How Much Does It Cost to Register A Car in Michigan?
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Keeping your car registered is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a car owner. Not only do registrations help protect you from loss of your vehicle or theft, keeping your car registered helps your state track and plan for the amount of traffic on the road. It’s an important measure in a lot of ways of population, economic health, and other important indicators for Michigan. If you’re wondering how much does it cost to register a car in Michigan, those things are important to remember.
The cost of registration helps to cover the state’s costs for filing it and maintaining records. Registration fees can also help contribute to environmental protection, road maintenance, and improving state infrastructure.
Here’s what you need to anticipate the cost of registering your car in Michigan.
Who Keeps Track Of Vehicle Registrations In Michigan?
The state of Michigan tracks vehicle registrations through the Secretary of State’s office, or the SOS. You can register your car online, over the phone, or in person in the state of Michigan.
If you buy your car from a dealership, they may handle your first registration for you, but the registration will need to be renewed on a regular schedule. Michigan offers 6 and 12-month vehicle registrations, and longer in some cases. In most cases, though, Michigan vehicle registrations need to be renewed on the owner’s birthday. Registrations are all processed with the SOS.
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How Much Does It Cost To Register Your Vehicle In Michigan?
The cost of your vehicle registration depends on the value of your car and a few other factors. You’ll need to know the make, model, and year when you’re trying to figure out how much does it cost to register a car in Michigan. It’s also a good idea to know the title history of your vehicle (if you’re the first owner or if it’s had a different owner). You should also look up the MSRP (manufacturer suggested price) to get a good sense of the value of your vehicle.
The MSRP can be looked up on the Michigan SOS website or in the paperwork that came with the car if you bought it new.
When you’re registering your vehicle, the actual value of the vehicle doesn’t matter as much as the estimated value. That means that things like cosmetic damage, crash damage, or poor maintenance damage won’t lower the cost of your registration fees.
There are several ways registration fees are calculated in Michigan. That’s relatively different from other states where vehicle registration is usually a flat fee; in Michigan, there is a wide range of possible registration fees.
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Vehicles Made In 1983 And Before
Since the value of a vehicle was different in 1983, and because the value of come collector vehicles has actually gone up, registration fees are calculated differently. For older cars, your registration fee will be calculated based on the weight of the vehicle, and your charge varies depending on how long your registration lasts.
Other vehicles registration cost is determined by the weight of the vehicle. You can look up your vehicle by choosing the year it was made from these lists from the Secretary of State’s office.
The registration for any vehicle made in 1983 or before will be based on the weight of the vehicle.
Vehicles Made in 1984 Or After
For vehicles made in 1984 or later, most will have registration fees based on the MSRP of the vehicle. That means that more expensive vehicles, or vehicles that have retained their value better, may be more expensive to register than cheaper models.
If you’re wondering how much does it cost to register a car in Michigan, there is no one answer. Registration costs a wide range of fees and can be hundreds of dollars.
Additional Fees And Costs
Like any state, Michigan may add to the cost of registration with certain fees and restrictions if you don’t stay on top of vehicle registration. Knowing what fees might be applied to your registration is an important part of figuring out how much does it cost to register a car in Michigan.
For instance, if your car is 6 months overdue for vehicle registration, you will be asked to pay for 24 months of registration instead of the standard 12 months. Any vehicle that is overdue for registration will have an additional $10 late registration fee, which can stack with the 24-month registration requirement when your vehicle is 6 months late or later.
If you are transferring the registration of your vehicle, like in the case that a parent gifts a car to their child, a $10 transfer fee and a $5 transfer fee will both be added to the cost of the registration.
Fortunately, there is no fee for duplicate registrations on the same vehicle. If your proof of registration is stolen, you can request a new one.
You will need to re-register your vehicle even if your license plate is expired. You’ll also need to get a license plate replacement as soon as possible.
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Temporary Permits
In some cases, you may want to get a temporary permit instead of a full 12-month registration. In those cases, you still need to register the car, but registering will be much cheaper.
Michigan offers both 30- and 60-day registration fees. 30-day registration permits are 1/10th of the cost of annual registration, or $20, whichever is more. 60-day registrations are 1/5th of the cost of annual registration, or $40, whichever is greater.
Final Thoughts
Registering your car needs to happen near when it expires. You can register your car slightly before the registration expires, especially in cases when your registration expires on a business holiday or when the SOS will be closed.
Michigan does allow a 30-day grace period for late vehicle registrations. However, you are required to register the vehicle and replace the registration tags on your license plate within those 30 days. Registering the vehicle without placing the stickers doesn’t count.
Keeping your vehicle registered on time is the best way to minimize your registration fees and make vehicle ownership more affordable.
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