Wisconsin title answers · Forms and paperwork
Do you have to change your name on your car title after marriage in Wisconsin?
Short answer
No. WisDOT says you do not have to get a corrected title after a name change. Once your driver license or ID shows the new name, DMV's record for you updates, and the next title or registration it issues to you carries the new name. If you want the title changed sooner, mail or bring in your current title; there is no charge by mail.
The order that makes it easy
WisDOT ties everything to your driver license or ID record, so the vehicle side follows the license. The order matters:
One practical point: WisDOT gives you a receipt at the counter that works as identification until the new card arrives by mail, within 7 to 10 business days. Your vehicle record follows the license record, so there is nothing separate to file for the car.
- Change your name with the Social Security Administration first, using your marriage certificate or other proof.
- Wait about 48 hours so DMV can verify the new name with Social Security.
- Visit a DMV customer service center for a replacement license (form MV3001) or ID card (form MV3004), with proof of identity and proof of the name change.
- That updates your DMV base record. Titles, registrations and Confirmations of Ownership issued after that use the new name.
If you want the new name on the title now
Some people want the paper to match, for example before selling or refinancing. WisDOT's name change page says to mail in or bring in your current title, and there is no charge when you do it by mail. The page does not name a form or a mailing address for this, so ask WisDOT's DMV email service what to include and where to send it before your original title goes in an envelope. Update your license first, since the title follows that record.
If there is a loan on the car, you probably do not have the title. Since July 30, 2012, Wisconsin sends the title to the lender and gives the owner a Confirmation of Ownership. Check the lien search and contact your lender for the title.
A name change is not adding a spouse
This trips people up after a wedding. Changing your own name on a car you already own is a records update. Adding your new spouse to the title is different. WisDOT says adding or removing a co-owner is a transfer of ownership, which needs a properly reassigned title, an MV1 application and a lien release if one applies.
Decide which you actually want before you mail anything. Sending the title in for a name update and hoping WisDOT also adds your spouse just gets it sent back.
What not to use
The Title/Registration Correction Request, form MV1020, is for errors on a title or registration WisDOT recently issued, such as a wrong color or a typo. A legal name change is not an error, so MV1020 is the wrong form. A misspelled name is a correction; a new married name is not.
Common questions
Does it cost anything?
WisDOT says there is no charge to update the title by mail. Its page lists no fee for an in-person request either way, so ask at the counter.
Will my registration renewal show the new name?
Yes, once your license or ID record has the new name. WisDOT says the next registration it issues will reflect it.
Does this apply to a divorce name change too?
Yes. WisDOT's name change page covers any legal name change, not only marriage.
Can I sell the car while the title shows my old name?
The title does not need to be updated first. If you are unsure how to sign the seller section, ask WisDOT before you sign, because mistakes on a title are hard to undo.
I have a loan. Will my Confirmation of Ownership update?
WisDOT says the next title, registration or Confirmation of Ownership it issues to you will reflect the new name. The lender holds the actual title until the loan is paid off.
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
How do you add someone to a car title in Wisconsin?
There is no add-a-name form. Sign the title over to both names, file form MV1, pick AND or OR, and pay the $214.50 title fee.
Read this guide →How do you fix a misspelled name on a Wisconsin title?
Mail form MV1020 with the current title (or Confirmation of Ownership) to WisDOT. If the seller wrote the wrong buyer name, use MV2489.
Read this guide →What do you do if you make a mistake on a Wisconsin title?
A wrong name or mileage in the buyer, lien or odometer area: form MV2489 with the original title. Used White-Out: a $20 replacement title instead.
Read this guide →How do you change your address on a Wisconsin title and registration?
Update your address with WisDOT online or on form MV3058 within 10 days of moving. You do not need a new title or registration card.
Read this guide →How do you get your title after paying off a car loan in Wisconsin?
Usually automatic: the lender releases the lien and WisDOT mails your title. No fee; allow up to six weeks. Older or private loans need a mailed release.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT: Name change · WisDOT: Title/registration correction request · WisDOT: Lien holder search · WisDOT: Form MV1020, Title/Registration Correction Request. 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.