Wisconsin title answers · Inherited and family
What if a co-owner will not sign the car title in Wisconsin?
Short answer
Look at the word between the names. If the title says OR, WisDOT lets any one owner sign, so you may not need the other person at all. If it says AND, every owner must sign, and WisDOT has no form that replaces a living co-owner's signature. At that point the options are an agreement, or a court deciding ownership and WisDOT acting on the court's paperwork.
OR: you may be able to sign alone
Wis. Stat. 342.15(1)(d) lets one person transfer a vehicle when the owners are listed in the alternative, with OR between the names. WisDOT's selling page says the same thing in plain terms: if the names are joined by OR, any one owner may sign.
That does not settle who is entitled to the money or the car between the two of you. It only means WisDOT will accept one signature on the title.
AND: every owner signs
With AND, WisDOT requires all owners to sign to transfer ownership. There is no affidavit or WisDOT form that lets one AND owner sign for the other.
Do not sign the other person's name. WisDOT's Statement of Intent form (MV2489) prints the warning from Wis. Stat. 342.06(2): a knowingly false statement in a title application can bring a fine of up to $5,000, prison of up to 7 years and 6 months, or both.
People also try to get around this by taking the other name off the title. WisDOT's correction form says adding or deleting a co-owner is treated as a transfer of ownership, so it needs a properly reassigned title, which on an AND title means the other owner's signature again. Changing AND to OR on the correction form also asks for the current title and all signatures.
Why a bonded title will not fix this
People sometimes ask whether a bonded title gets around a co-owner. It does not. The bonded process is for vehicles where you cannot prove ownership the usual way. The MV2082 instructions say WisDOT first looks for an active title record, and if it finds one in Wisconsin, it notifies you and has you request the prior owner information on form MV2896. A car with a current title naming a living co-owner already has its answer on file.
When the other owner has died
If the co-owner who "won't sign" has actually died, the rules change. WisDOT's family guide says that on an AND title the surviving co-owner and the decedent's legal representative both sign as seller. A surviving spouse or domestic partner can use form MV2300. Our page on surviving spouses covers that route.
If it becomes a legal dispute
When owners cannot agree, the dispute belongs in court, not at WisDOT. In a divorce, that is the family court that divided the property. Wisconsin's title law has a section for ownership that passes other than by voluntary transfer (Wis. Stat. 342.17): the new owner sends WisDOT the last title if available, the documents WisDOT requires, and a new title application. Ask WisDOT what court paperwork it needs before you file anything. Whether to go to court, and which court, is a question for someone who can give you legal advice; we cannot.
Step by step
- Read the word between the owner names on the title.
- If it says OR, sign as the selling owner and complete the rest of the title as usual.
- If it says AND, ask the other owner in writing to sign, and keep a copy of what you sent.
- If they still refuse, ask WisDOT what court paperwork it accepts before anyone goes to court.
Common questions
The other owner has the title and won't hand it over. What then?
Order a replacement on MV2119 only if you understand it will list the same owners, joined the same way. It gives you a title to work with, but on an AND title you still need their signature to transfer.
Can I switch the title from AND to OR without them?
No. The and/or correction on form MV1020 asks for the current title and all signatures, so the other owner has to take part.
Is a co-owner liable after a sale they did not sign?
On an OR title, one signature is enough for WisDOT. Questions about liability between the owners are legal questions outside what WisDOT decides.
Does a replacement title let me drop the other owner?
No. MV2119 says the names on a replacement title will match what WisDOT already has on file, AND or OR included.
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
What does AND versus OR mean on a Wisconsin title?
AND means every owner on a Wisconsin title must sign to sell. OR means any one owner can. The word also decides what happens after a death.
Read this guide →How do you change a car title after a divorce in Wisconsin?
After a Wisconsin divorce, the ex signs the title to whoever got the car, who files MV1. A decree awarding the car can support a sales tax exemption.
Read this guide →How do you remove a name from a car title in Wisconsin?
A living co-owner comes off by signing the title over and filing MV1 ($214.50). A deceased owner comes off with MV2300; a spouse pays no title fee.
Read this guide →How does a surviving spouse transfer a car title in Wisconsin?
A Wisconsin surviving spouse or domestic partner mails MV2300, the title and MV1. No title fee, up to five newer vehicles, and plates can stay.
Read this guide →Can you replace a lost title that is in someone else's name in Wisconsin?
Only the owner on WisDOT's record (or the lender on a post-2012 loan) can get a $20 replacement. If that owner won't or can't, the route is a bonded title.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT: Selling your vehicle · WisDOT form MV1, Title and License Plate Application (PDF) · WisDOT form MV2489, Statement of Intent (PDF) · WisDOT form MV2082, Application for Bonded Certificate of Title (PDF) · WisDOT: Guide for family members of the recently deceased (BDS367) · Wis. Stat. 342.15 (transfer of interest in a vehicle) · Wis. Stat. 342.17 (involuntary transfers, including decedents) · WisDOT: Replace your title, plates or stickers. 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.