Wisconsin VIN Lookup

There are about 7.65 used car dealers for every 100,000 Wisconsin residents. Used cars in Wisconsin cost an average of $24,315 (approximately half the average price of a new one), making them an attractive option for many buyers, particularly first-time car owners. Notwithstanding this, it is crucial to take precautions when buying a used car in Wisconsin (or anywhere for that matter) to avoid purchasing one with hidden issues and potential safety concerns. This is especially important, considering that Wisconsin’s Lemon Law does not apply to used vehicles and the protection offered under the state’s Motor Vehicle Trade Practice Laws are limited to used cars purchased from a licensed dealer.

To this end, it is strongly recommended that you run a VIN lookup before finalizing any used car purchases (even when buying from a dealer). VIN lookups typically provide vital information about a vehicle’s history, including its title status, accident records, recall information, inspection history, and any existing liens. This knowledge helps you avoid unexpected costs, hidden damages, and potential scams, ensuring a safer and more reliable used car purchase.

Why Performing a Wisconsin VIN Check Is Important?

Vehicles are assigned a 17-digit code during manufacturing (pre-1981 vehicles may have less than 17 digits) known as a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This VIN acts as a unique identifier for the vehicle and can be used to access information on its features, history, and condition via a VIN check. Running a VIN check before buying a used car in Wisconsin is essential for several reasons, including:

• Registration and Title Verification: VIN checks can help you confirm if a used car has not only been properly registered following Wisconsin law, but that the seller also has the legal right to transfer the vehicle’s title (to you). Operating a vehicle that has not been properly titled and registered in Wisconsin is punishable by fines of up to $500, as well as other administrative penalties.
• Title Brands: VIN checks can also protect you from buying a car with hidden issues by revealing if the car’s title has outstanding liens, has been designated as “salvage,” “rebuilt,” or “flood-damaged,” or any other similar designations. Having a clear knowledge of a car’s title status is crucial in assessing its safety, reliability, and overall value.
• Theft Checks: Motor vehicle thefts are a serious issue across the country – the NHTSA estimates that a vehicle is stolen every 31 seconds. Even though Wisconsin’s motor vehicle theft rate of 168.1 per 100,000 residents is lower than the national average (318.7 per 100,000), it is still necessary to conduct due diligence when buying a used car in the state. By running a VIN check, you can verify if the used car you are interested in has been reported stolen and save yourself the legal and financial hassle of buying stolen property.
• Odometer Verification: According to the NHTSA, there is a 3.5% likelihood that a car's odometer has been tampered with. This fraudulent practice costs Wisconsin residents millions of dollars and particularly impacts those who can least afford costly repairs. You can avoid these unplanned expenses by using a VIN check to verify a car’s actual odometer reading; doing this also ensures that you do not end up overpaying for a vehicle with more wear and tear than its records suggest.
• Auto Fraud Prevention: Auto-related fraud is a significant issue in Wisconsin and is consistently included in the top ten list of consumer complaints filed across the state every year. A VIN check can help you uncover inconsistencies in a car’s disclosed history and documentation, including tampered odometers and washed titles.

How To Perform a Wisconsin VIN Check

Several government agencies provide resources that you can use to uncover critical details about a vehicle’s history using its VIN. These include:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): The NHTSA maintains a VIN Decoder tool that interested Wisconsin residents can use to perform VIN checks at no cost. This tool primarily focuses on the safety-related aspects of a vehicle and will typically return information about the car’s plant of manufacture, engine and transmission specifications, safety and crash test ratings, and recall notices. You may use either a full or partial VIN to perform a VIN check via the NHTSA’s VIN decoder.
• The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB): The NICB also provides a free VINCheck Lookup service that allows you to check if a car has been reported stolen or salvaged. Note that users are limited to five searches per IP address within a 24-hour period. You will also typically need to input the car's full VIN to run a check via this service.
• The Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): The Wisconsin DMV offers online vehicle services that can be used to verify title and lienholder information using a VIN. The division also offers access to a separate online platform that you can use to view the results of inspections conducted on a vehicle within the previous 30 months by using its VIN. You may contact the DMV at (608) 264-7447 for more information on this.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in Wisconsin

While several organizations, both government and private, offer free tools for performing VIN checks in Wisconsin, these free resources usually only provide basic information, which may not be adequate for an in-depth review of the vehicle, especially if it’s a used one.

To get a more detailed and comprehensive vehicle history report, you will typically need to utilize the services of a paid platform. Websites like GoodCar, Carfax, AutoCheck, and CarMart are examples of premium platforms that offer comprehensive vehicle history reports containing a wide array of information, like:

• Title brands
• Ownership records
• Title issues
• Vehicle specifications
• Odometer/mileage verification
• Accident history
• Rebuild records
• Service and maintenance records
• Inspection records
• Safety defects and recalls
• Sale History
• Retail, trade-in, and private-party pricing
• NHTSA crash test ratings, and much more!

What Used Car Scams Are Common in Wisconsin?

Whether its inadequate disclosures, deceptive advertisements, or falsified documents, car buyers in Wisconsin have to remain vigilant when transacting to avoid being taken advantage of by scammers. Common used car scams in Wisconsin include:

• Odometer Rollbacks: Tampering with a car’s odometer to make it appear as though it has been driven fewer miles than it actually has.
• Title Washing: Altering the title of a salvaged, flood-damaged, or rebuilt car to make it seem “clean.”
• VIN Cloning: Using the VIN from a legally registered car on another vehicle (usually stolen or salvaged) to mask its identity and make it seem legit.
• Curbstoning: Posing as a private seller to avoid regulations and offload cars, usually without any paperwork or contracts/warranties.
• Deceptive Adverts: Deliberately providing misleading information about a car’s condition, history, or price to trick buyers into making a purchase they might not otherwise consider.
• Undisclosed Liens: Failing to inform buyers about outstanding loans or liens on the vehicle; usually leaves the new owner responsible for paying off the debt.

