Wyoming Vehicle Registration

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Wyoming vehicle registration is processed not at a state DMV but at your local county clerk's office. Each of Wyoming's 23 counties operates its own clerk, with statutory authority to title the vehicle, issue plates, and bill the annual county personal property tax. New residents have 60 days from establishing residency to register a vehicle in Wyoming.

Where to register

You register a vehicle at the county clerk's office in the county where you reside. A driver living in Cheyenne goes to the Laramie County Clerk; a driver in Sheridan to the Sheridan County Clerk; a driver in Jackson to the Teton County Clerk. The county is determined by the address on your driver's license or, for new residents, by the address where you maintain your primary residence.

The 60-day deadline

Wyoming requires vehicle registration within 60 days of:

Establishing Wyoming residency (taking a job, enrolling children in Wyoming schools, getting a Wyoming license).
Purchasing a vehicle from a private party in Wyoming.
Buying a new vehicle from a Wyoming dealer (the dealer typically handles the initial registration but the buyer is responsible for follow-up).

Driving an unregistered vehicle past the 60-day window is a misdemeanor traffic offense. Penalties accumulate quickly when an unregistered vehicle is also uninsured.

Documents required

Bring to the county clerk's office:

The vehicle's title, properly assigned by the seller (or a manufacturer's statement of origin for new vehicles).
A bill of sale or sales agreement showing the purchase price (used to calculate sales tax).
Proof of Wyoming auto insurance meeting the 25/50/20 minimum.
The current odometer reading, disclosed on the title or on a separate form.
Your Wyoming driver's license or other government ID.
A completed MV-400 registration application and MV-300 title application.

Fees and taxes

Wyoming charges several distinct fees at registration:

State sales tax — 4% of the purchase price, plus optional county-imposed sales tax (0% to 2% depending on county). Some counties impose no county sales tax.
Title fee — $15, flat.
Plate and registration fees — calculated by the county based on vehicle weight and age, typically $30 to $100 for passenger vehicles.
County personal property tax — billed annually based on a statutory weight-and-value formula. The first-year amount can range from $40 to $400+ depending on the vehicle and county.

The personal property tax

Wyoming counties bill an annual personal property tax on each registered vehicle, calculated by the county assessor's formula. The formula uses the vehicle's manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP) at first sale, depreciation by model year, and weight class. Older vehicles owe less; newer and heavier vehicles owe more. The bill arrives separately from registration renewal but must be paid before plates are issued or renewed. The tax is fully deductible on federal returns as personal property tax for those who itemize.

License plates

Wyoming's standard plate features the bucking horse and rider. The first digit on a Wyoming plate identifies the county of registration — 1 for Natrona, 2 for Laramie, 3 for Sheridan, and so on through the 23 counties. Specialty plates (military, organizations, antique, pioneer) are also available; see the other vehicle registrations page.

After registration

The county clerk issues plates and a registration card on the spot when paperwork is complete. The title arrives by mail in 4 to 6 weeks; if a lender holds a lien, the title is mailed to the lender. Wyoming registration runs on a month-of-purchase cycle — the plate expiration matches the month you first registered. See registration renewal for the annual cycle.