Vehicle Fee
On April 8, 2025 the Fitchburg Common Council approved implementing an annual vehicle registration fee of $40. Vehicles with a registration expiring in July 2025, or any vehicles registered on or after August 1, 2025, will be subject to an annual $40 fee, which the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will collect at the time of vehicle registration or renewal. The estimated revenue from this $40 fee is expected to generate $1,000,000 for transportation-related purposes for the City.
The vehicle registration fee is not required to fund the City's overall budget. Instead, any revenue generated would be directed into a segregated account specifically designated for transportation projects. This initiative comes as Fitchburg faces challenges similar to many other municipalities in the state, several of which have already implemented an annual vehicle registration fee to support transportation funding.
The vehicle registration fee has been permissible under Wisconsin law since 1967, as outlined in Wis. Stat. 341.35. As of March 1, 2025, 48 cities and 13 counties in Wisconsin have enacted, or will enact, a vehicle registration fee. Fitchburg may now join those jurisdictions in creating a dedicated revenue stream for transportation infrastructure.
For further information, including a list of municipalities currently assessing a vehicle registration fee, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s website at WisDOT.