, all owners must sign the title and include some additional information. The buyer and seller go to a Secretary of State branch office together to complete the title transfer.

Selling a car is more than just collecting money from the buyer and handing over the keys. To be compliant with state law, you’ll need to do some paperwork and make sure you follow the legal procedures in your particular state.

What you need to sell a car in Michigan

To complete a private sale in Michigan, you’ll need to fill out some information on the

certificate of title

. Specifically, you’ll need to include:

Vehicle mileage

Sale date

Sale price

Your signature and the signatures of all listed owners

Lien release, if applicable

Pre-sale inspection

A pre-sale inspection is not required in the state of Michigan.

Documenting the sale

As the seller, it’s important to keep proof of the sale. This will release you from liability for any damages or legal violations attributed to the vehicle after you’ve sold it. Proof of sale can be a photocopy of the reassigned title or another document, such as a bill of sale.

To verify the transaction on a bill of sale, simply include:

Vehicle mileage

Sale date

Sale price

Signature/s of all listed owners

It’s recommended that you hold onto this document for at least 18 months following the sale of the vehicle.

MORE:

Michigan bill of sale

Signing the title over

To transfer your vehicle to a new owner, you and all listed owners must endorse the title.

On the back of the title, sign your name, and include the vehicle mileage, sale date, and sale price.

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Reporting the sale

It’s best if the seller and buyer go together to the local Secretary of State (SOS) branch office to complete the title transfer.

If you don’t go to the SOS office together to report the transfer, keep in mind that the vehicle remains in the seller’s name until the buyer takes the assigned title and gets a new title in their name. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you go with the buyer to make sure the transfer of ownership is complete.

You also can protect yourself by keeping a photocopy of the reassigned title or other documentation of the sale. This will help ensure you’re not responsible if anything happens with the vehicle after the sale date.

MORE:

Michigan title transfer

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