What You'll Actually Pay to Buy a Vehicle in Central Wisconsin: Sales Tax, Title, Registration, and Fees by County (2026)
The price on the windshield is only part of what you pay. Your out-the-door price adds our service fee, sales tax, and state and local fees. Some of those are set by Wisconsin law, some by your county, and one by the dealership.
This guide shows each piece, with the source and a check date, for the counties around Neillsville. It also reflects a recent change: Wisconsin's title fee rose by $50 on October 1, 2025. We update this page when the numbers change.
What goes into an out-the-door price?
Here is every line you may see on a buyer's order, and who sets each one.
| Charge | Who sets it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle price | The dealership (MSRP on new vehicles) | Dealer discounts and your trade-in reduce what you pay. A trade-in also reduces the taxable price. |
| Service fee | The dealership | Wisconsin requires it to be disclosed. It's taxable. See the service fee section below. |
| Sales and use tax | State and county | 5% state plus 0.5% county in our area, based on the county where you'll keep the vehicle. |
| Title fee | WisDOT | $214.50 for an original title or a transfer. |
| Registration | WisDOT | $85 a year for an automobile. Trucks are priced by gross weight. |
| License plates | WisDOT | $6 per plate. |
| Lien listing | WisDOT | $10 when a lender is listed on the title because you financed. |
| Wheel tax | Your county or municipality | A local fee collected with registration, depending on where you keep the vehicle. Many places in our area have none. |
| Title and registration processing fee | The dealership | [AMOUNT: confirm current amount before publishing.] |
| Accessories and protection products | You choose | Taxable if you add them to the purchase. |
Fees paid to WisDOT for titling and registration are not part of the dealer's sales price and are not subject to sales tax, according to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Publication 202.
How much is sales tax on a vehicle in my county?
In the counties we serve around Neillsville, it's 5.5%: the 5% state rate plus a 0.5% county tax. Vehicle buyers pay the county portion as a use tax, and it follows the county where you will customarily keep the vehicle, not the county where the dealership is. If you live in Marathon County and buy in Clark County, you pay the Marathon County rate.
| County | State | County | Combined | Example communities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Neillsville, Greenwood, Thorp |
| Wood | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa |
| Marathon | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Wausau, Mosinee, Schofield |
| Portage | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Stevens Point |
| Eau Claire | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Eau Claire, Altoona, Augusta |
| Jackson | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Black River Falls |
| Waupaca | 5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | Waupaca, Clintonville |
Rates from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, checked October 2, 2026. Seventy Wisconsin counties have adopted the 0.5% county tax. A few places charge more, so if you live outside these counties, look up your rate with the Department of Revenue.
How do trade-ins and rebates affect the tax?
Trade-ins reduce the tax. When you buy a vehicle and trade one in as a single transaction, the sales price subject to tax doesn't include the amount allowed for the trade-in. On a $3,000 trade-in at a 5.5% rate, that's $165 in tax you don't pay.
Manufacturer rebates don't. Wisconsin treats a manufacturer's cash rebate as something that doesn't reduce the dealer's sales price, so tax is figured on the price before the rebate comes off. A $1,500 rebate lowers what you pay for the vehicle, but not the tax. Dealer discounts are different: they reduce the price itself. Details are in Publication 202.
What are the Wisconsin title, registration, and plate fees?
These are set by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and are the same everywhere in the state. The big change is the title fee, which went up $50 on October 1, 2025.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title (original or transfer) | $214.50 | Was $164.50 before October 1, 2025. |
| Lien (security interest) listing | $10 | Charged when you finance and a lender is listed on the title. |
| Registration, automobile | $85 per year | The standard fee for a passenger automobile. |
| Registration, truck up to 6,000 lbs gross weight | $100 per year | For registrations effective on or after October 1, 2025. |
| Registration, truck up to 8,000 lbs | $116.60 per year | Gross weight includes the load. |
| Registration, truck up to 10,000 lbs | $170.50 per year | |
| Registration, truck up to 12,000 lbs | $229.90 per year | |
| License plates | $6 per plate | Issuance fee. |
| Electric vehicle surcharge | $175 per year | On automobiles and light trucks up to 8,000 lbs, except dual-purpose farm. |
| Hybrid electric vehicle surcharge | $75 per year | Same vehicles. Added to the regular registration fee. |
| Late renewal | $10 | On top of the regular renewal fee. |
Fees from WisDOT's DMV fees page, checked October 2, 2026. Which registration class applies depends on how your vehicle is classified and its gross weight, so ask us or check with WisDOT. Fees can change; the title fee changed with the state budget.
What is the wheel tax, and will I pay it?
A wheel tax is an annual fee that some Wisconsin counties and municipalities add to your registration for transportation costs. WisDOT collects it with your registration. It applies to automobiles and to trucks registered at 8,000 lbs or less, and it's based on where you customarily keep the vehicle. Many communities around Neillsville have none.
| Where the vehicle is kept | Wheel tax (per year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County (including Neillsville) | None listed | |
| Jackson County (Black River Falls) | None listed | |
| Wood County (Wisconsin Rapids) | None county-wide | Village of Port Edwards: $35. |
| Waupaca County | None county-wide | City of New London: $20. |
| Marathon County (Wausau) | $25 | County wheel tax. |
| Portage County (Stevens Point) | $30 | County wheel tax. |
| Eau Claire County | $30 | County wheel tax. The City of Eau Claire adds $50 and the City of Augusta adds $25, in addition to the county fee. |
From WisDOT's wheel tax page, checked October 2, 2026. "None listed" means the jurisdiction wasn't on WisDOT's list on that date. The list changes as communities add or adjust fees, so check before you buy.
