Several options are available to Michigan residents and military personnel who are temporarily out of state and wish to renew a car, truck, trailer (unless you already have a non-expiring trailer plate), motorcycle or recreational vehicle registration.  If you are unable to renew your registration before you leave the State of Michigan you may use one of the following methods of renewal:

The Renewal-by-Mail Unit

Renewing by mail is quick, easy, and convenient.  Simply enclose the following three items in the return envelope that came with your renewal notice: 

• Renewal Notice- print the out-of-state address where you want the registration mailed on the front of the registration form. 
• Payment- 
      1. Check or money order- payable to the State of Michigan, or
      2. Discover, MasterCard, or VISA - complete the renewal worksheet enclosed with your renewal notice.
•  Proof of Insurance-enclose a copy of your Michigan No-Fault insurance certificate.  Proof of insurance is not necessary for recreational vehicles.  If the vehicle registration has a 9-digit PIN (personal identification number) printed in the lower left corner, proof of insurance is not necessary.

If you do not have the return envelope, the Renewal by Mail address is as follows:

Michigan Department of State
Lansing, MI 48980

No street address is necessary.

The Out- of-State Resident Services Unit

To renew through the Out of State Resident Services Unit submit the following:

• Cover Letter - containing the service requested, the plate number to be renewed, the out-of-state address where the registration will be mailed, and a daytime telephone number (including area code);
• Payment: Check or Money Order - payable to the State of Michigan.  The amount due is printed on the renewal form. If you do not have a renewal notice, please contact the Out of State Resident Services Unit at 517-322-1473 and a staff member will be happy to give the correct amount due.
• Proof of Insurance - enclose a copy of your Michigan No-Fault insurance certificate.  Proof of insurance is not necessary for recreational vehicles.  If the vehicle registration has a 9-digit PIN printed in the lower left corner, proof of insurance is not necessary.

Renewal requests through the Out-of-State Resident Services Unit are mailed to:

Michigan Department of State
Out of State Resident Services Unit
7064 Crowner Drive
Lansing, MI 48918