How To Get A Car Registered In Michigan

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

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

This is an important, only 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 frequently be for work, or it can be to spend time with family, or to attend schoolhouse or college in the state of Michigan.

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

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

Specifically, the Michigan Vehicle Code provides that a "nonresident owner of a pleasure vehicle otherwise subject area to registration nether this human activity shall not operate the vehicle for a period exceeding xc days without securing registration in this state." (MCL 257.243(4))

The Michigan Vehicle Code states that "operate" means "[b]eing in actual 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 Secretarial assistant of State explains that if you are an out-of-state resident and yous drive your own car in Michigan for more than than xc days, then you must obtain a Michigan registration for your vehicle. You will need to show proof of No-Mistake auto insurance and proof of your out-of-state registration or championship.

The SOS spider web page on this issue explains the registration process as follows:

"I am going to exist in Michigan for an extended period of fourth dimension for work/school. Am I required to register my vehicle here? Co-ordinate to the Michigan Vehicle Lawmaking, a vehicle possessor is required to register their vehicle in Michigan later staying in the land for 90 days. It is not necessary to championship the vehicle in Michigan, yet in social club to comply with Michigan police, a Michigan document of no-fault insurance must exist obtained in order to register your vehicle with the Michigan Secretary of State. If your out-of-state title is being held past a lien holder or leasing company, you may take your previous state registration (it can be recently expired) or proof of your out-of-state title to any Secretarial assistant of State office. The Secretarial assistant of Land will issue a Michigan registration and plate to a vehicle with an out-of-country title. For a listing of insurance companies authorized to effect Michigan no-fault insurance, please visit the DIFS website at: www.michigan.gov/difs."

Nosotros recommend that if you are a not-Michigan resident who must run into the "nonresident owner" registration requirement, then print out and bring a copy of the SOS page with you when you go to apply for registration. Information technology may also be helpful to have the link (and its URL) bachelor to show the SOS staff in case they have questions.

Do you demand to have auto insurance when registering an out of country vehicle in Michigan?

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

The automobile insurance requirement applies to non-Michigan residents who drive their own vehicles in Michigan for "more than thirty days in whatsoever calendar year." (MCL 500.3102(ane))

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

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

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

If you lot are an out-of-state resident and you drive your ain vehicle in Michigan for more than 90 days, the penalties for non registering an out of state vehicle in Michigan are the following: (1) information technology is a misdemeanor; (two) information technology carries a $100 fine; and (3) it could result in 90 days in jail. (MCL 257.215; 257.901(two))

What if my car is already registered in my abode country?

A driver and automobile owner tin can have his or her car registered in multiple states. Registering your vehicle in Michigan because you are a nonresident who drives here more than xc days does not impact your vehicle's registration in your dwelling state.

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

"Snowbirds" (folks who live in warm states during the winter and return northward in the summer) who are non Michigan residents must register their out of state vehicle in Michigan if they drive here for more than than 90 days. "Snowbirds" who are Michigan residents must register immediately as soon they drive here.

Non-Michigan resident "snowbirds" must obtain registration for an out of country vehicle from the Michigan Secretarial assistant of State if they drive their own out-of-state vehicle in Michigan for more than 90 days. (MCL 257.243(iv)) In lodge to register, they will demand to show 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 than 30 days in a calendar year to maintain Michigan No-Mistake coverage. Our recommendation for non-Michigan residents who will be driving their ain 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 non 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 State (regardless of how long the vehicle volition be driven in Michigan) and they must immediately maintain Michigan No-Fault automobile insurance on their vehicle. (MCL 257.216(1); 257.217(ane); 500.3101(1))

As other states likely have similar registration requirements, information technology is important to know that a vehicle tin be registered simultaneously in both Michigan and some other state. (MCL 257.218(2))

Additionally, as we note higher up, the Secretary of State has stated that "[i]f your out-of-land championship is existence held past a lien holder or leasing company, you may take your previous state registration (it can be recently expired) or proof of your out-of-state title to any Secretary of State office" and the "Secretary of State will upshot a Michigan registration and plate to a vehicle with an out-of-state championship."

Accept y'all been injured in a car accident? Call Michigan Auto Law for a costless consultation

If y'all or a loved one was injured in a car accident and you take questions about your legal rights to hurting and suffering bounty, economic damages and car No-Fault insurance benefits, you lot can call toll free anytime 24/vii at (800) 777-0028 for a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys. You can also go help by visiting our contact folio or you lot can use the conversation feature on our website.