Michigan Car Bill of Sale Template

A Bill of Sale is not required to title and register a privately purchased passenger vehicle in Michigan.

Even so, keeping a sales record can be useful. The Secretary of State recommends that sellers keep a copy of the completed title and a record of the sale for at least 18 months.

A Bill of Sale can offer proof of the agreed price, sale date, and other written terms. This is especially useful if a dispute arises about any of these details in the future.

It can also help if you ever lose the car's title, or if you need to report the sale for tax purposes.

For an ordinary car sale in Michigan, a Bill of Sale usually should include:

• Buyer's and seller's full names and addresses
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, model, and body type
• Sale date and purchase price
• Odometer reading
• Mileage status, when applicable
• An "as-is" statement, when applicable
• Buyer and seller signatures

Odometer disclosure is usually also entered on the title. If the title has no space for it, Michigan provides the Odometer Mileage Statement (BDVR-108).

You can use the sample below as a guide when drafting your own document. It shows one way to organize the parties, vehicle information, and sale terms in a clear written record.

After a private purchase, buyers in Michigan must register the transfer in ownership. You have 15 days to transfer the title.

You can use the official Application for Michigan Title and Registration Statement of Vehicle Sale (RD-108) offered by the Department of State.

The buyer must also apply for a new license plate, vehicle registration, and tab, or transfer a plate they already own.

Eligible one-person-to-one-person Michigan title transfers may be completed online. Other transactions can be handled at a Secretary of State office.

Required Vehicle Registration Forms in Michigan

A private transfer generally requires:

• The original title, completed and signed by the buyer and seller
• Odometer information on the title, or Form BDVR-108 when needed
• A lien termination document, if applicable
• Proof of valid Michigan No-Fault insurance
• A valid driver's license or state ID

A separate Car Bill of Sale is not normally required for a Michigan-titled passenger vehicle.

Michigan Vehicle Registration Fees

The title transfer fee is $15, while transferring an existing plate generally costs $10 to $15.

Michigan also charges 6% sales tax. This is based on the purchase price or fair market value, whichever is greater, unless an exemption applies.

New registration fees vary by vehicle. A $15 late fee applies if the title is transferred more than 15 days after the sale.

No. You do not need to get your Michigan Car Bill of Sale notarized.

Michigan's standard private-transfer instructions require the seller and buyer to complete and sign the title. Notarization is not listed as part of an ordinary title transfer.

The Bill of Sale therefore serves as a supporting transaction record. It is not accepted as a substitute for the signed title.