How Do I Register My Car In Michigan

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

If you are not a Michigan resident, but y'all bulldoze your out-of-land vehicle for more than 90 days in Michigan, you lot will need to register your vehicle with the Michigan Secretary of Land. Otherwise, you could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and ordered to pay a $100 fine and/or face up up to 90 days in jail.

This is an important, just little known, law that affects the many drivers from Canada, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin who enter and bulldoze regularly – perhaps daily – in Michigan. This tin can ofttimes exist for work, or it can be to spend fourth dimension with family, or to attend 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 90 days must get the vehicle registered in Michigan.

Specifically, the Michigan Vehicle Code provides that a "nonresident owner of a pleasure vehicle otherwise bailiwick to registration nether this act shall not operate the vehicle for a period exceeding xc days without securing registration in this state." (MCL 257.243(iv))

The Michigan Vehicle Code states that "operate" means "[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 register an out of state vehicle?

The Michigan Secretary of Country explains that if you are an out-of-state resident and y'all drive your ain car in Michigan for more xc days, then you must obtain a Michigan registration for your vehicle. You lot volition need to prove proof of No-Mistake automobile insurance and proof of your out-of-country registration or title.

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

"I am going to be in Michigan for an extended flow of time for work/schoolhouse. Am I required to annals my vehicle hither? According to the Michigan Vehicle Lawmaking, a vehicle possessor is required to register their vehicle in Michigan subsequently staying in the state for 90 days. It is not necessary to championship the vehicle in Michigan, however in society to comply with Michigan law, a Michigan certificate of no-fault insurance must exist obtained in order to register your vehicle with the Michigan Secretarial assistant of Land. If your out-of-state title is being held by a lien holder or leasing company, you may accept your previous country registration (it can be recently expired) or proof of your out-of-state title to whatsoever Secretarial assistant of State office. The Secretary of Country will consequence 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-error insurance, please visit the DIFS website at: www.michigan.gov/difs."

We recommend that if you are a non-Michigan resident who must meet the "nonresident owner" registration requirement, then print out and bring a re-create of the SOS folio with y'all when you go to apply for registration. It may besides be helpful to have the link (and its URL) available to show the SOS staff in case they have questions.

Practice you need to have auto insurance when registering an out of state vehicle in Michigan?

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

The auto insurance requirement applies to not-Michigan residents who drive their own vehicles in Michigan for "more than than 30 days in any agenda yr." (MCL 500.3102(1))

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

You tin can simultaneously carry both a Michigan automobile insurance policy and coverage from your home country on your vehicle if y'all are a nonresident of Michigan. From a cost perspective, it would brand sense to find an insurer who can write policies in both your home land and in Michigan.

What are the penalties for not registering an out of country vehicle in Michigan?

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

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

A driver and auto possessor can have his or her motorcar registered in multiple states. Registering your vehicle in Michigan because you are a nonresident who drives here more 90 days does not affect your vehicle'southward registration in your home state.

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

"Snowbirds" (folks who live in warm states during the wintertime and return north in the summer) who are non Michigan residents must register their out of state vehicle in Michigan if they drive here for more ninety days. "Snowbirds" who are Michigan residents must annals immediately every bit soon they bulldoze here.

Non-Michigan resident "snowbirds" must obtain registration for an out of state vehicle from the Michigan Secretary of State if they drive their own out-of-state vehicle in Michigan for more than than 90 days. (MCL 257.243(4)) In order to register, they volition need to evidence proof of valid No-Fault machine insurance coverage for their vehicle. Michigan constabulary requires not-residents who drive their own vehicle in Michigan for more than than thirty days in a calendar year to maintain Michigan No-Fault coverage. Our recommendation for not-Michigan residents who will exist driving their own vehicle regularly in Michigan is that they get their vehicle insured and registered immediately considering in the event of a crash a non-resident is not eligible for No-Fault 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 Secretary of Land (regardless of how long the vehicle will be driven in Michigan) and they must immediately maintain Michigan No-Fault automobile insurance on their vehicle. (MCL 257.216(1); 257.217(1); 500.3101(1))

As other states likely take like registration requirements, it is important to know that a vehicle tin be registered simultaneously in both Michigan and another state. (MCL 257.218(2))

Additionally, as we note in a higher place, the Secretarial assistant of State has stated that "[i]f your out-of-country title is being held by a lien holder or leasing visitor, you may take your previous land registration (it tin exist recently expired) or proof of your out-of-state title to any Secretarial assistant of Country part" 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 blow? Phone call Michigan Auto Law for a gratuitous consultation

If you or a loved one was injured in a machine blow and y'all have questions about your legal rights to pain and suffering compensation, economic damages and auto No-Fault insurance benefits, you tin can call price free anytime 24/7 at (800) 777-0028 for a costless consultation with one of our experienced motorcar accident attorneys. You tin can too get assistance past visiting our contact folio or you can utilise the chat feature on our website.