Wyoming
Vehicle Resource Center
There are more than 424,000 licensed drivers in Wyoming. Many of those drivers own vehicles, and most operate vehicles throughout the state. Any licensed driver in Wyoming must follow all the state's driving laws, and vehicle owners need to understand the state's ongoing vehicle regulations and requirements to avoid fines, suspensions, and other legal complications.
Ownership and Maintenance
Wyoming vehicle owners must think about maintaining the registration, keeping enough insurance on the vehicle, and other standard upkeep requirements each year.
In Wyoming, safety or emissions inspections are not mandatory. Residents are still encouraged to obtain safety inspections to monitor their vehicles and ensure they're safe to drive.
Each vehicle owner residing in Wyoming must insure their vehicle to guard against the unexpected costs associated with automobile accidents. When an accident occurs, the driver responsible for the collision is expected to pay all the damages. To avoid legal trouble, vehicle owners are all encouraged to maintain adequate liability insurance to protect themselves.
Minimum Liability Insurance Coverage
Each vehicle must be covered with the following liability protections:
Any vehicle owner who meets the figures listed above has a fully insured vehicle. Being insured does not guarantee the driver will never face extra costs after an accident. If the damages of an accident exceed the coverage provided by the insurance policy, the driver must pay the remaining charges. This is why many vehicle owners purchase larger policies.
Learn more about insurance requirements via the Wyoming Department of Transportation guide.
Each year, a vehicle's registration must be renewed once again. The registration renewal process is simple and can be completed online, at a self-service kiosk, through the state's phone app, or by mail.
Renew Online
An online renewal is simple and begins at the state renewal page. Visitors must select their county or input their license plate number to get the option to pay their fee and complete the renewal.
Renew at a Kiosk
Vehicle owners can visit self-service kiosk locations and renew in person in a few minutes. The kiosk scans a current registration or a driver's license and pulls up the renewal information immediately. The owner can easily pay the renewal fee using a credit or debit card, and the renewal process is complete.
Renew through the App
There is a Wyoming Auto Assistant app that enables residents to renew their vehicle registration quickly and simply. Renewing with the app is a simple process that only requires inputting a small amount of information before paying.
Renew by Mail
Every resident can renew by mail by sending the renewal notice to the local County Clerk's office along with a check or money order for the full renewal fee.
Renew in Person
Residents can choose to renew their registration in person by visiting a County Clerk's office. While at the office, the vehicle owner should provide the renewal notice to simplify the renewal process. Without the notice, the clerk can look up the information using the vehicle's license plate number or the VIN. The owner must then pay the renewal fee to complete the renewal process.
Every vehicle in Wyoming has an active registration that must be maintained. The registration expires each year at the end of the month listed on the expiration sticker on the vehicle's license plate. Before the registration expires, drivers are encouraged to renew the registration via the county Clerk's office.
Bring the Following Information
With the right information available, it is simple to renew a vehicle registration. The process can be completed online in some counties and can be finished in person in any county at a County Clerk's office.
Individuals interested in renewing online can do so via the county's online renewal page. This page is different for every county, and it's essential to verify that online renewal is offered in the chosen county. While on the page, individuals must provide vehicle information, the renewal PIN from the renewal notice, billing information, and a payment method.
Drivers who wish to renew in person can travel to the local County Clerk's Office and provide the proper documentation and payment to renew.
In Wyoming, driver's licenses are good for five years. When the license is about to expire, drivers must go through the renewal process as soon as possible. It's important to note that license renewal notices will be received approximately 120 days before the license expires. Residents are encouraged to renew early because a new license can take between 4 and 6 weeks to arrive after going through either the online or in-person renewal process.
Providing Documentation
When renewing a license, the following documents may be required:
Renewing By Mail
Wyoming allows its residents to renew every other renewal by mail. Each resident will receive a renewal application form in the mail. Fill out the form, have an eye doctor fill out the vision section of the form, and sign. Provide any information requested for the renewal, along with a check or money order made out to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
The whole package must be sent to the following address:
Driver Services - WYDOT
5300 Bishop Blvd
Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340
Renewing in Person
Residents must renew in person every other year in Wyoming. This process must be completed at a Driver's Services location. The renewal notice may request a Medical Evaluation or Vision Evaluation to renew. If this is the case, print the documents and bring them to a medical examiner for completion.
While in person, drivers must provide documentation, take a vision exam, have a new photo taken, and pay to renew the license. After going through all those steps, the license will be renewed. It can take between 4 and 6 weeks for a renewed license to arrive in the mail, and residents are encouraged to renew several months in advance to maintain an up-to-date license at all times.
License Renewal
A standard license renewal costs $35.
Registration Renewal
Registration renewal comes with a $30 state fee and a variable county fee that is based on the value of the vehicle and the age of the vehicle.
Buying & Selling
When buying a vehicle or selling one, individuals who follow the state's regulations enjoy reliable results without penalties or fines.
Remove the Plates
The seller must remove the license plates from the vehicle before giving it to the buyer. The plates can be returned to the County Clerk's Office after the vehicle is sold.
Supply and Complete the Title
The Certificate of Title for the vehicle must be provided to the buyer at the time of the vehicle sale to make it official. The seller must provide a clean title and fill out the back, including all the information requested. A completed title is crucial for the buyer to register and title the vehicle, and it must be finished in front of a notary.
