Registration periods for private automobiles, certain motor trucks, and taxicabs
Wis. Stat. § 341.27
in effect(1) All automobiles and motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less, other than those that may be registered under s. 341.26 (2), 341.265, 341.266, 341.268, or 341.269 or are required by s. 341.29 to be registered on a calendar-year basis, shall be registered by the department according to the monthly series system of registration prescribed by this section.
(2) There are established 12 registration periods, each to be designated by a calendar month and, except as provided in sub. (3) (c) and s. 341.28 (7) (a), to start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the 12th month beginning after the date of commencing. The department shall administer the monthly series system of registration to distribute the work of registering automobiles and motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less as uniformly as practicable throughout the calendar year.
(3) All automobiles and motor trucks having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that are subject to the registration system under this section shall be registered by the department for a period of 12 consecutive months, except as follows:
(a) If the applicant holds current registration plates that were removed from an automobile or a motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that the applicant no longer owns or that has been junked, is no longer used on the highways, or has been registered as a special interest vehicle under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or a reconstructed, replica, street modified, or homemade vehicle under s. 341.268 (2) (a), the plates were issued under the system of registration prescribed by this section, and the application is for registration of the same type of vehicle, the department shall register the automobile or motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less that is the subject of the application for the remainder of the unexpired registration period.
(b) The department may register an automobile or a motor truck having a registered weight of 8,000 pounds or less for a registration period other than a period of 12 consecutive months if the secretary determines that the different registration period will help to equalize the registration and renewal workload of the department or will avoid unnecessary cost or inconvenience.
(c)
1. For an application for original registration, the registration period shall include, in addition to the 12-month registration period, the period beginning on the date that a complete application for registration, including evidence of any inspection under s. 110.20 when required, accompanied by the required fee is delivered to the department, submitted to a dealer under s. 341.09 (2m) for transmittal to the department, or deposited in the mail properly addressed to the department with postage prepaid and continuing through the end of that month.
2. For an application for renewal of a registration that ends on a date other than the last day of a month, the registration period shall include, in addition to the 12-month registration period, the period beginning on the date that the previous registration period expires and continuing through the end of that month.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/341.27Fetched: 10/7/2026