The Wisconsin DMV recently issued a press release stating that it had withdrawn the licenses of more than 30 auto dealers for several offenses, including issuing false title statements and tampering with odometers. According to the DMV, two of the dealers involved had allegedly rolled back over 6 million miles in 64 cars.

Unfortunately, many buyers fall victim to these scams due to a lack of awareness or due diligence. To protect yourself when purchasing a used car in Wisconsin, consider the following precautions:

1. Do your research on the car(s) you’re interested in and familiarize yourself with the make, model, features, and estimated market value.
2. Insist on written documentation and review them properly, especially warranties, agreements, or contracts.
3. Always inspect the vehicle in person before making any payments. Consider taking it for a test drive and/or getting a trusted mechanic to examine it.
4. Use GoodCar or any other reputable platform to run a VIN check on the car and verify its car’s history and condition.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains a Lien Holder Search tool that you can use to check for lien holder information and ensure that there are no liens on the car or verify who the current lien holder on record is. The DMV also offers a separate Title Search tool that you can use to confirm if a car’s title has been processed; this tool will typically display the last date a title was processed for the vehicle in question. These tools are offered at no cost and you will typically need to input the car’s VIN (and any other required information) into designated search fields to initiate a search. Contact the DMV at (608) 264-7447 for more information.

How To Register a Brand New Car in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation oversees the state’s motor vehicle titling and registration process, through its Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Wisconsin dealerships are generally required to handle the titling and registration of cars purchased through them (on behalf of their customers). On the other hand, individuals who purchased their car from a private seller, were gifted the car, or recently moved to Wisconsin have to handle the registration process themselves. Note that you are required to initiate the registration process and obtain DMV-issued plates (permanent or temporary) within two business days of the purchase, gifting, or establishing residency (whichever is applicable) to legally operate the car.

Documents required to register a car in Wisconsin generally include (but are not limited to):

• The vehicle’s title
• A completed Title/License Plate (MV1) Application
• A valid ID
• A $164.50 titling fee, plus other applicable registration and license plate fees

Vehicle registration in Wisconsin may be initiated online or in person at a DMV Service Center; the division also partners with several third-party service providers that may facilitate the registration process on their behalf.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in Wisconsin?

There are about 5.7 million motor vehicles registered with the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Licensed car dealers in the state typically submit the registration paperwork to the DMV on behalf of their customers. For cars purchased via a private sale or received as a gift, you are required to initiate the registration process immediately and display Wisconsin license plates (permanent or temporary) on the car within two business days. The same is also required for new residents. The DMV offers several options for vehicle registration:

• Online via the DMV’s eMV Public system. Note that this option may not be available for everyone.
• In-person at a DMV Service Center or DMV-authorized title/registration service agent.
• Via mail-in.

You will typically need the following documents to register a new car in Wisconsin:

• The car’s properly assigned, original Certificate of Title. Note that, for cars bought through a private sale, the seller is also expected to submit a Seller Notification to the DMV within 30 days of the sale.
• A Title/License Plate (MV1) Application form. The DMV offers an online MV1 application that may be pre-filled and submitted – this application also helps calculate estimated registration fees.
• A valid ID.
• Applicable fees. These generally include a $164.50 titling fee, sales and local taxes, and registration/license plate fees.

Note that additional documentation, such as an odometer reading (for vehicles less than 20 model years old) and a lien release may be required. Also, while the DMV does not typically request proof of insurance, you must still carry adequate auto insurance and may be required to provide proof of this to law enforcement upon request.

Vehicle Registration Renewal

Vehicle registration in Wisconsin is usually valid for one year (however, the DMV may offer biennial, consecutive monthly, and quarterly registration periods for certain types of vehicles). The division will typically send you a renewal notice at least one month before your registration expires; you may also check the status of your registration using the DMV’s License Plate Search tool.

Renewals may be done online, in person at select DMV service centers and registration service providers, or by mailing your renewal notice (and applicable fees) to the address indicated on the notice. You will be charged the regular registration fees, including applicable taxes. Note that a late fee applies for renewals done after the registration expiration date.

Does Wisconsin Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

Per the provisions of Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 110, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (through its Division of Motor Vehicles) administers a vehicle inspection program that mandates emissions tests for certain cars operated or kept in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha Counties. These include:

• Cars with auto or light truck license plates
• Cars from model years 1996 – 2006 that weigh less than 8,501 pounds
• Cars from model year 2007 and above that weigh up to 14,000 pounds

Emissions testing in these counties is carried out to ensure that National Ambient Air Quality Standards are attained and maintained. The emissions test must be done within 45 days of buying and registering a car, amending a car’s title (by removing or adding an owner), or transferring a car from out of state. Emissions testing is also usually required (for applicable cars) every other year, during the car’s registration renewal. The testing generally involves an inspection of the vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostic (OBDII) computer systems but also includes a verification of the car’s VIN and odometer reading.

Be aware that, per state law, motor vehicle inspectors and traffic officers in Wisconsin may also require your vehicle to undergo a safety inspection if they deem it necessary.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin DMV does not typically issue replacement VINs; however, it may assign a new VIN for homemade vehicles. The process for obtaining a Wisconsin-assigned VIN generally involves submitting an application to the division and passing an inspection. You may get more information by contacting the DMV at (608) 264-7447 or by sending an inquiry online.

Does Wisconsin Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

While VIN inspections are not specifically required for registering out-of-state vehicles in Wisconsin, the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) typically verifies the VINs of these vehicles during the registration process. VIN verifications are also usually a part of the emissions tests that are required in select counties.