The Michigan Department of State / Secretary of State will never ask people to send money or personal information via text message. Please contact the Michigan Department of Attorney General for more information on how to identify scams and to file a complaint.
Titles are required for:
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issue ORV decals. Also, most ORV dealers issue these decals. Check your local telephone directory for the DNR or ORV dealer office nearest you.
Helmet use is strongly encouraged when riding a moped for all moped users. Helmets are required for all moped operators under the age of 19.
Eye protection, such as goggles, isn’t mandated but is encouraged.
No.
Michigan law allows owners of watercraft registered in another state use of Michigan waterways up to 60 days after which a Michigan registration is required. That means if a boat is stored or anchored in Michigan, and exclusively used on Michigan waterways over 60 days, the watercraft must be registered in Michigan.
All sailboats, motorized watercraft, and hand-powered watercraft over 16 feet must be registered. A three-year transferable registration is issued, expiring March 31.
If you register your watercraft in Michigan, you can renew your registration decal by mail up to 45 days in advance. Request a replacement decal by mail or via email at RenewalByMail@Michigan.gov.
Use the following link and refer to the section on assembled vehicles.
ORVs, ATVs and off-road motorcycles that have been upgraded for on-road use must be insured by a valid Michigan No-Fault insurance policy before they can be issued a registration and license plate. Before modifying an ORV, ATV, or off-road motorcycle, check to make sure your vehicle can be insured.
Mopeds must be registered at a Secretary of State office unless operated solely on private property.
All snowmobiles must be registered unless used only on private property. The snowmobile registration number is printed on the three-year snowmobile decal. Snowmobile decals must be displayed on "each side of the forward half of the cowl above the foot well of the snowmobile."
Owners may elect to register snowmobiles 26 or more years old and owned solely as a collector's item as a historic snowmobile. A non-expiring historic snowmobile registration is issued and is placed above or below the headlight or, if the historic snowmobile was not originally equipped with a headlight, on the forward half of the cowl above the footwell.
After transferring ownership into your name, you may ask to cancel the previous title at a Secretary of State office, provided that there is no longer a lien on the watercraft.
You can change your address on your recreational vehicle or watercraft registration through your online Secretary of State account or by submitting a Change of Address form by mail.
To correct your name on your title or registration, you will need to visit a Secretary of State office.
A trailer’s weight may be found on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) or on the registration. If you don’t have either of these documents, you will need to have the trailer weighed at a certified scale. By law, a trailer may be towed without a license plate, using the most direct route, to a certified scale. Certified scales are typically found at truck stops, grain elevators, scrap metal recyclers, and junk yards. Bring the scale weight receipt when you visit a Secretary of State office.
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique identifier of 17 characters assigned to a motor vehicle, ORV, or snowmobile by the manufacturer. Vehicles with a different VIN format (such as imported vehicles) or that are missing a VIN, may have one assigned by MDOS.
The HIN (Hull Identification Number) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to a vessel or watercraft by the manufacturer. Watercraft manufactured before 1972 weren’t issued a HIN.
The VIN or HIN may be found on the vehicle:
ORV's are titled but not registered through the Secretary of State. ORV's used on public land must display an annual ORV decal. ORV decals are issued through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Watercraft may be renewed at Online Services, at a self-service kiosk, by mail or in person at a Secretary of State office.
Snowmobiles are not titled. To transfer ownership, simply complete the back of your snowmobile registration. If you have lost the registration, then a complete bill of sale with the year, make, vehicle identification number, registration number (if available) and the names and addresses of the buyer and seller to transfer ownership.
No, if you don’t live in Michigan, you don’t need a Michigan registration to temporarily use your snowmobile in Michigan. However, you will need to purchase a Michigan Department of State trail permit to operate your snowmobile on public lands.
If your vehicle was built before 1991 and doesn’t have a title, you can use a bill of sale with the following information to transfer ownership:
If the new owner does not want a title and the watercraft does not need a title to perfect a lien (show a secured party), the previous owner's title is surrendered at the time the buyer transfers the registration into his/her name and pays any tax due. The Secretary of State branch office will arrange for the cancellation of the previous title.
Watercraft that aren't normally titled may be titled in order to add a lienholder to the record. You will need to visit a Secretary of State office and bring your ID and proof of ownership, such as the watercraft registration, to apply for the title.
Fundamentally, a trailer does not have a motor and it is towed behind another vehicle. A trailer coach is defined as a vehicle designed and used as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel purposes that is drawn by another vehicle. This classification includes vehicles such as a pop-up campers, fifth-wheels, and travel trailers.
Trailer coaches and trailers must be registered with a permanent trailer plate. All trailer coaches and pick-up campers must be titled, as well as any trailers weighing 2,500 pounds or more.
Residents with valid driver’s license, GDL Level 1 license with a moped privilege added; or a GDL Level 2 or Level 3 license can operate a moped without the moped license.
If you don’t have a driver’s license, you need a moped license.
To get a moped license:
You aren’t eligible for a moped license if your driver’s license is suspended, revoked, or denied.
The watercraft record needs to be researched. To initiate this, you may visit your local Secretary of State office, send a message at Michigan.gov/ContactSOS or call the Michigan Department of State Driver and Vehicle Information Center at 1-888-SOS-MICH (1-888-767-6424).
Michigan law section 257.32b defines a moped as having:
If the vehicle exceeds any of these criteria, it is classified as a motorcycle.
The assigned registration and the Coast Guard documentation papers in the new owner's name must be shown to register a documented vessel.
All watercraft on Michigan waters, including privately owned lakes and waterways, must be registered except:
Watercraft 16 feet or less, propelled by oars or paddles, and not used for rental or commercial purposes;
Non-motorized canoes and kayaks not used for rental or commercial purposes, rafts, surfboards, sailboards, and swim floats, regardless of length;
Watercraft registered in another state and used only temporarily in Michigan.
For most watercraft, the registration fee is based on length. All registrations expire on March 31 in the third year of issuance.
You must stay to the right side of the traffic lane and ride with traffic.
Not allowed:
Trail Permit stickers are displayed on the front of the snowmobile, centered on the hood directly above the headlight.
Snowmobile trail permits cost $52 each and expire on Sept. 30 of each year. Trail permits are sold by agents of the Department of Natural Resources, including sporting goods stores, local retailers, snowmobile dealers, department stores, resort motels, etc. The generated revenue is designated to develop and maintain snowmobile trails.
In addition to the regular three-year snowmobile registration, all snowmobiles used on public land must display an annual Snowmobile Trail Permit sticker. This applies to both residents and nonresidents. Snowmobiles used on private land or used only on frozen public waters for ice fishing are exempt from the trail permit.
A trail permit is not required for snowmobiles registered as a historic snowmobile.
