Selling or junking a car in Michigan, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Michigan Secretary of State using TR-11L Duplicate Title Application; it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller fills in their part of the original title, including the actual odometer reading, their name, address and signature, and the buyer's name and address; every listed owner has to sign, and crossed-out or altered entries void the title. A lien termination statement is needed if there was a loan. The seller should keep a copy of the title and a record of the sale for at least 18 months.
- Deal with your plates. The seller takes the plate off before the buyer takes the vehicle (except for immediate family transfers) and can move it to another vehicle they own; a plate that won't be reused should be destroyed or recycled.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Michigan has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in Michigan
The seller fills in their part of the original title, including the actual odometer reading, their name, address and signature, and the buyer's name and address; every listed owner has to sign, and crossed-out or altered entries void the title. A lien termination statement is needed if there was a loan. The seller should keep a copy of the title and a record of the sale for at least 18 months.
Official page: michigan.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Michigan
Any one owner named on the title can request a duplicate, either through online services or at an office, where an instant title is available. Out-of-state residents use a separate duplicate title application.
- Form: TR-11L Duplicate Title Application — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: michigan.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. The seller takes the plate off before the buyer takes the vehicle (except for immediate family transfers) and can move it to another vehicle they own; a plate that won't be reused should be destroyed or recycled.
Source: michigan.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Michigan
Michigan issues salvage titles for heavily damaged vehicles and scrap titles when damage reaches 91% or more of value; a scrap-titled vehicle can only be used for parts or scrap metal. For older vehicles going to scrap, the owner can write 'scrap' or 'junk' on the original title so it can never be retitled.
Official page: michigan.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Michigan
If the title is lost before the sale, the owner should get a duplicate title. When that isn't possible, the state lists other options: a court order, a surety bond, or, for older and lower-value vehicles, a TR-205 self-certification.
Official page: michigan.gov
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Michigan title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Michigan?
Any one owner named on the title can request a duplicate, either through online services or at an office, where an instant title is available. Out-of-state residents use a separate duplicate title application. The form is TR-11L Duplicate Title Application.
Do I need to notify Michigan when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Michigan. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Michigan Secretary of State.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Michigan?
The seller takes the plate off before the buyer takes the vehicle (except for immediate family transfers) and can move it to another vehicle they own; a plate that won't be reused should be destroyed or recycled.
Can I junk a car without a title in Michigan?
If the title is lost before the sale, the owner should get a duplicate title. When that isn't possible, the state lists other options: a court order, a surety bond, or, for older and lower-value vehicles, a TR-205 self-certification. Confirm the details with the Michigan Secretary of State.
Official sources
- Michigan Secretary of State — homemichigan.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlemichigan.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (TR-11L Duplicate Title Application)michigan.gov
- TR-11L Duplicate Title Application formmichigan.gov
- License plates after a salemichigan.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesmichigan.gov
- Selling without a titlemichigan.gov
Summarized from official Michigan government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Michigan Secretary of State before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.