Illinois vs Wisconsin
Registering a new $35,000 vehicle costs about $2,245 in Wisconsin versus $3,291 in Illinois — a $1,047 first-year advantage for Wisconsin.
Cost comparison
| Illinois | Wisconsin | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-year total All-in cost to register a new $35,000 gas vehicle for the first time, including sales tax, title, and registration. | $3,291 | $2,245 | +$1,047 |
| Annual renewal (year 2+) Recurring annual cost after the first year — what you actually pay every year you own the car. | $151 | $105 | +$46 |
| Sales tax (one-time) Sales/use/excise tax owed at purchase on a $35,000 vehicle, using typical local rates. | $2,975 | $1,925 | +$1,050 |
| Combined sales tax rate State rate plus typical local rate (where applicable). | 8.50% | 5.50% | +3.00 pp |
| EV first-year total Same $35K scenario but as a battery electric vehicle, capturing EV-specific surcharges. | $3,391 | $2,420 | +$972 |
| EV annual renewal Recurring EV-ownership cost in year 2+. | $251 | $280 | −$29 |
| EV surcharge Annual EV-specific registration fee (zero in states without one). | $100 | $175 | −$75 |
How each state structures it
Illinois
Illinois has one of the highest base passenger registration fees in the country at $151/year, with a similarly high one-time title fee of $165. Combined with sales tax that can hit 10%+ in the Chicago metro area, Illinois is among the most expensive states for vehicle ownership. The state sales tax is 6.25%, but local additions can push combined rates much higher — Cook County and Chicago add roughly 3% combined, putting central Chicago at 9.5-10.25%. Illinois restored full trade-in credit on vehicle sales tax in January 2022 after a brief period (2020-2021) when trade-in credit was capped at $10,000. Electric vehicles pay an additional $100/year surcharge, bringing the BEV registration to $251/year. A new $35,000 vehicle in a 1%-local-rate county runs about $2,850-2,900 in first-year costs; in central Chicago that climbs to $3,900+.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has one of the simplest fee structures of any large state: a flat $85/year passenger registration with no separate plate fee, a 5% state sales tax with modest local additions (most counties charge 0.5%), and full trade-in credit. The two costly outliers are the $214.50 title fee (the highest in the US after a $50 hike on October 1, 2025) and a steep $175/year EV surcharge. County wheel taxes apply in only 10 of 72 counties — most Wisconsin drivers pay $0 in local wheel taxes. Sales tax tops out around 5.5% in most counties (5% state + 0.5% county), making Wisconsin meaningfully cheaper than Illinois (7-11%) or Iowa (5-7%) for vehicle purchases. A new $35,000 vehicle in a typical wheel-tax-county (like Milwaukee) runs about $2,225 in first-year costs, with annual renewals just $105.
What this means for you
- Buying a new car: Wisconsin is roughly $1,047 cheaper than Illinois in the first year on a $35K vehicle, driven mostly by sales tax and one-time fees.
- Annual renewal: Wisconsin is cheaper to renew annually by about $46/year. Over a 5-year ownership period that's roughly $230 in renewal-fee savings alone.
- If you drive an EV: Illinois's EV surcharge ($100/year) is meaningfully lower than Wisconsin's ($175/year) — a 43% savings on the EV fee alone.
- Structural differences: Neither state imposes an annual ad valorem vehicle property tax, so renewal costs stay relatively flat after the first year for both.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to register a car in Illinois or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is cheaper to register a new $35,000 vehicle: $2,245 first year vs $3,291 in Illinois, and the gap continues into annual renewals.
What is the sales tax difference between Illinois and Wisconsin?
Illinois charges 8.50% combined sales tax on vehicles; Wisconsin charges 5.50%. On a $35,000 purchase that's $2,975 in Illinois vs $1,925 in Wisconsin.
Do Illinois and Wisconsin both charge EV registration fees?
Illinois: $100/year EV surcharge. Wisconsin: $175/year EV surcharge. EV fees are added on top of standard registration costs.
Official sources: Illinois Secretary of State • Wisconsin DMV
Data last updated: 2026-05-23