off the taxable amount. The Department of Revenue states it directly: if the sale of a motor vehicle and the trade-in are one transaction, the price subject to sales tax does not include the amount allowed for the trade-in. See Wisconsin Publication 202.

Sell privately and you give that up. If you sell your car to another person and bring the cash to a dealer as a down payment, that is a down payment. It is not a trade-in, and the full purchase price stays taxable.

So the honest comparison is not private sale price against dealer offer. A private sale has to beat the dealer’s offer by more than the sales tax you give up, not just by a dollar. Run that number before you take the photos and write the ad.

How it Works

Looking for a simple way to sell your vehicle? You don’t have to experience the stress and hassle that often comes with listing your vehicle on your own and fielding potential buyers. You can sell your vehicle for cash at Wheelers Chevrolet of Merrill in three simple steps! Here’s how it works:

When you sell your vehicle at Wheelers Chevrolet of Merrill, you get to drive straight to the sale! Wheelers will help you skip the process of selling privately.

Wheelers vs. Private Party

Sell Your Vehicle for Cash in Merrill

Selling privately takes extra work on your part. It involves creating ads, posting the listing to multiple outlets, and ongoing communication at all hours. Not only that, but reaching a deal and having confidence in the buyer’s ability to fund the purchase can add additional obstacles.

With Wheelers Chevrolet of Merrill, you get a same-day offer for your vehicle; within minutes of your arrival at our dealership, we will start the process of buying your vehicle.

Selling a Car in Wisconsin: Common Questions

Do I have to tell the Wisconsin DMV that I sold my car?

Yes. Wisconsin Statute 342.41 requires the seller to report a sale between individuals to WisDOT within 30 days. You will need the VIN, the buyer’s information, the sale price and the sale date.

Do the license plates go with the car in Wisconsin?

No. The plates stay with you. WisDOT says never to leave plates on an auto or light truck of 8,000 pounds or under when you sell it. Move them to another vehicle you own or destroy them, and do not mail them back to the DMV.

How long does the buyer have to title the vehicle?

Two business days after the purchase. Until the buyer does it, the vehicle still shows in your name.

Is Wisconsin form MV2928 a bill of sale?

No. WisDOT states that it is not a valid bill of sale for a motor vehicle. Write your own with the VIN, the odometer reading, both parties’ names and contact information, the price, the date and both signatures.

Do I lose anything by selling privately instead of trading in?

You lose the trade-in sales tax credit. In Wisconsin the trade-in allowance is excluded from the taxable price only when the sale and the trade-in are one transaction. Cash from a private sale, used as a down payment, does not qualify.

Can I sell you my vehicle if I am not buying one from you?

Yes. Wheelers Chevrolet of Merrill buys vehicles outright and you are not required to purchase anything from us.