New Michigan residents must title and register at a Secretary of State office as soon as they establish residency. The office says there is no grace period. The file needs the ownership documents and Michigan no-fault insurance. The new-resident page does not list an inspection as a step that must happen first.
What do I do, in order?
- Schedule a Secretary of State office visit.
- If you are converting an out-of-state title, bring the out-of-state title, proof of identity, and proof of Michigan no-fault insurance. If the vehicle was registered in another state, the titles page also lists the out-of-state registration.
- If more than one owner is on the title, all owners appear, or one brings an appointment-of-agent form.
- If a lienholder in another state holds the title, use the foreign-ownership path described below instead of waiting for a Michigan title.
- Pay the tax the office assesses. The new-resident page does not state the tax. The Treasury use-tax page states a 6 percent use tax on a vehicle bought from someone who is not a licensed dealer, paid to the Secretary of State before the registration is transferred.
What documents do I bring?
To convert an out-of-state title, the new-resident FAQ and the titles page list:
- The out-of-state vehicle title.
- A driver's license or state ID.
- Michigan no-fault insurance.
- The out-of-state registration, if the vehicle was registered in another state.
- A lien termination statement, or the title signed by the lienholder, if a lien has been paid off.
If the lienholder holds the title out of state, bring Michigan no-fault insurance and either the out-of-state registration, current or expired less than 90 days, or proof of title. Proof can be a fax or photocopy of the title, a memo title, a recently validated title application, a vehicle record on the other state's letterhead, or an electronic lien-and-title record from a vendor such as DealerTrack, VINTek, Premier eTitleLien, PDP, or DMVDesk that contains the title number. The title number cannot be handwritten. The Secretary of State then issues a foreign-ownership registration, also called a memo registration. A Michigan title is not issued. The out-of-state title stays the ownership document.
Which inspections apply?
The new-resident page does not state a safety inspection, an emissions test, or a VIN inspection for a passenger car titled in another state. The agency's page does not state this. Confirm with the Secretary of State.
A nonresident may use another state's registration for up to 90 days. New residents must title and register immediately. An import that must meet EPA and DOT standards is a different file, not this move.
Do I owe tax on a car from another state?
The new-resident FAQ does not state a sales or use tax or a credit for tax paid to another state. The Treasury use-tax page says 6 percent use tax is due on a vehicle purchased or transferred from anyone who is not a licensed dealer, paid to the Secretary of State before the registration is transferred. That page does not state a credit for tax paid to another state. Confirm a car you already owned with Michigan Treasury. See sales tax and use tax when a car moves.
A page for a Michigan resident who buys a vehicle while temporarily out of state lists a $15 title fee, $16 with a loan, and 6 percent sales tax. That page is not the new-resident conversion. Do not use those figures for a car already titled in your name.
What insurance must the car have?
Proof of Michigan no-fault insurance is required. The DIFS choice-of-limits form says bodily injury liability is $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident unless you choose otherwise, and you cannot choose below $50,000 and $100,000. If you make no choice, the policy is issued at $250,000 and $500,000.
A DIFS purchasing FAQ still says residual limits are $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage in another state. The two DIFS pages do not match. Confirm with DIFS before you buy the policy you will show at the branch.
Can I drive it before it is registered?
The new-resident page does not describe a temporary plate or an in-transit permit. It says there is no grace period once you are a resident. A nonresident's 90-day use of another state's registration, described on the titles FAQ, does not apply after you establish residency. Confirm with the Secretary of State before you drive. See temporary tags and trip permits.
What fees does the agency list?
The new-resident page does not state a title fee or a plate fee. The $15 and $16 figures above are on a different page. Confirm the new-resident fee at the office.
What special cases does the agency describe?
All owners must appear, or one brings an appointment-of-agent form. If the lienholder will not release the title, the foreign-ownership registration issues plates without a Michigan title. See when the lender has the title. The page does not describe a military or student exception. The 90-day period is for nonresidents.
What if the car arrives on a truck?
Once you establish residency, the Secretary of State says the title and registration are due immediately, whether or not you drove the car into Michigan. Insurance must be Michigan no-fault before the office will title or register it. Car shipping in Michigan and the cost page cover the haul. RideShipper does not title the car or sell the no-fault policy. A sample sedan range is $376–$573 as of , model v1 RideShipper estimate, updated 2026-11-09, based on 3,588 prices that customers reported paying in MoveAdvisor reviews, adjusted for U.S. diesel at $6.13 a gallon for that week (U.S. Energy Information Administration). In testing, the typical difference between an estimate and a reported price was about 20% of the estimate. This is an estimate, not a quote: the carrier sets the price. No pickup date was supplied, so this estimate uses November 2026. There is no seasonal direction adjustment for this route and month.. Change the cities on the calculator.
Car shipping cost calculator
See registering a car after you move and insurance proof before registration.