Yes, ATVs have titles in Michigan. Since April 1, 1991, state law has required anyone who buys or acquires an off-road vehicle to apply for a certificate of title through the Secretary of State, and it is illegal to sell or buy one without transferring that title.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.81103 You have 15 days from the date of purchase to file the application, and you’ll pay an $11 title fee plus 6% use tax on the purchase price.
Which Vehicles Need a Title
Michigan’s definition of an ORV is broad. It covers any motor-driven off-road recreation vehicle capable of cross-country travel over land, snow, ice, marsh, or swampland without a road or trail. Standard four-wheel ATVs, side-by-sides, off-road motorcycles, and amphibious machines all qualify. Registered snowmobiles, farm vehicles used for farming, emergency and law enforcement vehicles, utility vehicles operating on their own easements, construction and logging equipment, and registered aircraft are excluded.2Consumer Product Safety Commission. Michigan Code 324.81101 – Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act
There is one meaningful exception on the title side. If your ATV was built before 1991 and was never titled, you don’t have to go through the standard title process. Ownership can transfer using a bill of sale that lists the year, make, VIN, and the names and addresses of both buyer and seller.3Michigan Department of State. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft An owner of a qualifying older machine who wants a title can still apply for one.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.81103
How to Title a New or Used ATV
The paperwork depends on whether the machine is new or used. For a new ATV that has never been titled, bring the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.81109 For a used ATV, bring the existing title properly signed over by the previous owner. Either way, bring a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID.
A bill of sale is strongly recommended. It should include the purchase price, the date of sale, and identifying information for both parties. The purchase price matters because the Secretary of State collects a 6% use tax on the transfer before processing the title.5Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 205.93 On top of the use tax, the title application itself costs $11.6Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.81110
All of this information goes onto the Application for Michigan Vehicle Title, Form TR-11L, available on the Secretary of State website.7Michigan Secretary of State. Application for Michigan Vehicle Title You’ll be asked for the VIN, year, make, and model. Fill out everything before your appointment.
You have 15 days from the date you bought or received the ATV to file. If a dealer sold it to you, the dealer is responsible for submitting the application within 15 days of delivery, though you still sign the paperwork.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.81109 Private-party buyers handle the filing themselves at a Secretary of State branch office. Scheduling an appointment through the online portal cuts the wait substantially.
At the branch, a clerk reviews your documents, verifies the VIN, and collects the title fee and use tax. You walk out with a receipt. The permanent certificate is printed in Lansing and mailed to you; expect it within about 14 days based on the Secretary of State’s stated timelines for similar title documents.8Michigan Department of State. Title Replacement/Duplicate
Titling an ATV With No Paperwork
If you bought a used ATV without a properly assigned title, you can still get one, but the path is longer and more expensive. You’ll need a Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond, filed on Form TR-121, in an amount equal to twice the vehicle’s value. The bonding company must be licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and you pay a premium based on the bond amount.9Michigan Department of State. Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond TR-121
You’ll also complete a TR-205 Self-Certification of Vehicle Ownership form. If the Secretary of State has no existing Michigan record for the vehicle, you’ll need a TR-54 VIN inspection from a Michigan law enforcement agency.9Michigan Department of State. Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond TR-121
The bond stays active for three years. If someone comes forward during that window with a legitimate ownership claim, the bond covers the dispute. Use tax is still due, calculated at 6% of the vehicle’s value (treated as half the bond amount) or the purchase price, whichever is higher.9Michigan Department of State. Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond TR-121
The practical lesson: get the title signed over at the time of purchase. The bonded path works, but the cost and effort are real.
A Title Isn’t a License to Ride
Titling proves ownership. It does not give you permission to operate the ATV on public land or on roads. To ride on eligible county roads, state and national forest roads open to ORV use, the frozen surface of public waters, state-designated ORV trails, or scramble areas, you need an ORV license, and in some cases a separate trail permit, from the Department of Natural Resources. Neither is required to ride exclusively on land you own or control, or as an invited guest on someone else’s private property.10Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Purchase Permit, Learn Requirements
A titled ATV also cannot be driven on Michigan roads just because it has a title. To operate an ORV on public roads, you must convert it and title it as an assembled vehicle, obtain standard vehicle registration, and carry a Michigan No-Fault insurance policy. The conversion process involves additional inspections beyond the standard ORV title.3Michigan Department of State. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft Without that conversion, your ATV is limited to off-road use, designated ORV routes, and the road crossings specifically permitted under state law.
Penalties for Skipping the Title
Selling or transferring an ATV without a properly assigned title is a misdemeanor in Michigan. So is buying one without obtaining a title in your name. Operating an unlicensed ORV on public land is also a misdemeanor.10Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Purchase Permit, Learn Requirements Misdemeanor ORV offenses can carry fines between $250 and $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both. Civil infractions for lesser violations can carry fines up to $500. Serious violations may also lead to seizure of the ORV itself.