Title transfer and vehicle registration

How can I title and register a vehicle?

Online

One person to one person only

Check online requirements

By mail

Unavailable for this transaction

Unavailable

Self-service station

Unavailable for this transaction

Unavailable

Office visit

Complete your business in an average of 20 minutes

Schedule an office visit

What do I need to title and register a vehicle in a Secretary of State office? (Choose tab)

Original title
Title and registration fees
Michigan No-Fault insurance

Present the original title (photocopies or titles that have been modified, such as crossing out a name, cannot be accepted) with:

Your signature – All titled owners must sign when the title is transferred. Owners who can’t visit an office to sign the title may appoint an agent to sign on their behalf by completing an Appointment of Agent form.
Seller’s signature – The seller must complete and sign the seller’s portion of the title if they don’t plan to visit a Secretary of State office with you.
Odometer disclosure statement – Ensure the odometer reading is accurately recorded on the title. If space is not provided on the title, complete and submit an Odometer Mileage Statement.
Statement from loan provider – If there was a loan against the vehicle, provide the lien termination statement or signed title from the financial institution that administered the loan. If there is an active loan on the title, a letter of authorization from the lienholder must be submitted with the title application.
You also will need to bring your Michigan driver’s license or ID.

Schedule an office visit

Appointment of Agent form

Odometer Mileage Statement

$15 – Title transfer fee
$10 to $15 – Plate transfer fee (varies depending on whether the vehicle receiving the plate was bought in a private sale or sold to a family member)
6 percent sales tax (not collected for vehicle sales to immediate family members)
Recreation Passport (optional) - $14 for a one-year vehicle registration; $28 for a two-year vehicle registration; $8 for motorcycle registration

A $15 late fee will be charged if the title isn’t transferred within 15 days of the sale.

Secretary of State offices accept payment by cash, check, money order, or credit or debit card (additional fees apply).

Registration fee calculator

Plate transfer

You must provide proof of a valid Michigan No-Fault insurance policy to register your vehicle in Michigan.

Michigan.gov/AutoInsurance

What do I need to title and register a vehicle through an online title transfer? (Choose tab)

Online title transfer requirements
Michigan title
Title and registration fees
Michigan No-Fault insurance

Both buyer and seller must have a valid Michigan driver's license or ID. Online title transfer have the following requirements:

Have an online service account.
Current Michigan paper title (cannot be an electronic title).
Vehicle must be a car, minivan, SUV, motorcycle, pickup, or van.
Must have one individual seller to one individual buyer.
The vehicle cannot be financed by the buyer.
Additional eligibility checks will be performed during the transaction to determine if the vehicle is eligible for an online title transfer.

Note: The online title transfer is not an instant process. Once the buyer and seller complete their portion of the transfer, it can take up to 3 days to approve the transfer.

Online title transfer instructions (seller transfer)

Online title transfer instructions (buyer code and buyer transfer)

Before finalizing the online title transfer, the buyer will need to upload the front and back of the Michigan title. Titles that have been modified, such as crossing out a name, cannot be accepted. The following items must be completed on the title:

Your signature – The titled owner must sign when the title is transferred.
Seller’s signature – The seller must complete and sign the seller’s portion of the title.
Odometer disclosure statement – Ensure the odometer reading is accurately recorded on the title.
Statement from loan provider – If there was a loan against the vehicle, provide the signed lien termination statement or signed title from the financial institution that administered the loan.
- If a separate lien termination statement was presented with the title, the buyer must upload the statement during the online title transfer.

$15 – Title transfer fee
$10 to $15 – Plate transfer fee (varies depending on whether the vehicle receiving the plate was bought in a private sale or sold to a family member)
6 percent sales tax (not collected for vehicle sales to immediate family members)
Recreation Passport (optional) - $14 for a one-year vehicle registration; $28 for a two-year vehicle registration; $8 for motorcycle registration

A $15 late fee will be charged if the title isn’t transferred within 15 days of the sale.

Secretary of State accept online payments by eCheck or credit or debit card (additional fees apply).

