In a Michigan private-party sale, the seller signs the title and removes the plates before the buyer drives away. The buyer then has 15 days from the sale date to put the title in their own name with the Secretary of State, pay the $15 title fee plus 6 percent sales tax, and get plates or transfer a plate they already own. Miss the 15-day window and you owe a $15 late fee on top.
I rechecked the Michigan SOS title-transfer and plates pages on the morning of October 16, 2026. Private sales do not use the dealer RD-108 the way a dealership sale does. Dealers file RD-108 as their Application for Title and Registration / Statement of Vehicle Sale. You and the seller work from the paper Michigan title itself, either online (when both of you qualify) or at a branch office.
What the seller must do
Per the SOS plates and tabs page, the seller removes the license plate before completing a private sale. Do not leave your plate on the car for the buyer. You stay on the hook for tickets if you do. You can later transfer that plate to another vehicle titled in your name, or to an immediate family member under the rules on that page. Fill out and sign the seller section of the title, disclose the odometer where the title asks for it, and make sure any lien is released with a proper termination on the title or a signed lienholder document that names the VIN.
Buyers, match the VIN on the dash and door jamb to the title before money moves. Our VIN verification for title transfer walkthrough shows the usual stamp locations. Refuse titles with white-out, erased buyer names, or open liens you cannot document.
Buyer deadlines, fees, and the three-day drive-home rule
The SOS title transfer and vehicle registration page is blunt on timing. You have 15 days after the sale date to transfer the title. The title transfer fee is $15. Sales tax is 6 percent of the full purchase price or fair market value, whichever is greater. Plate transfer fees run $10 to $15 depending on the situation, and a new plate uses the registration fee calculator (passenger cars 1984 and newer are based on a percentage of original MSRP, then reduced for a few years). There is also an optional Recreation Passport ($15 for a one-year vehicle registration, $29 for two years). Transfer more than 15 days after the sale and the late fee is $15.
Michigan lets the buyer drive the car home without a plate for three days from the sale date, on the most direct route to the first place of storage, with the properly assigned title and proof of insurance in the car. You still cannot use the seller's plate. Once tabs and plates are issued, put them on immediately. You also need valid Michigan No-Fault insurance to register.
Online transfer vs office visit
Online title transfer works for one individual seller to one individual buyer when both have valid Michigan driver's licenses or IDs, both have online accounts, the title is a Michigan paper title (not electronic), the vehicle is a common type (car, SUV, pickup, van, minivan, motorcycle), and the buyer is not financing the purchase. The seller starts the online transfer; the buyer finishes with a code, uploads front and back of the filled-out title, and pays. SOS says approval can take up to three days. After approval, a new plate purchase can come with a printable temporary permit (the SOS page currently describes a 60-day permit after online approval).
If you do not qualify for online, schedule an office visit. Anyone whose name will appear as an owner should plan to be there, or appoint an agent. Mail is listed as unavailable for this transaction on the SOS service page I checked. Coming in from out of state with a foreign title? Read our out-of-state title transfer and CARFAX notes before you assume the Michigan checklist is identical.
Sales tax, family transfers, and rebuilt brands
Most private sales pay the 6 percent tax on price or fair market value. The SOS title-transfer FAQ lists family relationships that can qualify for a use-tax exemption (spouse, parent, child, siblings, many step and in-law relations, grandparents/grandchildren, legal ward or guardian). Final tax calls sit with the Michigan Department of Treasury, and they can ask for proof. Writing a fake low price on the title to cut tax is the sort of move that creates letters later.
If the car ever carried a salvage or rebuilt brand, stop and read Michigan salvage and rebuilt title rules before you sign. A free NMVTIS search catches many brands. For private-party shopping habits in general, our CARFAX for private-party guide covers what a report can show when there is no dealer between you and the seller.
CarVins sells official CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. Recent checkout pricing has been roughly $5.50 as a guest, $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a two-report bundle, against retail quotes that often sit near $39.99 to $44.99. Confirm the live total before you rely on any of those figures. CARFAX's vehicle history overview explains the sections. A seller PDF is not a substitute.
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