Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 257 / Act 300 of 1949
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216 (2026)

Vehicles subject to registration and certificate of title provisions; pandemic expiration extension.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.216 Vehicles subject to registration and certificate of title provisions; pandemic expiration extension.

Sec. 216.

    (1) Every motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, when driven or moved on a street or highway, is subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions of this act except the following:

    (a) A vehicle driven or moved on a street or highway in conformance with the provisions of this act relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, or nonresidents.

    (b) A vehicle that is driven or moved on a street or highway only for the purpose of crossing that street or highway from 1 property to another.

    (c) An implement of husbandry.

    (d) Special mobile equipment. The secretary of state may issue a special registration to an individual, partnership, corporation, or association not licensed as a dealer that pays the required fee, to identify special mobile equipment that is driven or moved on a street or highway.

    (e) A vehicle that is propelled exclusively by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires though not operated on rails.

    (f) Any vehicle subject to registration, but owned by the government of the United States.

    (g) A certificate of title is not required for a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that weighs less than 2,500 pounds.

    (h) A vehicle driven or moved on a street or highway, by the most direct route, only for the purpose of securing a scale weight receipt from a weighmaster for purposes of section 801 or obtaining a vehicle inspection by a law enforcement agency before titling or registration of that vehicle.

    (i) A certificate of title is not required for a vehicle owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale or lease, even though incidentally moved on a street or highway or used for purposes of testing or demonstration.

    (j) A bus or a school bus that is not self-propelled and is used exclusively as a construction shanty.

    (k) A certificate of title is not required for a moped.

    (l) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), for 3 days immediately following the date of a properly assigned title or signed lease agreement from any person other than a dealer, a registration is not required for a vehicle driven or moved on a street or highway for the sole purpose of transporting the vehicle by the most direct route from the place of purchase or lease to a place of storage if the driver has in his or her possession the assigned title showing the date of sale or a lease agreement showing the date of the lease.

    (m) A certificate of registration is not required for a pickup camper, but a certificate of title is required.

    (n) A new motor vehicle driven or moved on a street or highway only for the purpose of moving the vehicle from an accident site to a storage location if the vehicle was being transported on a railroad car or semitrailer that was involved in a disabling accident.

    (o) A boat lift used for transporting vessels between a marina or a body of water and a place of inland storage.

    (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a registration issued to a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, when driven or moved on a street or highway, that expires on or after March 1, 2020 is valid until March 31, 2021. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a registration issued to a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, when driven or moved on a street or highway, that expires after March 31, 2021 but before August 1, 2021, is valid until 120 days after the date of the expiration. If the registration issued to a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, when driven or moved on a street or highway, that is used for commercial purposes expires on or after March 1, 2020, the registration is valid until March 31, 2021. If the registration issued to a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, when driven or moved on a street or highway, that is used for commercial purposes expires after March 31, 2021 but before August 1, 2021, the registration is valid until 120 days after the date of the expiration.

    (3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, until March 31, 2021, a properly assigned title or signed lease agreement from any person other than a dealer is considered proof of registration of the vehicle.

    

    

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1951, Act 69, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951 ;-- Am. 1953, Act 110, Eff. Oct. 2, 1953 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 110, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1957 ;-- Am. 1959, Act 155, Eff. Mar. 19, 1960 ;-- Am. 1964, Act 248, Eff. Jan. 1, 1965 ;-- Am. 1968, Act 139, Imd. Eff. June 11, 1968 ;-- Am. 1974, Act 70, Eff. Apr. 1, 1975 ;-- Am. 1976, Act 74, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1976 ;-- Am. 1976, Act 439, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 1977 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 75, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1981 ;-- Am. 1983, Act 186, Imd. Eff. Oct. 25, 1983 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 32, Imd. Eff. June 13, 1985 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 214, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1988 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 286, Imd. Eff. Dec. 26, 1989 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 98, Eff. Jan. 1, 1991 ;-- Am. 1992, Act 102, Imd. Eff. June 25, 1992 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 141, Imd. Eff. Mar. 25, 1996 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 642, Eff. Jan. 1, 2003 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 539, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 2009 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 32, Eff. Dec. 1, 2009 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 127, Imd. Eff. July 1, 2020 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 241, Eff. Oct. 28, 2020 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 304, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2020 ;-- Am. 2021, Act 71, Imd. Eff. July 29, 2021