Registration fee calculator

Plate transfer

You must provide proof of a valid Michigan No-Fault insurance policy to register your vehicle in Michigan.

If purchasing a new plate or transferring and renewing an existing plate, the buyer must upload Michigan No-Fault during the online title transfer.

Note: If a new plate is purchased, a 60-day permit will be available to print after the online title transferred is approved.

Michigan.gov/AutoInsurance

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

If I'm buying a vehicle from a dealer, do I handle the title transfer and vehicle registration process?

Most dealerships will handle the title transfer and vehicle registration process for you.
If I just bought a vehicle, can I drive it home without it being registered?

Yes, but only if you drive the vehicle directly to the first place of storage (usually your home) within three days of the sale. You must have the properly assigned title and proof of insurance with you.

Do not use the seller's license plate on the vehicle while driving it home. The seller should keep the license plate.
Who is required to visit a Secretary of State office when transferring a title?

Anyone whose name will be listed as an owner on the title must be present. It is advised that the seller also accompany the buyer to transfer the title. Those who cannot visit a Secretary of State office to transfer the vehicle title may appoint a designated agent or power of attorney to attend the office visit and sign the title on their behalf.

Appointment of Agent form.
How are title and registration fees determined?

Title transfer and registration fees are set by state law and cannot be amended without legislative action.
How soon do I need to transfer the title and get a license plate?

It is strongly recommended that you visit a Secretary of State office immediately after purchasing a vehicle in a private sale. However, per state law, you have 15 days to transfer the title after the date of the sale. A $15 late fee will be assessed if you transfer the vehicle title more than 15 days after the sale.

Additionally, in Michigan, you don’t need a license plate to drive a newly purchased vehicle directly home within three days of purchase.

Until you register your vehicle, keep the assigned title from the seller and proof of insurance with you whenever you’re driving. Don’t use a plate from another vehicle to drive a new vehicle home.

Schedule an office visit
Which relatives are exempt from paying sales tax when transferring a vehicle title to a family member?
If you purchase or acquire a vehicle from another person, 6% tax is due of the full purchase price or fair market value, whichever is greater.

No tax is due if you purchase or acquire a vehicle from an immediate family member. An immediate family member is defined as:

Spouse

Parent (natural or adoptive)

Brother or sister (includes half-brother and half-sister)

Child (natural or adopted)

Father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchild-in-law

Stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, or stepchild*

Grandparent or grandchild

Legal ward, or legally appointed guardian with a certified letter of guardianship

*For tax purposes, a step-relationship ends upon divorce
How do I transfer a vehicle title into my name if the previous owner is deceased?
If the deceased owner's estate isn’t probated, the surviving spouse or legal next-of-kin may transfer the vehicle into their name by presenting the following at a Secretary of State office:

The original vehicle title

A certified copy of the death certificate

Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle form (TR-29) completed by the next-of-kin

License or ID for the next-of-kin

Proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance, if the vehicle will be registered

If the estate is being probated, the personal representative appointed by Probate Court must assign the title to the surviving spouse. The spouse presents the assigned title and a copy of the personal representative's Letter of Authority document to apply for a title in their name at a Secretary of State office.

If the current title is in both your name and the deceased's name with the legend "Full Rights To Survivor" printed on it, then all that is needed to transfer the vehicle into just your name is the title and a copy of the death certificate.

Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle form (TR-29)
Can I transfer a title with an active loan against it?

A title with a lien on it may be transferred only if the loan is paid off and a statement or letter of termination is provided by the lienholder, or if a letter of authorization from the lienholder approving the transfer is submitted with the title application.
If I sell a vehicle to someone and I don't accompany the purchaser to a Secretary of State office or maintain a record of the sale, and the purchaser does not transfer the vehicle title into their name, am I liable for actions of the purchaser?

Yes. A person who cannot prove they sold their vehicle as required by Section 257.240 is responsible for a civil infraction and subject to a civil fine of $15.00. The person is also presumed to be the last titled owner and is liable for towing fees and daily storage fees if the vehicle is abandoned.

Still have questions?

More FAQs

How do I...