Wisconsin title answers · Forms and paperwork
What does a Wisconsin vehicle bill of sale need to include?
Short answer
For an ordinary sale of a titled vehicle, Wisconsin does not require a bill of sale; the signed title does the work. WisDOT still suggests one and lists what it should include: make, year, model, VIN, odometer reading, both parties' names, addresses and phone numbers, both signatures, the price and the date. Where people get caught is the car with no title: then the bill of sale becomes core evidence for a bonded title, and WisDOT's bonded application expects it to show the year, make and VIN and carry both signatures.
The checklist WisDOT gives
WisDOT's Sell your vehicle page says a bill of sale is not required, and it offers form MV2928, Instructions for Selling a Vehicle, as a convenience. Another WisDOT page adds that MV2928 is not a valid bill of sale for a motor vehicle, so most people simply write their own. WisDOT lists these items for one:
- Vehicle make, year and model
- Vehicle identification number (VIN), all 17 characters on modern vehicles
- Odometer reading
- Buyer's and seller's names, addresses and phone numbers
- Buyer's and seller's signatures
- Selling price
- Date sold
When the bill of sale really matters
With a properly signed title, the bill of sale is a receipt. Without a title, it is evidence. WisDOT's bonded title application, form MV2082, asks you to submit any previously issued title or registration documents, or a bill of sale if available. The MV2082 instructions say the bill of sale should list the year, make and VIN and carry the signatures of the seller and the purchaser.
Write the VIN by reading it off the vehicle itself, not from an ad or a registration card, and check it twice. A bill of sale with a transposed VIN digit points to a different vehicle. Use the seller's full legal name as it appears on their ID or old registration, so it lines up with any earlier title or registration paperwork you have.
A bill of sale for a car with no title
If the seller cannot hand you a title, ask why before money changes hands, and write the answer into the bill of sale. A line such as 'title lost, seller to apply for a replacement' or 'seller never titled the vehicle' tells WisDOT later how the gap happened. The MV2082 written statement asks you to explain how you got the vehicle without a title and what you did to try to get one, so a bill of sale that already records this saves you from reconstructing it from memory.
Keep the original bill of sale in a safe place and send WisDOT a clear copy unless a letter asks for the original. Keep copies of everything you mail.
Helpful additions
Nothing on WisDOT's list asks for these, but they make the record stronger if questions come up later:
- A line stating the vehicle is sold as is, if that is the deal
- Whether a title was handed over, and if not, why not
- How you paid (cash, check number, app transfer) and a copy of that record
- A photo of the seller's ID, taken with their permission
Price and taxes
Put the real price on the bill of sale. The buyer pays sales tax on the purchase price when titling, the MV1 warns that understating the price is a crime, and WisDOT says the Department of Revenue investigates suspiciously low sale prices. A bill of sale that matches the MV1 avoids questions.
If you are holding a bill of sale but no title, our $97 kit walks through how to use it in a Wisconsin bonded title application.
Common questions
Is there an official Wisconsin bill of sale form?
Not a required one. WisDOT offers MV2928, Instructions for Selling a Vehicle, for convenience, but one of its own pages says that form is not a valid bill of sale. A handwritten or typed bill of sale with the listed details works as your record.
Does a bill of sale replace the title?
No. A buyer needs the signed title to transfer ownership normally. A bill of sale alone points toward the bonded title process.
Should the odometer reading be on the bill of sale?
WisDOT lists it as an item to include. For model year 2011 and newer vehicles, the seller must also disclose the reading on the title itself.
Is a Junked Vehicle Bill of Sale the same thing?
No. WisDOT form MV2459 is for vehicles going to salvage dealers, and it says no title will be issued for that vehicle.
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
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized in Wisconsin?
No. WisDOT does not require a notarized bill of sale or a notarized title signature for adults. The only notary step is for owners under 18.
Read this guide →Can you get a title with just a bill of sale in Wisconsin?
No. A bill of sale alone will not get a regular Wisconsin title. It supports a bonded title application (MV2082), which is how you title the car.
Read this guide →Can you get a bonded title without a bill of sale in Wisconsin?
Yes. WisDOT's MV2082 asks for a bill of sale only if you have one. Without it, your written statement carries the case. Here is what to put in it.
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 →The $97 do-it-yourself kit
Every form field, the real costs, and why packets get returned.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT: Sell your vehicle · WisDOT: Selling a vehicle, points to remember (MV2928 note) · WisDOT: MV2082 Application for Bonded Certificate of Title · WisDOT: MV1 Title/License Plate Application · WisDOT: MV2459 Junked Vehicle Bill of Sale. 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.