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Plate lookup · Wisconsin

Wisconsin License Plate Lookup

Enter a Wisconsin plate to find the vehicle's VIN, then decode it into year, make, model and factory specs.

Input · WI plates · cached lookups

US plates only. We find the VIN for the plate, then decode it.

VIN for the plate · waiting for a lookup17 positions · no I, O or Q
1–3 · WMIMaker & country—
4–8 · VDSModel, body, engine—
9Check—
10Year—
11Plant—
12–17 · SerialUnique to this vehicle—

If you’re a Wisconsin resident buying your first car, or if you’re moving to the state and planning to purchase a vehicle, you’ll need to navigate the application process for a title and vehicle license plates through the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), part of the state’s Department of Transportation. The specific procedures and requirements vary slightly depending on whether you’re already a Wisconsin resident or are new to the state. Owning a vehicle title and license plates is proof that you are the legal owner of the vehicle and have settled all necessary registration fees. To legally drive your new vehicle in Wisconsin, you must display the new license plates, or a temporary plate, within two business days from the date of purchase. When purchasing a car from a private seller, make sure to obtain the vehicle’s title with the previous owner’s signature.

The Milwaukee Mile

The Milwaukee Mile has been a pivotal race location for various types of racing, including NASCAR and IndyCar, showcasing Wisconsin’s deep connection to the motor sports industry. This historic track has seen many famous drivers and significant races over the years, reinforcing Wisconsin’s status as a key player in American auto racing history.

Find the Wisconsin License Plate Number

The easiest way to identify your Wisconsin license plate number is to refer to the license plate attached at the front and rear of your car. Or, you can also refer to the certificate of vehicle registration issued by the state DMV.

Wisconsin certificate of vehicle registration

How to Get License Plates in Wisconsin

If you’re a new resident, you’ll need to first apply for either a Wisconsin driver’s license or ID. Interestingly, you cannot have both. For the former, you can use your out-of-state driver’s license; getting a regular license requires you to apply for it within 60 days after establishing residence. As for the latter, head to any DMV branch to apply.

If you have an out-of-state REAL ID, you’ll need to refer to this page on the DMV’s website.

All applications are can be made via the DMV’s online service. You’ll need to consult the application’s restrictions before applying, and mail (not e-mail) all required documents to the DMV’s main office. For new applications, you’ll need to submit:

  • A copy of your Wisconsin driver’s license or ID
  • A copy of the vehicle title
  • Payment information

You can obtain a 90-day temporary registration while you wait for the plates to arrive; just visit any DMV office and provide them with the completed application form and the payment for associated fees. You’ll need to display the temporary plate within two business days of purchasing the car.

License plates are valid for a year, though specific vehicle types may have different validity periods. Further information can be found on the DMV’s very informative website.

Types of Wisconsin License Plates

Wisconsin has a great deal of different license plates you can apply for. We’ll illustrate a few in the following list.

Standard Plates: The standard license plate for most automobiles. The license plate format is comprised of 7 alphanumeric characters in the following format: ABC-1234.

Personalized P****lates: Applicable to automobiles, motor homes, motorcycles and trucks. There is an additional $15 personalized plate fee on top of the regular annual registration fee. You may use 1-7 characters (capital letters or numbers); for motorcycles, you may use 1-5 characters.

You can apply for one online if you don’t currently have license plates for your vehicle. Otherwise, all personalized plate applications need to be mailed to the state Department of Transporation (the DMV doesn’t process these applications).

Collector Plates: Applicable to “[a]ll motor vehicles 20 years or older that the body has not been altered from the original vehicle.” Owners of one or more vehicles registered with collector plates can also apply for collector special plates, applicable for “vehicles of any age used for general transportation.”

Antique Plates: Similar to collector plates, these are issued to vehicles with model year 1945 or earlier, and “has not been altered or modified from the original manufacturer’s specifications.”

Special Plates: There’s a large variety of other special plates you can choose from, such as conservation-related plates, organization-related plates, veteran plates, Wisconsin Salutes Veterans plates, and more.

Protecting Yourself from Automotive Fraud

According to the Insurance Information Institute, Wisconsin recorded 13,957 car thefts in 2024 which is a 41.5% surge from the previous year. The numbers are worrying and you could be a victim of purchasing stolen cars. Automotive fraud can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone.

Always know your legal rights as a consumer.

01API

Look up Wisconsin plates in your app

  • POST a plate with state=WI; get the VIN back
  • Decode that VIN on the same key: 22 fields per decode
  • BASIC includes 10 plate lookups a month, PRO 50, ULTRA 100; then $0.10 each
Get API key API docs
POST/api/v4/decode_plate
import os, requests

r = requests.post(
    "https://vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com/api/v4/decode_plate",
    data={"plate": "<plate>", "state": "WI"},
    headers={
        "X-RapidAPI-Key": os.environ["RAPIDAPI_KEY"],
        "X-RapidAPI-Host": "vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com",
    },
    timeout=10,
)
vin = r.json()["data"]["vin"]
02States

Other states

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