Compiler's Notes:

    Enacting section 1 of Act 71 of 2021 provides:

    "Enacting section 1. Sections 216(2), 217(11) and (12), 226(11) and (13), 255(4), 301(6), 306(1), (2), (4), and (6), 306a(4), 309(11), 312k(1), 314(7), 801k(1) and (2), and 811(5) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.216, 257.217, 257.226, 257.255, 257.301, 257.306, 257.306a, 257.309, 257.312k, 257.314, 257.801k, and 257.811, as amended by this amendatory act, are intended to be retroactive and apply retroactively."

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 72 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1957–2026 · leading case: Ford Motor Co. v. Dep't of Treasury, 884 N.W.2d 587 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).
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Ford Motor Co. v. Dep't of Treasury, 884 N.W.2d 587 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 5× “Ford contends that a vehicle is only licensed if it meets the registration and certificate-of-title provisions of MCL 257.216. 4 However, MCL 257.216(a) *586 exempts from registration requirements “[a] vehicle driven or moved on a street or highway in conformance with the…”
Auto-Owners Ins. v. Stenberg Bros., 575 N.W.2d 79 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 8× “§ 257.216; M.S.A. § 9.1916, which provides that "[e]very motor vehicle, .”
Parks v. Detroit Auto. Inter-Ins. Exch., 393 N.W.2d 833 (Mich. 1986). · cites it 6× “are not required to be no-fault covered because under MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916 they are not required to be registered in the State of Michigan, the section defining "motor vehicle" in the no-fault act, § 3101(2)(c), specifically and separately excludes motorcycles and mopeds, but…”
People v. Metamora Water Serv., Inc, 741 N.W.2d 61 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “MCL 257.216 addresses vehicles that are subject to registration and certification provisions and provides in relevant part: Every motor vehicle, pickup camper, trailer coach, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, when driven or moved upon a highway, is subject to the…”
Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. v. Stark, 468 N.W.2d 498 (Mich. 1991). · cites it 3× “Defendants point to MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916, which subjects to registration "£e]very motor vehicle .”
Mull v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 510 N.W.2d 184 (Mich. 1994). · cites it 4× “"Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and incidentally operated or moved over the highways, including farm tractors, road construction or maintenance machinery.”
Lee v. Detroit Auto. Inter-Ins. Exch., 315 N.W.2d 413 (Mich. 1982). · cites it 3× “2 MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916 provides: "Every motor vehicle, trailer coach, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, when driven or moved upon a highway shall be subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions of this act except: “(f) Any type subject to registration…”
Clevenger v. Allstate Ins., 505 N.W.2d 553 (Mich. 1993). · cites it 2× “" [11] MCL 257.216( l ); MSA 9.1916( l ) was amended after the accident in this case by 1988 PA 214 , which added: For 3 days immediately following the date of a properly assigned title from any person other than a vehicle dealer, a registration need not be obtained for a motor…”
People v. Dunbar, 879 N.W.2d 229 (Mich. 2016). “225(2) is violated when a trailer hitch is, in fact, being used to tow a trailer and the combination of the hitch and the trailer obstructs the registration plate. We note that trailers are permitted under the statutory scheme, see MCL 257.”
Bianchi v. Auto Club of Mich., 467 N.W.2d 17 (Mich. 1991). “MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916. While the use of the term "motor vehicle” within the definition "motor vehicle” appears somewhat circular at first blush, under the circumstances it does not create an ambiguity.”
Farm Bureau Ins. v. Allstate Ins., 592 N.W.2d 395 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “§ 257.216(a); MSA 9.1916(a), exempts "nonresidents" from the Michigan registration requirement.”
Titan Ins. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 817 N.W.2d 621 (Mich. Ct. App. 2012). “MCL 257.216[Z]; MSA 9.1916[!]. Implicit in this legislative scheme is the idea that a seller who complies with the statutory requirements by removing the registration plate, registration certificate, and certificate of insurance from the vehicle, is no longer a registrant of the…”
