$BillOfSale.app

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 gives the buyer 15 days from the date of sale to transfer the title, with a $15 late fee after that. 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. The Secretary of State's listed private-sale steps do not include notarization; ask the SOS if in doubt. The transfer itself happens in person at a Secretary of State office (no online option for private sales), where the buyer pays 6% tax on the price or fair market value, whichever is greater.

Notarization:Not confirmed
Title deadline:15 days
Sales tax:6%
Official form:TR-11L
Free with a light watermark·Remove the watermark
Select Type
Now generating
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

Free PDF includes a light diagonal watermark. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.

State rules change. We check these requirements against official state sources, but details can go out of date. Confirm with your state's motor vehicle agency before you rely on them. If you notice anything wrong or outdated, email support@billofsale.app.

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: the buyer pays Michigan tax at registration (6% sales tax)
Tip: Write the true figure so the paperwork and the payment agree before the 6% sales tax is settled in Michigan.
5

Seller Signature

  • Seller's signature (must match title)
  • Printed name
  • Date signed
Tip: Notary rule in Michigan: The Secretary of State's private-sale requirements list no notary, but no official source says a notary is not needed.
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. Fields are set up for Michigan — no notary section, MI sales tax at 6%, and 15-day title 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?
Michigan's Application for Michigan Vehicle Title — a title application, not a report of sale. The seller's own record of when the vehicle changed hands is the signed bill of sale, so keep a copy: if the buyer delays titling and collects violations, it is 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, ID, proof of No-Fault insurance, and the 6% 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 is a recommended record of the private sale and price (the 6% tax is due on the price or fair market value, whichever is greater); 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

Go Pro

Get clean, watermark-free PDFs with unlimited downloads.

View Pricing