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The bottom line: Michigan title transfers go through the Secretary of State, not a DMV. You sign the title over, remove your license plates, and your legal responsibility ends there.
The buyer has 15 days to complete their registration. Michigan has no required release of liability form, so keeping copies of your signed title and bill of sale for 18 months is your best protection after the sale.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Michigan doesn’t require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $15.00 and can be applied for online or by submitting Form TR-11L. Allow up to 14 days for mail delivery.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 15 days to register the car before facing a $15 late fee.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Michigan has no required form. Keep a copy of your signed title and bill of sale for at least 18 months as proof of the sale.
- Bill of sale: Not legally required in Michigan for private sales, but it’s recommended to protect yourself from future liability.
- Emissions testing: Michigan doesn’t require it for any vehicle. You can skip this step entirely.
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Step-by-Step Process for Michigan
Step 1: Prepare Your Michigan Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Michigan driver’s license or ID – Name must match exactly what appears on the title
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Apply online through your Secretary of State account, or download Form TR-11L and submit it at your local office with your ID and $15.00.
Allow up to 14 days for mail delivery. Pay $20.00 for same-day service at the office.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender must release the lien before you can transfer the title. In Michigan, lenders either hold the paper title or release it electronically through the Secretary of State’s ELT system.
Contact your lender to request a lien release letter or arrange for the payoff to happen at closing. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or legally changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change when you visit the Secretary of State.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
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Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Michigan, especially in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Michigan has no emissions testing, so older cars and high-mileage vehicles attract strong local interest. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car in good condition.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
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Step 7: Complete the Michigan Title Transfer
The assignment section is on the back of the Michigan title. Use blue or black ballpoint pen only. Write legibly and do not make any corrections.
Fill in the buyer’s full legal name exactly as it appears on their Michigan driver’s license or state ID. Include their current mailing address, the sale date, and the sale price.
You must also complete the odometer disclosure in the designated section of the title. Michigan requires accurate mileage disclosure for vehicles model year 2011 and newer under 16,000 pounds. If the title doesn’t have space for the odometer reading, use Form BDVR-108 (Odometer Mileage Statement).
Enter whole numbers only with no tenths. Both you and the buyer must sign and date the odometer section.
Never cross out, use white-out, or try to fix a mistake on the title. Any error makes the title invalid. If you make a mistake, stop and apply for a duplicate title before completing the sale.
Joint ownership rules: If the title shows two owners connected by “AND,” both owners must sign the assignment. If the title shows “OR,” only one owner needs to sign.
Online title transfer option: Michigan offers online transfers through the Secretary of State portal for eligible transactions. Both parties must have Michigan driver’s licenses, the title must be a physical paper title (not electronic), and the sale must be between one individual seller and one individual buyer with no buyer financing. Processing takes up to 3 business days.
The buyer must take the signed title to a Secretary of State branch office within 15 days. If they miss this deadline, they’ll pay a $15 late fee.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Michigan. It’s still smart protection for you, especially since Michigan has no specific release of liability form.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. You can use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes. Include the vehicle year, make, model, VIN, odometer reading, sale price, sale date, and both parties’ names and signatures.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Michigan License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Michigan, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own within 30 days, or destroy them. Note that immediate family transfers are exempt from the plate transfer requirement. The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at the Secretary of State.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Contact the Michigan Secretary of State to report the sale after it’s complete. Michigan has no required release of liability form, but reporting the sale creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Keep a copy of your signed title and bill of sale for at least 18 months. Michigan law protects sellers from violations that occur after the sale if you can prove the vehicle was legally transferred.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Michigan Secretary of State Resources
State Resources:
- Michigan Secretary of State
- Find a branch office near you at michigan.gov/sos/locations
Phone Support:
- 1-888-SOS-MICH (1-888-767-6424)
Michigan Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $15.00 (mail) or $20.00 (same-day) | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 15 days from the date of sale to visit a Michigan Secretary of State office and complete the title transfer. If day 15 falls on a weekend or state holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Missing the deadline costs them a $15 late fee. Make sure your buyer knows about this deadline since it’s shorter than many other states.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Michigan?
No, Michigan doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary.
Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title. Both you and the buyer sign the assignment section on the back.
When is a bill of sale required in Michigan?
Michigan doesn’t legally require a bill of sale for private vehicle sales. The signed title and odometer disclosure serve as the official record of the transaction.
It’s still a good idea to create one. Michigan has no specific release of liability form, so a bill of sale is your best record of when the sale happened and what was agreed to.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Michigan?
Yes, but you need to coordinate the lien release with your lender first. In Michigan, lenders either hold the paper title or release it electronically through the Secretary of State’s Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system.
Contact your lender to get a payoff statement and arrange for the title to be released to you before or at the time of sale. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Michigan forms do I need?
It depends on whether the estate went through probate. If it did, you’ll need letters testamentary from the probate court to transfer the title into your name first.
For smaller estates, Michigan allows an affidavit process to transfer a vehicle without full probate if the total value of all vehicles is under $25,000. Bring your affidavit and the original title to a Secretary of State branch office. Once the title is in your name, you can sell it like any other vehicle.
Both my spouse and I are on the Michigan title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title reads. If both names are connected by “AND,” both of you must sign the assignment section for the sale to be valid.
If both names are connected by “OR,” only one owner needs to sign. Check the title carefully before the buyer shows up, since missing a signature means starting the process over.
What if I make a mistake on the Michigan title?
Don’t try to fix it with white-out or cross-outs. Any correction makes the title invalid in Michigan, even a single crossed-out letter.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form TR-11L. The fee is $15.00 by mail or $20.00 for same-day service at a branch office.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Michigan require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. Sign the title over, remove your plates, and give the buyer the signed title along with a bill of sale and any maintenance records.
The buyer will need to handle registration in their home state after completing any required Michigan title transfer steps. Note that the online transfer option is only available if both parties have Michigan driver’s licenses, so an out-of-state buyer will need to visit a Secretary of State office in person.
Do Michigan license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Michigan license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. The buyer must get new plates when they register the car at the Secretary of State within 15 days.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Michigan?
No. Michigan has no required release of liability form unlike many other states. Once you sign the title over, Michigan law protects you from violations that occur after the sale.
Your best protection is keeping a copy of the signed title and bill of sale for at least 18 months. This proves you legally transferred the vehicle in case any issues come up later.
Article Update History
This article was reviewed against the Michigan Secretary of State's official vehicle transfer requirements and fee schedule.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.