How To Register A Vehicle In Michigan

Registering An Out Of State Vehicle In Michigan: Here's What To Know

If you are not a Michigan resident, only you lot drive your out-of-land vehicle for more than 90 days in Michigan, you will demand to register your vehicle with the Michigan Secretarial assistant of Land. Otherwise, yous could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and ordered to pay a $100 fine and/or face to 90 days in jail.

This is an important, but little known, law that affects the many drivers from Canada, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin who enter and drive regularly – perhaps daily – in Michigan. This can frequently be for work, or it tin be to spend time with family unit, or to nourish schoolhouse or college in the state of Michigan.

What is the rule for registering an out of state vehicle in Michigan?

Michigan law requires that a "nonresident owner" of a vehicle who drives his or her vehicle in Michigan for more than xc days must get the vehicle registered in Michigan.

Specifically, the Michigan Vehicle Code provides that a "nonresident owner of a pleasance vehicle otherwise field of study to registration nether this act shall non operate the vehicle for a period exceeding ninety days without securing registration in this country." (MCL 257.243(iv))

The Michigan Vehicle Lawmaking states that "operate" ways "[b]eing in bodily physical control of a vehicle" (MCL 257.35a(a)) and an "operator" ways "a person" who "[o]perates a motor vehicle upon a highway or street." (MCL 257.36(a))

How to annals an out of land vehicle?

The Michigan Secretary of Land explains that if you are an out-of-land resident and y'all drive your own car in Michigan for more than ninety days, then y'all must obtain a Michigan registration for your vehicle. You will need to show proof of No-Fault auto insurance and proof of your out-of-state registration or championship.

The Michigan Secretary of State explains the non-Michigan resident registration procedure as follows on its FAQs/Vehicles/Titles folio (topic 37 of 48):

"I am going to exist in Michigan for an extended menstruation of time for work/school. Am I required to register my vehicle here? According to the Michigan Vehicle Code, a vehicle owner is required to register their vehicle in Michigan after staying in the state for 90 days. Information technology is non necessary to title the vehicle in Michigan, yet in order to comply with Michigan law, a Michigan document of no-error insurance must be obtained in order to register your vehicle with the Michigan Secretary of State. If your out-of-state title is beingness held by a lien holder or leasing company, you may have your previous state registration (it can exist recently expired) or proof of your out-of-land title to any Secretary of Country part. The Secretary of State will issue a Michigan registration and plate to a vehicle with an out-of-state title. For a list of insurance companies authorized to issue Michigan no-fault insurance, please visit the DIFS website at: www.michigan.gov/difs."

We recommend that if you are a not-Michigan resident who must meet the "nonresident owner" registration requirement, so impress out and bring a copy of the SOS page with you when you get to apply for registration. Information technology may besides exist helpful to take the link (and its URL) available to show the SOS staff in case they have questions.

Do you need to accept automobile insurance when registering an out of state vehicle in Michigan?

If you are an out-of-land resident and you must register your vehicle in Michigan because you lot drive your vehicle in the country for more than 90 days, then 1 of the requirements for registration is showing proof that you are maintaining a valid Michigan No-Error car insurance policy on your vehicle.

The automobile insurance requirement applies to non-Michigan residents who drive their own vehicles in Michigan for "more than 30 days in any calendar yr." (MCL 500.3102(1))

It is very important that out-of-state residents who drive their own vehicles in Michigan for more than 30 days pay attention to and comply with the auto insurance requirement because the penalties for driving without insurance in Michigan are the harshest in the country.

You lot tin simultaneously bear both a Michigan machine insurance policy and coverage from your abode land on your vehicle if you are a nonresident of Michigan. From a cost perspective, it would make sense to find an insurer who can write policies in both your home state and in Michigan.

What are the penalties for non registering an out of country vehicle in Michigan?

If you are an out-of-state resident and y'all bulldoze your own vehicle in Michigan for more than 90 days, the penalties for not registering an out of state vehicle in Michigan are the following: (ane) information technology is a misdemeanor; (2) it carries a $100 fine; and (3) it could result in 90 days in jail. (MCL 257.215; 257.901(2))

What if my car is already registered in my home state?

A driver and car owner can have his or her car registered in multiple states. Registering your vehicle in Michigan because you are a nonresident who drives hither more than 90 days does not touch your vehicle's registration in your home land.

What "snowbirds" need to know about registering an out of state vehicle in Michigan

"Snowbirds" (folks who live in warm states during the winter and render due north in the summer) who are non Michigan residents must annals their out of state vehicle in Michigan if they drive here for more than 90 days. "Snowbirds" who are Michigan residents must annals immediately as presently they drive hither.

Not-Michigan resident "snowbirds" must obtain registration for an out of land vehicle from the Michigan Secretary of State if they drive their ain out-of-state vehicle in Michigan for more than than 90 days. (MCL 257.243(four)) In order to register, they will need to evidence proof of valid No-Error auto insurance coverage for their vehicle. Michigan law requires non-residents who bulldoze their own vehicle in Michigan for more than 30 days in a calendar twelvemonth to maintain Michigan No-Error coverage. Our recommendation for non-Michigan residents who will be driving their own vehicle regularly in Michigan is that they get their vehicle insured and registered immediately because in the event of a crash a non-resident is not eligible for No-Error benefits unless he or she owned a vehicle that was both insured and registered in Michigan. (MCL 500.3113(c))

"Snowbirds" who are Michigan residents and own a vehicle that they intend to drive on Michigan roadways must immediately register their out of state vehicle with the Michigan Secretarial assistant of State (regardless of how long the vehicle will be driven in Michigan) and they must immediately maintain Michigan No-Fault car insurance on their vehicle. (MCL 257.216(ane); 257.217(1); 500.3101(1))

As other states likely accept similar registration requirements, it is important to know that a vehicle can exist registered simultaneously in both Michigan and some other state. (MCL 257.218(ii))

Additionally, as we annotation above, the Secretary of State has stated that "[i]f your out-of-state title is being held past a lien holder or leasing company, you may take your previous state registration (it tin exist recently expired) or proof of your out-of-state title to any Secretarial assistant of State office" and the "Secretary of State volition issue a Michigan registration and plate to a vehicle with an out-of-state title."

Have yous been injured in a car accident? Call Michigan Auto Constabulary for a free consultation

If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcar accident and you have questions about your legal rights to hurting and suffering compensation, economical damages and auto No-Fault insurance benefits, y'all can telephone call price gratis anytime 24/7 at (800) 777-0028 for a gratuitous consultation with 1 of our experienced car accident attorneys. You lot can also become help by visiting our contact page or y'all can utilize the chat feature on our website.