Wisconsin title answers · Selling and buying
Can you sell a car with a bonded title in Wisconsin?
Short answer
Yes. WisDOT's bonded title FAQ says a vehicle can be sold once the bonded title is issued, and you sign it over like any Wisconsin title. The part sellers miss is the bond: it has to stay in good standing after the sale, because a cancelled bond can lead WisDOT to suspend the title and registration, now in your buyer's name. What you cannot sell is a title you do not have yet, so wait until the bonded title is in your hands.
Selling before versus after the title is issued
Timing matters. Until WisDOT has issued the bonded title, you have nothing to assign to a buyer. Selling during the process means handing your buyer an unfinished application, a bill of sale, and the job of starting over in their own name. The research, valuation and bond request were all done for you as the applicant.
Once the bonded title is issued, the sale is an ordinary Wisconsin transfer. You complete the seller section on the title, the buyer applies for a title in their name, and WisDOT records the change.
What the buyer pays and receives
The buyer pays WisDOT the standard title fee of $214.50 ($207 plus a $7.50 supplemental fee under Wis. Stat. 342.14), plus sales tax and any registration they choose. The bond does not need to be repurchased by the buyer.
The buyer's title will still show BOND POSTED until the 5-year period ends. WisDOT sends its end-of-term letter to whoever owns the vehicle then, so the buyer, not you, would get the clean title.
Keep the bond in good standing after you sell
This is the part sellers forget. You bought the bond as the principal, and some sureties let you pay the premium in installments. WisDOT's FAQ says that if it is told the bond was cancelled, it will tell the current owner a new bond is needed or the original one must be brought back to good standing to avoid suspension of the title and registration.
So if you are paying monthly or annually, keep paying until the term ends. Letting it lapse could leave your buyer with a suspended title, and you with an unhappy buyer.
Disclosures to make
Wis. Stat. 342.15 requires a seller to disclose in writing certain history listed in 342.10(3), such as prior salvage, flood damage, or use as a taxi or police car. WisDOT's selling page warns of penalties up to $5,000 for failing to disclose title brand information.
The bond brand is printed on the title itself, so the buyer will see it. It still helps to explain it in plain words and show the WisDOT bond letter and the bond, so the buyer understands what it means and when it ends.
The signing mistakes that cost a second trip
A bonded title is signed over exactly like any other Wisconsin title, which means the usual mistakes apply. WisDOT's selling page lists what the seller completes on the back of the title:
- Your signature and the date in the selling owner area. If the bonded title lists two owners joined by AND, both sign.
- The odometer reading for a model year 2011 or newer vehicle, marked actual, not actual, or in excess of mechanical limits.
- The brand disclosure area, the selling price, and the buyer's name and address.
- Then take your plates off a car or light truck. They stay with you, not the vehicle.
Step by step
- Wait until WisDOT has issued the bonded title.
- Complete the seller section of the title and give the buyer a bill of sale.
- Make the written disclosures Wisconsin requires and explain the bond brand.
- Keep the bond paid and in force until the 5-year term ends.
Common questions
Can I sell the car while my bonded title application is pending?
You can sell the vehicle, but you cannot assign a title you have not received. The buyer would need to start their own process, so most sellers wait for the title.
Does the buyer need their own bond?
No. The bond covers the vehicle's title for the term. The buyer gets a title with the brand, and the existing bond stays in place.
Can I sell a bonded-title car to someone in another state?
Yes. The statute even allows the bond to end early if the vehicle is no longer registered in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin title is surrendered to WisDOT. The other state's own rules on branded titles apply on their side.
Will the price be lower?
It may be, depending on the buyer. A bonded title is still far easier to sell than no title, and the brand comes off after 5 years.
Want us to do the paperwork?
You tell us your situation. We fill out the WisDOT forms for it and give you a checklist of what to include. You review, sign and mail the package yourself.
If the state asks for a bond, you buy it from a licensed surety of your choosing. We take no commission.
- ✓ $299, one flat fee, bonded titles included
- ✓ Track your case online
- ✓ The application is in your name from the start
State fees are paid to WisDOT. Any bond premium is paid to the surety you choose.
Prefer to fill out the forms yourself? The $97 do-it-yourself kit walks you through every form field, the real costs, and the 12 reasons packets get rejected.
Related answers
No title for your car in Wisconsin
Which path fits: replacement, bonded title, or neither.
Read this guide →Does a bonded title hurt a car's resale value?
Somewhat, while the BOND POSTED brand is on the title (5 years in Wisconsin). It still sells far better than no title, and the brand comes off.
Read this guide →How do you sign over a car title in Wisconsin?
Seller signs and dates the back of the title, writes mileage (2011 or newer), price and buyer's name, and gives a lien release if a loan is listed.
Read this guide →What happens after 5 years with a bonded title in Wisconsin?
After 5 years WisDOT writes to the current owner about getting a title without the BOND POSTED brand, and the bond goes back to the surety.
Read this guide →Selling a car without a title
What a Wisconsin buyer will need from you.
Read this guide →What do you do after selling a car in Wisconsin?
Take your plates off, file seller notification within 30 days (VIN, buyer, price, date), keep copies, and cancel plates with MV2514 if you left them on.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT: FAQ, Wisconsin's bonded title process (BVS850) · WisDOT: Purchased or received a vehicle without a title (bonded title) · Wis. Stat. 342.14, title fees · Wis. Stat. 342.15, transfer of a vehicle and required disclosures · Wis. Stat. 342.12, withholding certificate of title; bond. Rules can change; confirm with WisDOT before you file.
TitleFiled is a document-preparation and title-recovery assistance service operated by Nuvent66 LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any DMV or government agency, including the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). We do not guarantee that any agency will approve or issue a title. Information on this page is provided for general reference, was verified against official WisDOT sources on the date shown, and is not legal advice.