Wisconsin title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Wisconsin
The short answer
In Wisconsin, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT) before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Wisconsin sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Wisconsin ask of sellers?
In Wisconsin, a replacement title (form MV2119) costs $20, and you file the Seller notification within 30 days. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- License plates
- The seller removes the plates (except on heavy trucks, farm trucks, mopeds and trailers, where plates stay with the vehicle) and may transfer unexpired plates to a similar vehicle; plates are not returned to DMV.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
Wisconsin replacement titles come from the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT), using form MV2119 (Replacement Title Application), for a fee of $20. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Wisconsin.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT) can tell you which estate papers Wisconsin accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Report the sale to Wisconsin (Seller notification, within 30 days), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
- Plates: The seller removes the plates (except on heavy trucks, farm trucks, mopeds and trailers, where plates stay with the vehicle) and may transfer unexpired plates to a similar vehicle; plates are not returned to DMV.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT) before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Wisconsin?
Usually not. In Wisconsin you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT). Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Wisconsin when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Wisconsin?
Apply to the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT) with form MV2119 (Replacement Title Application), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $20, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in Wisconsin with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.