Wisconsin title answers · Inherited and family
Can a minor own a car in Wisconsin?
Short answer
Yes, a minor can own a car in Wisconsin, as sole owner or alongside a parent. If any owner on the title application (form MV1) is under 18, a parent with custody, guardian or legal custodian must sign the Consent to Purchase in Section H. That section has a notary block, and an unsigned or unnotarized Section H is the usual reason these applications come back. Signing the consent does not, by itself, make the adult liable for the teen's driving.
What the law requires
Wis. Stat. 341.08(6) covers registration applications from anyone under 18. The application has to come with a statement signed by a parent who has custody of the minor, or by the person who has custody if neither parent does, saying the minor has their consent to register the vehicle in the minor's name.
WisDOT builds this into its Title and License Plate Application (MV1). The instructions say that if an owner is under 18, you also complete Section H. In Section H, a legal custodian, parent or guardian certifies that they have legal custody and consent to the purchase and registration in the minor's name. The section includes a notary public block, so plan on getting it notarized before you mail it.
Minor as sole owner or co-owner
MV1 has an owner and a co-owner line. A teenager can be the only owner, or a parent can be listed with them. Whoever is listed in Section A signs the application, and the AND or OR box between the names decides whether both must sign when the car is sold later.
With AND, the minor and the parent both sign any future transfer. With OR, either one can. Families who want a parent to keep control often choose AND for that reason.
What the consent does and does not do
Under 341.08(6), signing the consent statement does not, by that act alone, make the adult liable for the minor's negligence or misconduct while driving. Other liability questions are for an insurer or a lawyer, not WisDOT.
Where these applications get sent back
Most problems with a minor's title come from Section H, not from the car. Check these before you mail anything.
- Section H left blank because the parent is listed as co-owner. If any owner is under 18, Section H is still required, even when a parent is also on the title.
- Consent signed by the wrong adult. The statute calls for a parent who has custody, or the person with custody if neither parent does. A stepparent or grandparent without legal custody does not fit.
- No notary. The consent signature sits next to a notary block on the form. Sign it in front of the notary, not before you get there.
- Seller's side not finished. The minor's application still needs the original title signed over by the seller, with the odometer reading and price filled in.
- Payment made out wrong. Checks go to Registration Fee Trust.
Everything else is the same as any title
The title fee is $214.50 when ownership changes. Sales tax rules are the same, including WisDOT's listed exemptions for certain family transfers and no-money gifts. If a parent gives the car, a gift between living family members does not get the title fee waiver; that waiver is only for transfers after a death.
Plates cannot move from a parent to a child; MV1 says plates transfer only between spouses or domestic partners. The minor needs new plates on the MV1.
Step by step
- Fill out MV1 with the minor as owner, or the minor and a parent as owner and co-owner, and choose AND or OR.
- Have the parent with custody, guardian or legal custodian complete Section H, Consent to Purchase.
- Sign Section H in front of a notary so the notary block can be completed.
- Mail MV1, the signed title and the fees to WI Dept. of Transportation, P.O. Box 7949, Madison WI 53707-7949.
Common questions
Does the consent have to be notarized?
Section H of MV1 puts a notary block right beside the consent signature. Complete it so WisDOT does not mail the application back to you.
Can a grandparent sign the consent?
The statute names a parent with custody, or the person with custody if neither parent has it. A grandparent qualifies only as the legal custodian or guardian.
Does a minor need a driver license to own a car?
MV1 does not require the owner to hold a license. It asks for a Social Security number or a Wisconsin driver license number to identify each owner.
Can a minor buy a car with a bonded title?
The bonded application, MV2082, is filed with MV1, so the same Section H consent applies when an owner on the MV1 is under 18.
Is there an extra fee for a minor owner?
MV1 lists no separate fee for the consent section. The usual title, plate and tax amounts apply.
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 →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 gift a car to a family member in Wisconsin?
Sign the title over with a $0 price, your relative files MV1 and pays the $214.50 title fee. A no-money gift can be exempt from sales tax.
Read this guide →What is Wisconsin form MV1?
MV1 is Wisconsin's Title and License Plate Application: it puts a vehicle in your name and gets plates. What each section asks and where to mail 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 →How much does it cost to transfer a title in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin title transfer fee is $214.50. Add 5% state sales tax, any county or city tax, and $85 for car plates. How to total it up.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT form MV1, Title and License Plate Application (PDF) · Wis. Stat. 341.08(6) (applicants under 18) · Wis. Stat. 342.14 (title fees and waivers) · WisDOT: eMV Public FAQs, purchase price and tax exemptions · WisDOT: Vehicle title fees. Rules can change; confirm with WisDOT before you file.
TitleSolved 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.