How to Transfer a Vehicle Title in Michigan
Buying or selling a car privately in Michigan is simple if you do it in the right order — and expensive if you don't. Here's the whole process, start to finish.
Quick Answer
How do you transfer a car title in Michigan?
In Michigan, the seller signs the title over to the buyer and the buyer must transfer the title into their own name at a Secretary of State office within 15 days of the sale. The buyer brings the assigned title, proof of Michigan no-fault insurance, and a valid driver's license or state ID, and pays the title transfer fee plus 6% use tax on the purchase price unless an exemption applies. License plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle. A bill of sale is not always required but is strongly recommended, and an odometer disclosure is required for most vehicles under the applicable federal age threshold. If the title is lost, the seller applies for a duplicate before the sale.
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The step-by-step process
Confirm the seller actually holds the title
The seller must have the Michigan title in their own name. If it is lost, damaged, or still in a previous owner's name, stop and fix that first — a duplicate title application solves a lost title, and it has to be done by the person named on it.
Clear any lien on the title
If a lender is listed, the loan must be paid off and the lender must provide a lien termination or release. Until that is handled, the vehicle cannot cleanly transfer.
Agree on the price and write a bill of sale
Record the date, the price, the year/make/model, the VIN, the odometer reading, and both parties' names and addresses. Both sign. Michigan does not require a bill of sale for every transfer, but it is your only proof of what was paid and what condition was represented.
Complete the odometer disclosure
For most vehicles below the federal exemption age, the odometer reading must be disclosed at the time of transfer. The Michigan title has a section for this. Do not guess or round — write the actual reading.
The seller assigns the title
The seller signs the assignment section on the back of the title exactly as their name appears on the front, and fills in the buyer's name, address, sale date, price, and odometer. Do not leave the buyer's name blank — an open title is a problem for both sides.
The seller removes the plate
In Michigan, the plate belongs to the seller, not the car. Take it off. The seller can transfer it to another vehicle or turn it in.
The buyer gets insurance before driving
Michigan requires no-fault insurance on the vehicle, and the Secretary of State will ask for proof at the counter. Arrange it before the appointment.
The buyer transfers the title within 15 days
Go to a Secretary of State office with the signed title, proof of insurance, and a valid license or state ID. Transferring after 15 days generally adds a late fee.
Pay the transfer fee, tax, and plate cost
Expect the title transfer fee, 6% Michigan use tax on the purchase price unless an exemption applies, and registration/plate costs. Transfers between certain close relatives can be tax-exempt when the relationship is properly declared.
Keep your copies
The seller keeps a copy of the signed title and the bill of sale. The buyer keeps the registration and watches for the new title in the mail. Both sides should keep the odometer record.
What each side needs
| Item | Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan title in their name | Required | Receives it assigned |
| Lien release, if a lender was listed | Required | Should verify |
| Bill of sale | Recommended, keep a copy | Recommended, keep a copy |
| Odometer disclosure | Completes it | Confirms it |
| License plate | Keeps it | Obtains their own |
| Michigan no-fault insurance | Cancels on that vehicle | Required before transfer |
| Valid driver's license or state ID | For signing | Required at the counter |
| 15-day transfer deadline | n/a | Buyer's responsibility |
| Title fee, 6% use tax, plate cost | n/a | Buyer pays |
Fees and tax rates are set by the State of Michigan and can change. Confirm current amounts with the Secretary of State before your appointment.
Where people get stuck
The three situations we see most often are a lost title the seller never replaced, a lien the seller forgot was still recorded, and a buyer who waited past 15 days and now owes a late fee. All three are fixable, and all three are cheaper to solve before money changes hands than after. If you are in the middle of one of them, call or text us — we will tell you which paperwork you actually need.
Key Terms
- Certificate of title
- The state-issued document proving legal ownership of a vehicle.
- Title assignment
- The section on the back of the title where the seller signs ownership over to a named buyer.
- Odometer disclosure
- The required written statement of the vehicle's mileage at the time of transfer.
- Use tax
- The 6% Michigan tax a buyer pays on a private vehicle purchase, collected at the time of title transfer unless an exemption applies.
- Lien termination
- Written confirmation from a lender that the loan is satisfied and its interest in the vehicle is released.
People Also Ask
Need the paperwork prepared?
We prepare Michigan bills of sale, title transfer packets, duplicate title applications, and ownership certification paperwork. Every matter is reviewed first, then we send a written quote — nothing is purchased online.
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Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.