How to Transfer a Car Title After Divorce in Wisconsin

When your Wisconsin divorce decree awards a vehicle to one spouse, the certificate of title must be updated with the WisDOT DMV to reflect sole ownership. Until the title is transferred, the other spouse remains legally connected to the vehicle — liable for registration, potentially on the hook if the car is involved in an accident, and unable to fully separate from the joint ownership.

The good news: vehicle transfers between ex-spouses in Wisconsin are completely exempt from sales and use tax. The process is straightforward if you have the right documents.

What You Need

• The original certificate of title, signed on the back by the transferring spouse. Pay attention to how the names appear on the title: if both names are joined by "or," only one signature is needed. If joined by "and," both spouses must sign.
• A copy of the divorce decree showing the vehicle was awarded to the retaining spouse.
• Form MV1 (Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application), available at any DMV service center or through the eMV Public online portal.

If the original title has been lost, destroyed, or is illegible, the owner must first file Form MV2119 (Replacement Title Application) with a $20.00 fee to get a replacement before the transfer can proceed.

The Sales Tax Exemption

Select the "Ex-spouse" family transfer exemption on Form MV1. This exemption completely waives the standard Wisconsin sales and use tax that would otherwise apply to a vehicle transfer. You will need to provide the copy of your divorce decree as proof of eligibility.

The sales tax exemption does not waive the title transfer fee itself. As of October 1, 2025, the standard fee is $214.50. This fee applies regardless of the transfer exemption.

Online vs. In-Person

You can initiate the transfer through the DMV's eMV Public online portal, which handles most of the paperwork electronically. However, you will still need to mail or bring the signed physical title to the DMV. Many people find it simpler to handle the entire transaction in person at a DMV Customer Service Center.

Name Change on an Existing Title

If the vehicle was already titled solely in your name but you need to update the title to reflect a restored maiden name (from the divorce), you can submit your current physical title to the DMV for a corrected reissue. There is no fee if you mail the title in. An additional $5.00 counter service fee applies if you process the correction in person.

What About License Plates?

License plates in Wisconsin generally belong to the registered owner, not the vehicle. If you were a co-owner of the vehicle, the DMV allows a joint-to-single-owner plate transfer; an eligible unexpired transfer has no transfer fee. If the plate is not eligible for transfer, apply for new plates in your name.

Vehicles with Active Liens

If there is a loan on the vehicle, the DMV will not issue a clean sole title until the lender executes a formal lien release. This typically means the retaining spouse must refinance the auto loan individually to pay off the joint loan. Contact the lender early in the process — lien releases can take several weeks.

The Wisconsin After-Divorce Checklist includes vehicle transfer worksheets with a step-by-step DMV walkthrough, fee calculator, and document checklist so you can handle the title transfer in a single trip.

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