Wisconsin title answers · Vehicle types
Do mopeds need a title in Wisconsin?
Short answer
Yes. WisDOT says moped owners are required to apply for a Wisconsin title, and a moped must have plates to be driven. Moped plates cost $23 and run two years, expiring in April of even-numbered years. Electric bicycles, electric scooters and mini bikes are a different story: WisDOT does not title or register them.
Is your machine legally a moped?
This is the question that decides everything. WisDOT's MV1 defines a moped by speed and engine size:
- A top speed of 30 mph or less, and
- An engine of 50 cc or less with an automatic transmission, or
- 130 cc or less if it is a bicycle-type machine with working pedals.
What is not a moped
A scooter that goes faster than 30 mph or has a bigger engine than the moped limits is not a moped. WisDOT titles and plates it as a motorcycle, with the motorcycle rules that come with that. For a true moped, WisDOT says anyone with a valid Class D license can drive it.
At the other end, WisDOT says it does not title or register electric bikes, that electric scooters cannot be titled or registered with the DMV, and that mini bikes, pocket rockets and similar machines are not intended for roads, so the DMV does not regulate their licensing or registration.
Titling a moped you just bought
With a title signed over by the seller, mopeds go through the normal process. Form MV1 has a moped plate type, and WisDOT's eMV Public online service lists mopeds as eligible for online title and plates. The title fee is $214.50, the same as for a car, plus the $23 plate fee and sales tax.
Before you pay, check the paperwork the same way you would for a car. WisDOT's online title page says never to buy a vehicle without a title signed by the previous owner, and if a lender is listed on the title and the loan is paid off, you also need a lien release. Make sure the VIN on the title matches the one stamped on the moped.
Where moped buyers get stuck
The most common one is the box on the MV1 for motorcycles and mopeds. It asks you to certify that the machine was made for highway use and displays the federal certification label, and the form warns that the entire application comes back if the box is not checked. Many cheap imported scooters were never certified for road use, so look for the label on the frame before you hand over money.
The second is engine size. A seller's ad that says "moped" means nothing to WisDOT. If the engine is over the moped limits, you are buying a motorcycle, which needs a Class M license to ride, and the title and plates follow the motorcycle rules.
The third is the title fee. People expect a small fee for a small machine. It is the same $214.50 as a car.
A moped with no title
Because WisDOT titles mopeds, a moped sold without a title gets the same fix as any WisDOT-titled vehicle: a bonded title application on form MV2082 with form MV1, photos of all four sides and the VIN, and a statement of how you got it.
On most mopeds the bond will be the $2,500 minimum. WisDOT sets it at 1.5 times the value it assigns, so the bond only rises above $2,500 if that value is over about $1,667. Buy the bond only after WisDOT's letter gives you the amount. If you would rather not do the forms yourself, TitleFiled prepares them for $299 or sells a $97 do-it-yourself kit; you sign and mail them either way.
Common questions
How much are moped plates in Wisconsin?
$23 for a two-year registration. Moped plates expire on the last day of April in even-numbered years.
Do I need a motorcycle license for a moped?
No. WisDOT says anyone with a valid Class D driver license can drive a moped.
My scooter is 150 cc. Is it a moped?
No. Over 50 cc with an automatic transmission, it does not meet the moped definition, so it is titled and plated as a motorcycle.
Does my electric bike need a title?
No. WisDOT says it does not title or register electric bikes, and no driver license is required to ride one.
I lost the title to a moped that is already in my name. Do I need a bond?
No. A replacement title for a vehicle already titled to you is form MV2119, and the fee is $20.
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
Wisconsin motorcycle titles
No-title motorcycles and the bonded path.
Read this guide →How much is a bonded title for a motorcycle in Wisconsin?
$214.50 title fee, sales tax, $23 for two-year plates, plus a bond premium (often about $85 to $125 for a $2,500 to $6,000 bond).
Read this guide →Do dirt bikes need a title in Wisconsin?
No. An off-road dirt bike in Wisconsin gets a DNR registration, not a WisDOT title. Only motorcycles built for highway use are titled.
Read this guide →Can you title a golf cart in Wisconsin?
No. WisDOT says golf carts cannot be registered for public roads, so there is no title. A certified low-speed vehicle is titled on form MV14.
Read this guide →How long does a bonded title take in Wisconsin?
Plan on several weeks. A Wisconsin bonded title is two mailings: your packet, WisDOT's bond letter, your bond purchase, then the bond goes in.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT: Motorcycle, moped and other two-wheeled vehicles · WisDOT: Motorcycle and moped license plates · WisDOT: Form MV1 · WisDOT: Form MV2082 · WisDOT: Title and register your vehicle with eMV Public. 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.