Title and transfer guidance in Michigan
The responsible authority is Michigan Department of State. Continue to its official site for current title and transfer instructions.
Before you complete the transfer
Michigan Secretary of State says a title transfer verifies ownership and can be completed at a Secretary of State office or online when eligible. The state’s checklist calls for an original completed title, accurate odometer information, and lien termination evidence when relevant.
- Compare the VIN and vehicle description on the title with the vehicle.
- Complete and sign the title assignment and record the odometer accurately.
- Obtain a lien termination letter or the accepted lien-release notation when a loan has been paid.
- Use a Michigan Secretary of State office or the eligible online title-transfer service and confirm current insurance and tax requirements.
Documents to check
- Original vehicle title completed by buyer and seller
- Driver license or state ID
- Michigan No-Fault insurance when registering
- Odometer statement and lien termination documentation when applicable
Limits and next checks
- Michigan title brands can remain on future titles; Factory VIN does not interpret title brands.
- Out-of-state titles and vehicles with special status have additional requirements.
- Confirm current fees, forms, and eligibility on the Secretary of State page before relying on this checklist.
Sources for this guide
Reviewed 2026-09-04. Confirm the requirements for your transaction with the responsible authority.
- Michigan Secretary of State — Titles
- Michigan Secretary of State — Title Transfer and Vehicle Registration
Print a used-car viewing checklist · See a sample factory sheet
Official exits, not in-app records
Factory VIN does not query, scrape, proxy, or prefill state forms. It cannot confirm title, lien, ownership, registration, odometer, salvage, theft, accident, inspection, or tax status.
Michigan title and transfer guidance
Official title and transfer guidance
Official guidanceOfficial title and transfer guidance published by the authority.
Limit: Guidance only. Factory VIN does not retrieve or present a vehicle-specific result from this authority.
Continue to Michigan Department of State
Questions to confirm before transfer
Use Michigan Department of State's official title and transfer guidance before a transfer. Confirm current documents, fees, and transaction channel directly with the authority.
- Ask which original title, lien-release, bill-of-sale, odometer, and seller documents apply.
- Confirm the current transfer channel, deadline, and title fee with the authority.
- Confirm that seller and buyer signatures meet the authority's current instructions.
Confirm current forms, fees, deadlines, and eligibility with Michigan Department of State before a sale or transfer.
National checks
Exact-VIN recall status
Check this exact VIN for unrepaired safety recalls on the official NHTSA site.
Continue to NHTSATheft and salvage records from participating insurers
NICB describes the limits and participating data sources on its own site.
Continue to NICB VINCheckApproved vehicle-history providers
Choose a provider from the official directory. Factory VIN does not receive provider results.
Continue to U.S. Department of Justice NMVTIS directory