A title determines vehicle ownership. When you buy or inherit a vehicle, the title must be transferred into your name to verify the ownership has passed from the previous owner to you.
If you are buying a vehicle at a dealership, the dealer will process the paperwork for transferring the title to you. However, for private vehicle sales or when transferring a vehicle to a family member, the responsibility for transferring the title rests with the seller and you.
Whether you’re buying a vehicle from an individual or a family member, it is strongly recommended that both the buyer and the seller visit a Secretary of State office to transfer the title together and complete the vehicle purchase.
The buyer and/or buyer and seller will need to provide the original vehicle title (no photocopies) with the following information:
The title cannot be modified (such as scratching a name out). If there is an outstanding lien against the vehicle, the seller must provide a lien termination statement or include a signature from a representative of the financial institution financing the loan on the title.
In most cases, when a vehicle owner dies, the surviving spouse, or, if no spouse, the next closest of kin may transfer the vehicle into their name, if the estate isn’t already probated.
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, copy of the death certificate and identification.
If the vehicle is being transferred to the surviving spouse or an immediate family member, the license plate may remain on the vehicle.
If the owner of a vehicle becomes deceased and their estate is probated, the Probate Court appoints a Personal Representative to administer the deceased’s estate. The Personal Representative assigns the deceased’s title to the new owner. The new owner must visit a Secretary of State office and provide the following:
When the sole owner of a vehicle dies, and the estate isn’t probated, the vehicle may be transferred to the individuals in line for ownership using the Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle form (TR-29).
In addition, if the title doesn’t read “Full Rights to Survivor” and one of the owners dies, the deceased owner’s interest in the vehicle is inherited according to the following order of precedence:
Questions about rights or interest of next-of-kin should be referred to an attorney or probate court.
The next-of-kin with no interest in the vehicle must complete a certification using the Michigan Department of State Certification form (TR-34) to this effect and the owner transferring the vehicle into their name would complete the Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle form (TR-29).
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:
If they wish, the next-of-kin may add a co-owner at time of titling. If the co-owner is not an immediate family relative of the deceased or is not the spouse of the closest next-of-kin who is inheriting the vehicle, the co-owner Is liable for 6% sales tax.
If you need to replace your Michigan vehicle title, apply for a duplicate title through your online Secretary of State account. Duplicate titles cost $15.
If you have a lien on your vehicle, the title will be sent to your lienholder.
To add or remove a vehicle owner from the title, visit a Secretary of State office.
All listed owners on the title must be present and provide their valid license or ID in order to change or correct the title.
The fee to correct a name on a title is $15.
If your name has changed and needs to be corrected on your vehicle title, visit a Secretary of State office and provide the following:
All listed owners on the title must be present and provide their valid license or ID in order to change or correct the title.
The fee for a corrected title is $15. There is no fee to correct vehicle registration.
To correct the address on your vehicle title, visit a Secretary of State office and provide the following:
All listed owners on the title must be present and provide their valid license or ID in order to change or correct the title.
The fee for a corrected title is $15. There is no fee to correct your vehicle registration.
When you pay off or terminate a lien against a vehicle, the lienholder’s information won’t automatically clear from your vehicle title, unless the financial institution providing the loan is enrolled in the Electronic Lien and Title system (ELT).
You aren’t required to remove the lienholder from your title after paying off the lien, however, you can do so for $16 at a Secretary of State office by providing the lien termination notice or title signed by the lienholder.
All listed owners on the title must be present and provide their valid license or ID in order to change or correct the title.
If you decide not to remove the lienholder from your title, you will need to provide the lien termination notice or title signed by the lienholder when you sell the vehicle and transfer ownership.
If your lien is financed through a bank or financial institution participating in ELT, they will mail you a corrected title after the lien is resolved.
Vehicles purchased and titled out-of-state can be converted to a Michigan title by presenting the following at a Secretary of State office:
If your title is being held by an out-of-state lienholder, provide the previously listed documents and one of the following:
The Michigan Department of State will issue a Foreign Ownership-Registration Only registration – also known as a memo registration - for your vehicle. A Michigan title is not issued in this case and the out-of-state title remains the ownership document.
All listed owners on the title must be present and provide their valid license or ID in order to change or correct the title.
Certain vehicles in Michigan require specialty titles, which are obtained through a slightly different process than what is common for standard vehicle titles. Special titles are issued based on the vehicle’s condition and assembly.
A salvage title is issued for a vehicle that has become a "distressed vehicle". A vehicle becomes "distressed" when one or more major component parts have been wrecked, destroyed, damaged, stolen, or are missing to the extent that the total estimated damage is from 75% to less than 91% of its pre-damaged cash value. The vehicle owner's insurance company will determine the amount of damage to the vehicle.