Create a Bill of Sale
The seller must provide the buyer with a Bill of Sale and should keep a copy for themselves as well. This document must be signed by the buyer and seller in front of a notary to make the sale legally binding. There is no official form, but the document should have the following information.
Cancel Insurance
Once the vehicle is sold, it's okay to cancel the insurance policy covering it. It's important to retain a copy of the Bill of Sale as proof that the vehicle was sold though, in case something happens with the vehicle and the new owner.
Research the Vehicle
Look closely at the vehicle to learn about its previous owners, its features and specifications, and more. To do this effectively, consider obtaining a VIN Vehicle Check or a License Plate Lookup from GoodCar. These reports give ownership history, open recalls, accident history, specifications and features, odometer readings, and more for the vehicle.
Verify and Obtain the Title
Look closely at the Certificate of Title for the vehicle to ensure the document matches the VIN for the vehicle and that it's filled properly. Also, ensure there is no lien present on the title and complete the title in front of a notary.
Obtain a Bill of Sale
While it's the seller who should make a Bill of Sale, the buyer should consider printing official Bill of Sale documents containing all the information listed above in the Seller Must section. This document is necessary when registering and titling the vehicle, and it's essential to make sure it is notarized with both buyer and seller signatures.
Get Liability Insurance
Each buyer must obtain liability insurance for the vehicle after making the purchase. Talk with an insurance agent from the state and get insurance that covers the vehicle sufficiently. Keep the insurance statement as proof that the vehicle is insured.
Apply for the Title and Registration
The buyer must submit the Title Application form and show the notarized title and Bill of Sale documents at the County Clerk's office to register and title the vehicle.
Title
There is a $15 title fee.
Sales Tax
There is a 4% sales tax required for a newly purchased vehicle.
State Registration Fee
The buyer will have to pay a $30 registration fee for most passenger vehicles.
Laws and Regulations
Wyoming residents face strict driving laws. Failure to adhere to the laws will result in penalties, including tickets, license suspension, and maybe jail time.
Wyoming has laws that forbid drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs. The law has strict penalties, including time in jail, license suspension, fines, the mandate to use an ignition interlock device, and more. Only drivers who are caught driving under the influence are charged with a DUI and face these charges.
Knowing the DUI Limits
Typically, police officers measure the amount of alcohol in a person's system using a breathalyzer test. The test measures the total alcohol concentration using a number known as a BAC (blood alcohol concentration). A driver is charged with a DUI if they exceed the legally allowed BAC value:
Ignition Interlock Device
An ignition interlock device is a mini breathalyzer for your car. The device requires the driver to breathe into it before the vehicle starts. If the driver's BAC level is too high, the vehicle will not start.
Window Tint Laws
Wyoming vehicle owners often invest in window tints to protect their car's interior and add privacy to the vehicle. Only certain tint films are allowed, and installing tint that's too dark can result in fines and trouble with law enforcement. Knowing the tint regulations in Wyoming is important before installing any tint.
Wyoming Tint Regulations
Wyoming has secondary seat belt laws that only enable police officers to give seat belt-related tickets after pulling a driver over for a different reason. Everyone is expected to wear a seat belt while riding in a vehicle in Wyoming, and children ages eight and younger must be fastened in an appropriate child safety seat.
All children eight and younger must be fastened in a child safety seat in Wyoming. Different seats are best for different-sized children. Infants begin in rear-facing car seats and graduate to forward-facing seats when they exceed the size limits of the seat. Children should remain in forward-facing seats until they again exceed the size limit, and they can be moved to booster seats. Children are legally required to use booster seats until they reach nine years of age, but it's recommended they remain in boosters until they are 4'9" tall.
Under Wyoming's Lemon Law, anyone who purchases a new vehicle is protected against major nonconformities that make the vehicle unsafe to drive. Vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds that still have the manufacturer's original warranty are covered by the state's Lemon Law.
When a Vehicle is a Lemon
Not all vehicles are lemons, even if they have issues. The manufacturer has the opportunity to repair vehicles to prevent them from becoming a lemon. Manufacturers must be notified by certified mail by the buyer when a vehicle is suffering from significant issues.
Once notified, the manufacturer can attempt to repair a single issue three separate times before it can be labeled a lemon. The vehicle could also be labeled as a lemon if it is in the shop for repairs by the manufacturer for 30 or more days.
When a vehicle is labeled a lemon, the buyer has the right to sue for the purchase price of the vehicle or to have the vehicle replaced.
Learn more about the state's Lemon Law via this state legislature page.
Useful Things to Know
Wyoming EV Charge Stations
Any EV (electric vehicle) owners in Wyoming will benefit by knowing where any public charging stations are located. Use the search tool to find them effectively: Wyoming EV Charge Station Locator
Wyoming Crash Trends
Wyoming is well-known as being a dangerous state for drivers due to its large number of fatal accidents per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. In 2022, there were approximately 117 fatal car accidents in the state, with a total of 133 deaths due to those accidents. The state has a relatively low 0.99 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Gain a complete understanding with the Wyoming car crash trends from GoodCar.
City County List
Quickly determine which county a city or town is in throughout Wyoming: Wyoming City County List
County Clerk Office Directory
Quickly see the Clerk and their contact details for any county in Wyoming: Wyoming County Clerk Details
Find Driver Service Locations
Driver's license services can be obtained at one of the state's driver service locations: Wyoming Driver Service Locations Finder
Get the Latest Wyoming Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Wyoming vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.