Last Update: September 16, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Michigan

Michigan vehicle registration records are maintained by the Secretary of State and may require updating after an address change, a legal name change, a title correction, a vehicle purchase, a move to Michigan, or a transfer of plates to another vehicle. In Michigan, some registration changes can be completed online or by mail, while title-linked corrections must be handled at a Secretary of State office.

Michigan Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

Michigan’s vehicle records commonly require action when any of the following events occur:

• A residential or mailing address has changed, and the registration record must be updated through the address change service.
• A legal name has changed, and the registration cannot be corrected until the title is corrected under the title correction process.
• The registration record contains incorrect owner, vehicle, or related information that needs correction through the Secretary of State.
• A vehicle has been purchased or otherwise transferred, requiring title transfer and registration processing under Michigan’s vehicle ownership guidance.
• A vehicle previously titled in another jurisdiction is being brought into Michigan and converted to a Michigan record, or registered in Michigan as a foreign ownership registration when the out-of-state title is held by a lienholder.
• A registration plate is being moved from one vehicle to another under the plate transfer procedure.

Where to File a Michigan Vehicle Registration Change

Michigan does not use county registration offices for these transactions. Vehicle registration changes are handled through the Secretary of State.

Under MCL 257.233, plates must be removed and properly transferred or retained for reassignment when title or ownership changes.

Michigan Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

Michigan provides a state-level process for changing the address on a vehicle registration. The Secretary of State states that an address on a license or ID and an address on a vehicle registration may need to be updated separately unless both are changed during the same online session.

For an online vehicle registration address update, the Secretary of State requires:

• Michigan driver’s license or ID number,
• the last 4 digits of the Social Security number, and
• the license plate number.

After the address is corrected online, the updated registration paperwork may be downloaded and printed directly from the browser through the online vehicle address service.

Michigan also allows mail filing outside the renewal period through the Change of Address request form, which is returned to the Michigan Department of State at P.O. Box 30764, Lansing, MI 48909-8264.

If the address on the title also needs correction, the Secretary of State treats that as a separate title transaction handled at an office visit with the title and supporting identification.

Michigan Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change affects both the title record and the registration record in Michigan. The Secretary of State states that a name on the vehicle registration cannot be changed until it is first corrected on the vehicle’s title.

For a name-related title correction, the Secretary of State requires:

• the vehicle title,
• the vehicle registration,
• a corrected driver’s license or an official document verifying the name change,
• payment of the $15 title correction fee, and
• appearance by all owners listed on the title.

If an owner cannot appear, Michigan allows the use of the Appointment of Agent form with a photocopy of the owner’s driver’s license. There is no fee to correct the registration once the title record has been corrected.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Michigan Registration Record

Michigan draws a clear line between correcting a registration record and replacing a lost registration document.

If the record itself is wrong, the correction process depends on what information is affected:

• Address correction: handled through the Secretary of State’s address update channels.
• Name correction: handled by correcting the title first and then updating the registration.
• Adding or removing an owner: handled at a Secretary of State office because both title and registration records are affected.

If the problem is not an incorrect record but a missing registration document, Michigan treats the matter as a duplicate credential issue rather than a correction. The Secretary of State’s license plate and tab guidance states that a lost vehicle registration can be replaced and printed instantly through the online account system, and a copy can also be obtained at a Secretary of State office.

Title mistakes are handled differently. The title correction process applies to changes in name and other title data, and the titles guidance states that all listed owners must appear for most title corrections. If an out-of-state title is held by a lienholder, Michigan may issue a Foreign Ownership-Registration Only registration instead of a Michigan title, while the out-of-state title remains the ownership document.

Plate changes are handled separately from title correction. For a plate transfer, the Secretary of State requires the current registration or plate number, the title for the vehicle receiving the plate, or a copy of the title application, and Michigan identification.

Michigan Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

Michigan’s official sources identify the following deadlines and time-sensitive rules:

• A buyer must transfer the title within 15 days from the date of sale.
• Proof of valid Michigan No-Fault insurance is required to register or renew a vehicle, and an out-of-state policy cannot be used for Michigan registration, as stated in the Secretary of State’s license plate and registration guidance.
• Michigan law requires the owner or registrant of a vehicle required to be registered in the state to maintain security for personal protection insurance, property protection insurance, and residual liability insurance under MCL 500.3101.
• Registration tabs and plates expire on the vehicle owner’s birthday, according to the Secretary of State’s plate and tab guidance.
• When renewing by mail, an address change may be entered in the designated change-of-address section on the renewal notice.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Michigan?

The Michigan Department of State, through the Secretary of State, administers vehicle registration changes, title corrections, and related transfer transactions. The table below shows the official statewide fees Michigan publishes for each common registration-change situation, using an em dash where the state page does not list a specific amount.

Contact Information

Michigan Department of State
430 W. Allegan St., Richard H. Austin Building - 4th Floor, Lansing, MI 48918
Phone: (888) 767-6424
Official Website: Michigan Department of State