What is the service fee?
The service fee is a charge the dealership sets to cover costs of processing a sale. Wisconsin allows dealers to set their own, but requires them to disclose it, and the contract must say that a service fee is not required by law. On a new vehicle it appears on a separate sticker, and on a used vehicle it's posted on the Wisconsin Buyer's Guide. The service fee is taxable.
- Our current service fee: $[AMOUNT]. Gross Auto Group's "Buying a Vehicle" page lists $358.00; confirm the current amount and that it applies at this store.
- The current title and registration processing fee, if one is charged. The group page lists $19.50, and WisDOT lists $38 as the most a title service provider may charge for a title transaction; confirm which applies.
- Whether the amounts are the same for new and used vehicles.
Ask to see every fee itemized on your quote before you sign. Our finance team is happy to walk you through each line.
What does it add up to? A worked example
Here is an illustration with made-up numbers: a $24,900 used SUV bought in Clark County with a $3,000 trade-in, financed, registered as an automobile, with two new plates. It uses a $358 service fee as a placeholder, so substitute the real amount once confirmed.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price | $24,900.00 |
| Plus service fee ([confirm amount]) | $358.00 |
| Minus trade-in allowance | -$3,000.00 |
| Taxable amount | $22,258.00 |
| Sales and use tax at 5.5% | $1,224.19 |
| Title fee | $214.50 |
| Registration (automobile) | $85.00 |
| Two license plates at $6 | $12.00 |
| Lien listing | $10.00 |
| Wheel tax (Clark County: none listed) | $0.00 |
| Example total, before any processing fee on your quote | $23,803.69 |
Illustration only, not a quote. Prices, trade-in value, and fees vary. If you transfer existing plates, the plate and registration lines may differ.
Same purchase, different address
The tax rate is the same in all seven counties, so the difference between addresses comes down to the wheel tax. Here is the same example with the vehicle kept in different places:
| Where the vehicle is kept | Wheel tax added | Example total |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County | $0 | $23,803.69 |
| Marathon County | $25 | $23,828.69 |
| Portage County | $30 | $23,833.69 |
| Eau Claire County, outside the city | $30 | $23,833.69 |
| City of Eau Claire | $80 ($30 county + $50 city) | $23,883.69 |
The wheel tax recurs each year when you renew your registration.
To estimate your own: take the price, add the service fee, and subtract your trade-in. Multiply that by 1.055, then add the title, registration, plate, and lien fees and your wheel tax, if any.
How do I get an itemized quote?
Ask for a written, itemized out-the-door quote that lists the price, any discounts and rebates, your trade-in allowance, the service fee, sales and use tax, and each state and local fee. Tell us the county where you'll keep the vehicle so the tax and wheel tax are right.
- Request a Quick Quote online
- Estimate payments with our payment calculator
- Get your trade valued with our Value Your Trade tool
- Talk to our finance department about financing and fees
Frequently asked questions
How much is the sales tax on a vehicle in Clark County, Wisconsin?
5.5%: the 5% state rate plus the 0.5% Clark County tax. The same 5.5% applies in Wood, Marathon, Portage, Eau Claire, Jackson, and Waupaca counties. The county portion follows where you'll keep the vehicle.
Does my trade-in lower the sales tax in Wisconsin?
Yes. When the purchase and the trade-in are one transaction, the trade-in allowance is subtracted from the price before tax is figured.
What is the Wisconsin title fee in 2026?
$214.50 for an original title or a title transfer. It was $164.50 until October 1, 2025. If you finance, a $10 lien listing fee is added.
How much is vehicle registration in Wisconsin?
An automobile registration is $85 per year. Trucks are priced by gross weight, with fees of $100 through 6,000 lbs, $116.60 through 8,000 lbs, $170.50 through 10,000 lbs, and $229.90 through 12,000 lbs for registrations effective on or after October 1, 2025. Plates are $6 each.
What is the wheel tax, and which nearby counties charge it?
It's an annual local fee collected with your registration. As of October 2, 2026, WisDOT lists $25 in Marathon County, $30 in Portage County, and $30 in Eau Claire County (plus $50 in the City of Eau Claire). Clark and Jackson counties are not on the list.
Does it matter which county I buy my vehicle in?
Not for the county tax or the wheel tax. Both follow the county or municipality where you will customarily keep the vehicle.
Are manufacturer rebates taxed in Wisconsin?
Sales tax is figured on the price before a manufacturer's rebate is subtracted, so the rebate lowers what you pay but not the tax. Dealer discounts reduce the price itself.
What is the extra fee for electric and hybrid vehicles?
WisDOT adds a $175 annual surcharge for electric vehicles and $75 for hybrids, on top of the regular registration fee, for automobiles and light trucks up to 8,000 lbs.
Sources and last-checked dates
Change log
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rates and fees change, and your final amounts appear on your buyer's order. Confirm details with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, WisDOT, or our finance team before you buy.
Want your exact number?
Tell us the county where you'll keep the vehicle and we'll put together an itemized quote.