An autocycle is a motor vehicle that:
- has three wheels
- is designed with seating that does not require operators or any occupants to straddle or sit astride it
- has a steering wheel
- is originally manufactured to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for motorcycles under
49 CFR part 571
Driver license required
The operator of an autocycle must have a valid regular or probationary driver license and follow all traffic laws.
Title and registration
For operation on public roads, an autocycle must be titled and registered through the DMV.
To receive autocycle title and registration, you must either apply online using eMV Public (if eligible) or mail a completed
MV1 application form with title and registration and fees to the DMV address on the form.
Local DMV customer service centers cannot provide title and registration services for these vehicles.
To apply online using
eMV Public:
Visit Apply for title and/or license plates (registration). Select the applicable option to apply online (title only, title and new plates, or title and transfer plates) and follow the instructions.
Transfers with either a Wisconsin title or an out-of-state title are eligible for online service (eMV Public). Other restrictions may apply. Please review eMV Public restrictions before using this service.
If applying online for a new license plate, you will obtain a temporary plate .pdf upon completion of online payment.
To apply by mail, send:
- The original Certificate of Title or Manufacturer Certificate (or Statement) of Origin signed by the previous owner or (out-of-state) dealer.
- Completed and signed Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application MV1. Keep a copy of the completed form for your records.
- $45.00 registration fee
- $164.50 title fee. There is no title transfer fee for
surviving spouse or registered domestic partners.
-
Wheel tax (if applicable)
- State sales tax (if applicable)
- Local sales tax (if applicable)
- Check or money order made payable to Registration Fee Trust
- Mail the application, title or statement/certificate of origin, and fees to:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 7949
Madison, WI 53709-7949
If you do not have a plate to transfer and need a temporary license plate, please see the temporary license plate information below before deciding to mail your application.
Temporary license plate
Autocycles are subject to Wisconsin’s
mandatory display law, which means you are required to display a valid permanent or temporary license plate to drive the vehicle.
If you apply online using eMV Public, you will obtain a temporary plate upon completion of online payment. If you do not apply online, you may obtain a temporary license plate by submitting the complete application and fees to a temporary license plate agent. The agent will forward your application and fees to Wisconsin DMV for final processing. Please visit
Temporary license plate agents for a list of participating agents and their contact information.
Wisconsin licensed motor vehicle dealer sales:
If you purchase an autocycle from a Wisconsin licensed dealer, your dealer will submit the dealer version of the Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application and all required fees and documentation. If you do not have a valid autocycle plate to transfer, the dealer will provide you a temporary plate.
Previous plate design (May 2020 - August 2022)
If you have the previous Autocycle (ACY) plate design with APR printed at the bottom of the plate, you may continue to use it if the registration is valid, the plates are in good condition, and your expiration month is April. If you have the previous plate design and a transaction is processed that changes the expiration month from April to another month, DMV will send you a new plate with the appropriate month and year stickers at no cost to you.