Moving to Wisconsin: Your Checklist for Plates, License, Emissions, Insurance and Voting

Moving to Wisconsin, your car comes first: WisDOT says to title and register it as soon as you become a resident [1]. You then have 60 days to get a Wisconsin driver license [1]. If you live in the southeast, plan on an emissions test too.

1. Insure the car

Wisconsin requires every policy to carry at least [3]:

• $25,000 for injury or death of one person,
• $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people,
• $10,000 for property damage,
• uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Insurers must also offer underinsured motorist coverage (at least $50,000/$100,000 if you take it) and medical payments coverage (at least $1,000 if you take it). You can decline both [3].

2. Title and register right away

WisDOT is direct about this: you’re required, upon establishing residency, to title and register your vehicle in Wisconsin. You can’t keep out-of-state plates until they expire [1]. Change your address with the post office first, then apply [1].

You’ll pay a title fee, sales tax if it applies, a registration fee, and any local wheel tax or electric and hybrid vehicle surcharge [1]. If you’ve owned the vehicle 90 days or more, you list the purchase price as zero for sales tax; if you already paid sales tax elsewhere, you submit proof [1].

3. Emissions test in the southeast

If your vehicle is kept in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington or Waukesha county, it may need an emissions test [2]. Moving to Wisconsin can trigger it, with a 45-day window [1][2]. DMV sends a letter if your vehicle must be tested [1].

The test covers [2]:

• 1996 to 2006 gas, natural gas or hybrid vehicles under 8,501 pounds gross vehicle weight rating,
• 2007 and newer vehicles, including diesel, up to 14,000 pounds.

4. Get your Wisconsin driver license within 60 days

You have 60 days after establishing residence to get a Wisconsin license, and 30 days for a commercial license [1]. Applying takes an in-person visit to a DMV customer service center [1].

5. Register to vote

You can vote in Wisconsin if you’re a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, and have lived in your ward or election district for 28 consecutive days before the election [4]. Registration deadlines [5][6]:

• Online or by mail: closes on the third Wednesday before the election. Mail must be delivered or postmarked by then.
• At your municipal clerk’s office: open after that until 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election, or close of business if later.
• At your polling place on Election Day: Wisconsin law lets election officials register voters at the polls.

Quick checklist

• Get Wisconsin car insurance with at least 25/50/10 and uninsured motorist coverage.
• Change your address with the post office.
• Title and register your car right away; don’t keep your old plates.
• Get an emissions test within 45 days if you live in one of the seven southeast counties.
• Get your Wisconsin driver license within 60 days (30 for a CDL).
• Register to vote by the third Wednesday before the election, or later in person.