Gifting a Car in Wyoming: Taxes, Fees & Rules (2026)
Genuine gifts (no money, no assumed loan) are untaxed. And as of July 1, 2026, immediate-family transfers — parents, children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, step-equivalents — are explicitly exempt by statute (SF0061), provided the giver paid tax when they acquired it. The title fee of $15 still applies. Verified against official Wyoming sources on 2026-07-17.
Gift vs. selling for $1: don't use the $1 trick
The old advice to "sell it for a dollar" usually backfires. A $1 sale is still a sale — in states that tax the higher of price or book value, that means tax on the full book value; in others it simply voids the gift exemption you were entitled to use. The documented gift route (affidavits, the right box on the title) is what actually produces $0 tax where an exemption exists.
What you'll still pay in Wyoming
Even a fully exempt gift pays the standard title transfer fee of $15. The recipient also takes on normal registration costs going forward. Sales tax is due within 65 days of purchase: after that it's 10% of the tax or $25 (whichever is greater) plus 1%/month interest.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay taxes on a gifted car in Wyoming?
Genuine gifts (no money, no assumed loan) are untaxed. And as of July 1, 2026, immediate-family transfers — parents, children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, step-equivalents — are explicitly exempt by statute (SF0061), provided the giver paid tax when they acquired it.
Is it better to gift a car or sell it for $1 in Wyoming?
Gift it — properly. A $1 "sale" is still a sale in most states and can trigger tax on book value or invite a review, while a documented gift uses the actual exemption. Genuine gifts (no money, no assumed loan) are untaxed. And as of July 1, 2026, immediate-family transfers — parents, children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, step-equivalents — are explicitly exempt by statute (SF0061), provided the giver paid tax when they acquired it. Follow the gift procedure, not the $1 shortcut.
What does the title transfer cost on a gifted car in Wyoming?
The title fee is $15 — that's due on gifts too, even when the tax is exempt. Sales tax is due within 65 days of purchase: after that it's 10% of the tax or $25 (whichever is greater) plus 1%/month interest.
Does the IRS tax a gifted car?
Almost never for normal vehicles — car values fall under the IRS annual gift-tax exclusion for most givers, so no federal gift tax or return is required. The state-level rules above are what actually matter.
Verified against official sources (parkcounty-wy.gov, wyoleg.gov) — last reviewed 2026-07-17. Estimates are informational only.