Wisconsin title answers · Forms and paperwork
Who has to sign a Wisconsin title application?
Short answer
Every person listed as an owner in Section A of form MV1 signs the application, whether the title will say AND or OR. The seller does not sign the MV1; the seller signs the assignment on the old title. If any owner is under 18, a parent, guardian or legal custodian also signs the consent in Section H in front of a notary. A missing signature is one of the reasons WisDOT says applications take longer.
Two documents, two sets of signatures
Most title mix-ups come from treating the title and the application as one thing. They are not.
The old certificate of title is signed by the seller in the assignment section. If the title says AND between two owners, both sign; if it says OR, either one can. Under Wis. Stat. 342.155 the buyer also prints their name and signs the odometer statement on that title.
The MV1 is your application for a new title. WisDOT's instructions say the owners shown in Section A must sign it. That is the new owners only.
Signatures by situation
The same rule bends a little depending on what you are filing:
- Two buyers on an AND or OR title: both sign the MV1. The AND or OR choice only decides who must sign when you sell later.
- Leased vehicle: the MV1 has lessee fields, and the signature line reads owner or lessee.
- Owner under 18: the minor signs as owner, and Section H is signed by a parent, guardian or legal custodian with a notary.
- Bonded title: you sign the MV2082 bonded application and its written statement, and you still sign the MV1 that goes with it.
- Replacement title: only the owner of record signs the MV2119, or the lender for loans recorded on or after July 30, 2012.
Where applications come back unsigned
WisDOT says applications missing proper signatures, information or documents take longer, and it contacts you about what is missing. Three things to look for: a co-owner who never signed the MV1, a Section H with no notary stamp, and a seller signature outside the assignment section of the title.
Check signatures last, right before the envelope is sealed. If the co-owner lives elsewhere, mail them the MV1 to sign rather than signing for them. WisDOT does not publish general guidance on one owner signing for another.
Signatures on the title that go with your application
The MV1 is only half of the package. WisDOT will look at the signed title you send with it, so check the seller's side too before mailing.
Every seller listed with AND has signed, or at least one with OR. The buyer's printed name and signature appear on the odometer statement where the title asks for them. If the vehicle passed through owners who never titled it, WisDOT's bond FAQ says each in-between owner's signature or a bill of sale is needed to rebuild the chain. A gap there is what turns a simple transfer into a bonded title.
Does anything need a notary?
Not the regular signatures. WisDOT's MV1 only has a notary block in Section H, the consent for an owner under 18. Other states' titles can have their own rules, so read the back of an out-of-state title before the seller signs it.
Common questions
Can I sign the MV1 for my spouse?
The MV1 instructions say each owner in Section A must sign. Have your spouse sign, or leave them off as an owner.
Does the seller sign anything besides the title?
Not the MV1. The seller signs the assignment and the odometer statement on the title they hand you.
What if a business is the buyer?
The MV1 lists the business as owner with its FEIN. The form does not spell out who signs for a business, so ask WisDOT before you send it.
Do I sign in blue or black ink?
The MV1 says to complete it in blue or black ink. Use the same for every signature.
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 →Can a minor own a car in Wisconsin?
Yes. A minor can own a car in Wisconsin, but a parent or legal custodian must sign the notarized Consent to Purchase (Section H) on form MV1.
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 →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 →WisDOT sent my title application back. What now?
It usually means one missing item: a signature, odometer reading, lien release, ID number or fee. Fix only what the notice flags and resend.
Read this guide →Can someone sign a Wisconsin title for you with a power of attorney?
Wisconsin lets an owner's agent sign a title, but an odometer power of attorney works only while a lender holds the title, on WisDOT's secure form.
Read this guide →Sources, checked 2026-10-31: WisDOT: Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application (MV1) · WisDOT: Replacement Title Application (MV2119) · WisDOT: Application for Bonded Certificate of Title (MV2082) · WisDOT: Title and plate status · Wis. Stat. ch. 342 (342.155 odometer disclosure). 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.