Moving to Madison: your new-resident checklist
The official places to update your license, car, voter registration and mail after a move to Madison, Wisconsin, plus what the local weather and hazards mean for your first year. Tick things off as you go; your progress stays in this browser.
Set up mail forwarding and tell the Postal Service your new address at the official USPS change of address site. It costs a small identity-check fee online; beware look-alike sites that charge more.
New residents usually have a limited time to switch. The Wisconsin DMV lists the deadline, the documents to bring and whether you need an appointment. Bring proof of your Madison address.
Vehicle titles and registration are also handled at the state level in Wisconsin. Start at the Wisconsin DMV website, and update your car insurance to your new address first.
Use vote.gov's Wisconsin page to reach the official state registration and deadlines.
Water, trash and recycling pickup days, parking permits and 311 requests are on the official City of Madison website. Property tax and some records are handled by Dane County.
Wisconsin's top income tax rate is 7.65% (graduated). The average combined sales tax is 5.72%. If you moved from another state mid-year, you may file part-year returns in both.
Madison is on Central Time.
About 52 inches of snow fall in a typical year and about 147 nights drop below freezing. A snow shovel, an ice scraper and good tires are worth buying before the first storm, and check your city's rules on clearing sidewalks.
FEMA rates Dane County's natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by cold wave, tornado and inland flooding. Check the flood map for your address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, sign up for local emergency alerts, and see Ready.gov for a basic emergency kit.
Learn what locals love and wish they had known on the Madison page, and see things to do in Madison.
Lived in Madison for a while? Rate the city and share what newcomers should know.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my driver's license after moving to Madison?
Licenses are handled by the state, not the city. In Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin DMV. Its website lists the deadline for new residents, the documents to bring and whether you need an appointment.
Where do I register to vote in Madison?
Start at vote.gov, the federal government's site, which sends you to the official Wisconsin registration page and lists the deadlines.
Links checked October 18, 2026. Rules and fees are set by each agency and change, so follow the official site. Weather figures: NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hazard rating: FEMA National Risk Index. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026.