A regular vehicle title is replaced with a salvage title. Salvage and rebuilt titles are orange in color and list the vehicle's color and non-salvageable major component parts.
A vehicle with a salvage title cannot be plated or used on public roads until it is recertified by a specially trained police officer and retitled.
You, your insurance provider, or a dealership may apply for a salvage title for a vehicle, motorcycle, trailer coach, or titled trailer by providing the following:
Submit the required documents and payment by visiting a Secretary of State office or mail the required them to:
Michigan Department of State
Internal Services Section
7064 Crowner Drive
Lansing, MI 48918
A scrap title is issued to a vehicle that has one or more major component parts (such as bumpers, fenders, transmission, engine, hood, doors, frame, tailgate, body, etc.) that have been wrecked, destroyed, damaged, stolen, or missing to the extent that the total estimated cost of repair (parts and labor) for the vehicle is 91% or more of its pre-damaged value.
A Michigan scrap title is red and has the wording "Scrap Title" at the top, while regular Michigan titles are green. After a scrap title is issued, the vehicle may be used only for parts or scrap metal. It can’t be re-titled or returned to the road using the existing vehicle identification number.
If you’re selling an older model vehicle for scrap, you can write the word(s) “scrap” or “junk” on the original vehicle title, which will ensure the vehicle can’t be titled or put back on the road again.
You, your insurance provider, or a dealership may apply for a scrap title for a vehicle, motorcycle, trailer coach, or titled trailer by providing the following:
Submit the required documents and payment by visiting a Secretary of State office or mail the required them to:
Michigan Department of State
Internal Services Section
7064 Crowner Drive
Lansing, MI 48918
After a vehicle titled with a salvage title has been repaired or rebuilt, it can be titled and registered for road use again if it has passed an inspection by a specially trained law enforcement officer.
Before scheduling an inspection with a certified salvage inspector, complete the Application for Salvage Vehicle Inspection form with a licensed mechanic.
At the inspection, provide the assigned title or bills of sale for parts used in rebuilding the vehicle.
During the inspection, salvage vehicle inspection officer will complete a Salvage Vehicle Recertification form (TR-13B). The inspection will verify ownership of the repair parts used and compliance with all Michigan Vehicle Code equipment and safety requirements.
Upon passing inspection, the officer will issue you the completed and signed Salvage Vehicle Recertification form.
Upon passing inspection, bring the following with you to a Secretary of State office:
You will be issued a new title with the legend “REBUILT SALVAGE”. This will alert future owners that the vehicle was once classified as “totaled” by an insurance company under a previous owner.
Assembled vehicle titles are assigned to vehicles that are:
Golf carts can't be registered as on-road vehicles. However, if the vehicle manufacturer's certificate of origin (MCO) indicates the vehicle meets federal regulations for on-road use, the vehicle may be titled as a low-speed vehicle and registered with a passenger license plate (similar to cars and trucks).
1. To obtain an assembled vehicle title, you will need:
2. A certification statement summarizing the vehicle’s assembly that includes:
3. A Vehicle Number/On-Road Equipment Inspection completed by a Michigan police officer.
The inspection will verify the vehicle has all equipment required for on-road registration.
Completion of the inspection form by law enforcement doesn’t qualify the vehicle for a title or registration. Michigan Department of State regulation agents conduct a final inspection of the vehicle before placement of the assembled VIN sticker.
4. Payment
A new vehicle information number (VIN) will be assigned to your vehicle for $10. When applying for your assembled vehicle title, tax is due on all parts, unless it was paid at time of purchase.
A Regulatory Monitoring Division agent will contact you to schedule the final inspection appointment and vehicle inspection location. Upon passing the final inspection, the agent will place the assigned VIN sticker on the vehicle. The new title will be mailed.
NOTE: Assembled vehicles aren’t eligible for temporary registrations
Before a utility vehicle or an all-terrain vehicle can be used on public roads, it must pass the full equipment and safety inspection as defined on the inspection form.
Be aware that a receipt is required confirming that the installed windshield is U.S. Department of Transportation certified and is laminated glass. A polycarbonate or Plexi-glass windshield isn’t acceptable. Also, the parking brake must be mechanical, and not hydraulic. Mechanical brake calipers activated by a hand lever and cable assembly can be bought from aftermarket vendors.
Brands are placed on titles of vehicles that will be used or have been used as police vehicles, taxis, and municipal vehicles. Flood damaged vehicles and rebuilt vehicles are also branded. Once entered, these brands stay on all future titles.
Titles with these brands are orange colored.
