Buying car from private party in MN - as WI resident (sales, transfer to)

[hellowi]

Hello,

I am hoping for some help here. I currently live in Wisconsin. I found a good deal on a car from a private party in Minnesota. Can somebody explain to me how the process works to get the title from MN and then transfer it to WI with a private party sale?

What documentation do I need? What fees apply and to what state? Do I have to transfer in MN, then do a second transfer to WI? Sorry for the dumb questions, but I am a little confused. I would love just a concise list of what is needed, but so far have come up short of that when googling.

Thank you.

[Corn-fused]

This might help answer your questions:
https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/used-ca...t-of-state.php

[Rynldsbr]

It is actually quite simple. You pay the owner, who signs the title and gives it to you. You take the title, and a completed MV-1 Form to a DMV office along with your ID, sales tax $$$, and registration fees and you will receive title, plates, and registration all in one stop. Wisconsin is one of the easiest states to accomplish this in.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Rynldsbr

It is actually quite simple. You pay the owner, who signs the title and gives it to you. You take the title, and a completed MV-1 Form to a DMV office along with your ID, sales tax $$$, and registration fees and you will receive title, plates, and registration all in one stop. Wisconsin is one of the easiest states to accomplish this in.

As Rynldsbr, indicates, this is a pretty simple process in WI. I've done this when purchasing cars from IA and IL, but both of those were from dealerships. Just make sure the vehicle is titled in the state from which it's being purchased, and that it's titled in the owner's name and the title matches his/her information. For example, the owner should not be selling a vehicle in MN that's titled to somebody else in MN or in a different state, even if that vehicle has somehow been registered by the seller in MN.

[brrabbit]

If possible, go to the nearest DMV in WI with the seller (ask to meet him in your territory, it can be Eau Clair or something like that), and have him there when you bring the title. If there're any issues - you should be able to back away from the sale and get your money back.


If seller won't cooperate, ask yourself if you're willing to take the risk, evaluate title (it must be issued to the seller, not someone else, no transfers on the title, etc), and keep the copy of the bill of sale, seller's DL, and whatever other relevant information might be there (if the seller claims he's a dealer, you may want to request a copy of his dealership license as well).


If the deal looks too good to be true, it might be for some reason. I bought a car with IL title, and now I have some difficult time getting it registered in my name. And thanks god my car doesn't look like being stolen, just bad documentation.