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How to Fill Out a Bill of Sale in Michigan

A step-by-step guide to every field on a Michigan vehicle bill of sale — with a free filled-in example you can download instantly.

Michigan puts the seller in the driver's seat of the paperwork: the state's form (TR-11L, Report of Sale) is something the SELLER completes and keeps as evidence, and Michigan runs one of the shortest buyer clocks in the country — 15 days to title, with a $15 late fee. Fill out the bill of sale with the eight standard elements (parties, vehicle, VIN, odometer, price, date, signatures), record the plate number too — Michigan plates stay with the seller, who can transfer them to a new vehicle — and complete the title assignment on the spot. No notarization is required anywhere in Michigan's chain. The transfer itself happens in person at a Secretary of State office (no online option for private sales), where the buyer pays 6% use tax on the recorded price.

Notarization:Not required
Title deadline:15 days
Sales tax:6%
Official form:TR-11L
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Vehicle Bill of Sale · Michigan
Michigan Requirements: Transfer title within 15 days. 6% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Vehicle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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Step-by-Step: Every Field Explained

1

Seller Information

  • Full legal name
  • Current mailing address
  • City, state, ZIP code
  • Phone number (optional but recommended)
Tip: This line gets compared to the title at the Michigan DMV — same spelling, same order, same initials.
2

Buyer Information

  • Full legal name
  • Current mailing address
  • City, state, ZIP code
  • Phone number (optional)
Tip: The buyer's ID, this line, and the eventual registration should read identically — start the chain correctly.
3

Vehicle Description

  • Vehicle year (4-digit)
  • Make (manufacturer — e.g., Ford, Toyota)
  • Model (e.g., F-150, Camry)
  • Body style (e.g., sedan, pickup, SUV)
  • Color
  • VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) — 17 characters, found on the dashboard or door jamb
  • Odometer reading at time of sale
Tip: Check every character of the VIN against both the dashboard plate and the ownership document; close enough isn't a concept the registry recognizes.
4

Sale Details

  • Sale price in US dollars (write out both numerals and words — e.g., "$8,500 — Eight thousand five hundred dollars")
  • Payment method (cash, check, electronic transfer)
  • Date of sale (month / day / year)
  • Note: buyer owes 6% Michigan sales tax on the sale price at registration
Tip: The declared price sets the 6% sales tax in Michigan; a lowball figure just triggers a book-value assessment instead.
5

Seller Signature

  • Seller's signature (must match title)
  • Printed name
  • Date signed
Tip: Michigan asks for no notary on this document — the two signatures complete it. Keep a copy of the signed page for several years.
6

Buyer Signature

  • Buyer's signature
  • Printed name
  • Date signed
Tip: Two originals, both fully signed, one per party — the cheap habit that wins later disputes.

Get a Pre-Filled Michigan Example

Use the generator above to create a filled-in Michigan bill of sale example in under 60 seconds. All fields are pre-configured for Michigan requirements — notarization not required, MI sales tax at 6%, and 15-day transfer deadline noted.

VehicleCarUsed CarMotorcycle

Other Forms Required in Michigan

Along with the bill of sale, you may need these additional documents for a Michigan vehicle transfer:

  • Form TR-11L (Application for Michigan Vehicle Title) — the buyer's title application
  • Odometer Mileage Statement (if the title has no odometer space)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Form TR-11L and who keeps it?
Michigan's Report of Sale — completed by the seller at the time of sale and retained as proof of when the vehicle changed hands. If the buyer delays titling and collects violations, the TR-11L plus your bill of sale are the seller's protection.
How strict is Michigan's 15-day deadline?
Statutory: title transfer within 15 days of the sale, $15 late fee after. Combined with the in-person-only SOS requirement, the buyer should book the office visit before the money changes hands.
What happens to the plates in Michigan?
They stay with the seller — remove them at handover. The seller can transfer the plate to another vehicle they own; the buyer needs their own plate (new or transferred) at the SOS visit.
Can any part of a Michigan private sale be done online?
No — private-party title transfers require an in-person Secretary of State visit with the signed title, bill of sale, and 6% use tax payment. Book an appointment online to skip the queue.

Michigan Bill of Sale Hub

All requirements, tax rates, deadlines, and forms for Michigan.

View Michigan guide →
Official Form

TR-11L

A bill of sale documents the private sale and the price for the 6% use tax; the buyer files TR-11L with the assigned title at a Secretary of State branch (or completes the transfer online) to get the new title.

TR-11L guide →

Michigan Templates by Vehicle

Michigan Vehicle Bill of SaleMichigan Car Bill of SaleMichigan Used Car Bill of SaleMichigan Motorcycle Bill of SaleMichigan Boat Bill of SaleMichigan Trailer Bill of SaleMichigan Horse Bill of SaleMichigan ATV Bill of SaleMichigan Gun / Firearm Bill of SaleMichigan RV Bill of SaleMichigan General Bill of SaleMichigan Free Printable Bill of SaleMichigan Odometer Disclosure Bill of SaleMichigan As-Is Bill of SaleMichigan Gift Bill of Sale

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