Show all 72 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(1) — 7 cases
Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. v. Stark, 468 N.W.2d 498 (Mich. 1991). “Defendants point to MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916, which subjects to registration "£e]very motor vehicle .”
Clevenger v. Allstate Ins., 505 N.W.2d 553 (Mich. 1993). “" [11] MCL 257.216( l ); MSA 9.1916( l ) was amended after the accident in this case by 1988 PA 214 , which added: For 3 days immediately following the date of a properly assigned title from any person other than a vehicle dealer, a registration need not be obtained for a motor…”
Fire Ins. Exch. v. Fox, 423 N.W.2d 325 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988).
Allstate Ins. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 584 N.W.2d 355 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998).
Shavon Alexander v. Matthew Alan Kubacki (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(1)(a) — 1 case
John Goings Sr v. Bobbie Jean Giacomantonio-Snow (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(1)(k) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Daryl Gene Robtoy (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(a) — 5 cases
Ford Motor Co. v. Dep't of Treasury, 884 N.W.2d 587 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “Ford contends that a vehicle is only licensed if it meets the registration and certificate-of-title provisions of MCL 257.216. 4 However, MCL 257.216(a) *586 exempts from registration requirements “[a] vehicle driven or moved on a street or highway in conformance with the…”
Farm Bureau Ins. v. Allstate Ins., 592 N.W.2d 395 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999). “§ 257.216(a); MSA 9.1916(a), exempts "nonresidents" from the Michigan registration requirement.”
Nashville Eagle, Inc. v. Ford Motor Credit Co. (In Re Superior Ground Support, Inc.), 140 B.R. 878 (Bankr. W.D. Mich. 1992).
Michelle Dahlmann v. Geico Gen. Ins. Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).
United Servs. Auto. Ass'n v. Michigan Catastrophic Claims Ass'n, 795 N.W.2d 185 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(b) — 3 cases
Coffey v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 455 N.W.2d 740 (Mich. Ct. App. 1990).
Jones v. Cont'l Cas. Co., 465 N.W.2d 45 (Mich. Ct. App. 1991).
Einerwold v. Complete Auto Transit, Inc, 377 N.W.2d 890 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(c) — 6 cases
Lee v. Detroit Auto. Inter-Ins. Exch., 315 N.W.2d 413 (Mich. 1982). “2 MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916 provides: "Every motor vehicle, trailer coach, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, when driven or moved upon a highway shall be subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions of this act except: “(f) Any type subject to registration…”
Shoemaker v. Nat'l Ben Franklin Ins., 259 N.W.2d 414 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977).
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Wyant, 398 N.W.2d 517 (Mich. Ct. App. 1986).
Pioneer State Mut. Ins. v. Allstate Ins., 309 N.W.2d 598 (Mich. Ct. App. 1981).
Donald Bergman v. Bryce R Cotanche (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(d) — 5 cases
Auto-Owners Ins. v. Stenberg Bros., 575 N.W.2d 79 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998). “§ 257.216; M.S.A. § 9.1916, which provides that "[e]very motor vehicle, .”
Mull v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 510 N.W.2d 184 (Mich. 1994). “"Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and incidentally operated or moved over the highways, including farm tractors, road construction or maintenance machinery.”
Donald Bergman v. Bryce R Cotanche (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
Donald Bergman v. Bryce R Cotanche (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
William Klein v. Ronald Newman (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2026).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.216(f) — 3 cases
Parks v. Detroit Auto. Inter-Ins. Exch., 393 N.W.2d 833 (Mich. 1986). “are not required to be no-fault covered because under MCL 257.216; MSA 9.1916 they are not required to be registered in the State of Michigan, the section defining "motor vehicle" in the no-fault act, § 3101(2)(c), specifically and separately excludes motorcycles and mopeds, but…”
United States v. Rhonda S. Ferguson, 727 F.2d 555 (6th Cir. 1984).
Westerfield Companies v. United States, 858 F. Supp. 658 (W.D. Mich. 1993).
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