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

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244 (2026)

Operation of vehicle by manufacturer, subcomponent system producer, manufacturer of automated technology, dealer, or transporter with special plate; temporary civic event license plate; unauthorized use of special plate; penalties; surety bond or insurance; number of plates; operation of vehicle with dealer plate by vendee or prospective purchaser; issuance of registration plate to move vehicle, vessel, or trailer.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.244 Operation of vehicle by manufacturer, subcomponent system producer, manufacturer of automated technology, dealer, or transporter with special plate; temporary civic event license plate; unauthorized use of special plate; penalties; surety bond or insurance; number of plates; operation of vehicle with dealer plate by vendee or prospective purchaser; issuance of registration plate to move vehicle, vessel, or trailer.

Sec. 244.

    (1) A manufacturer owning a vehicle otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle on a street or highway primarily for the purposes of transporting or testing or in connection with a golf tournament or a public civic event, if the vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, 1 special plate approved by the secretary of state.

    (2) A producer of a vehicle subcomponent system essential to the operation of the vehicle or the safety of an occupant may operate or move a motor vehicle on a street or highway solely to transport or test the subcomponent system if the motor vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, 1 special plate approved by the secretary of state. To be eligible for the special plate, the subcomponent system producer must be either a recognized subcomponent system producer or must be a subcomponent system producer under contract with a vehicle manufacturer.

    (3) Subject to section 665, a manufacturer of automated technology may operate or otherwise move a motor vehicle or an automated motor vehicle on a street or highway solely to transport or test automated technology if the motor vehicle or automated motor vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, a special plate approved by the secretary of state.

    (4) A dealer owning a vehicle otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle on a street or highway without registering the vehicle if the vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, 1 special plate issued to the owner by the secretary of state. As used in this subsection, "dealer" includes an employee, servant, or agent of the dealer.

    (5) A vehicle that has been donated or loaned by a licensed new motor vehicle dealer for use in a golf tournament, charity event, or public civic event may be operated during preparation for and during the event with a temporary civic event license plate.

    (6) Subject to all of the following requirements, the secretary of state may issue a temporary civic license plate on application by a licensed new motor vehicle dealer that donates or loans a vehicle under subsection (5) in a form and manner prescribed by the department before the event:

    (a) The licensed new motor vehicle dealer must provide in the dealer's application for a temporary civic license plate the name of the event for which the motor vehicle will be used, the date and duration of the event, the number of vehicles to be loaned or donated, the anticipated vehicle identification number or numbers, and any other information required by the department. The application must be accompanied by a $10.00 fee for each temporary civic event license plate for which the licensed new motor vehicle dealer has applied.

    (b) Any motor vehicle bearing a temporary civic event license plate authorized under this subsection is restricted to providing services for events for which approval by the department is granted. The approved services may include parades, transportation of visitors or dignitaries to and from event activities, use by event personnel or event volunteers, and any other activity for which a vehicle may be required in furtherance of the approved event.

    (c) The use of a temporary civic event license plate is limited to the time set forth in the approved application. When the temporary civic event license plate expires, the licensed new motor vehicle dealer shall remove and destroy the temporary plate.

    (7) A transporter may operate or move a vehicle otherwise required to be registered under this act on a street or highway solely to deliver the vehicle if the vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, a special plate issued to the transporter under this chapter.

    (8) A licensee shall not use a special plate described in this section on service cars or wreckers operated as an adjunct of a licensee's business. A manufacturer, transporter, or dealer making or permitting any unauthorized use of a special plate under this chapter forfeits the right to use special plates and the secretary of state, after notice and a hearing, may suspend or cancel the right to use special plates and require that the special plates be surrendered to or repossessed by this state.

    (9) A transporter shall furnish a sufficient surety bond or policy of insurance as protection for public liability and property damage as may be required by the secretary of state.

    (10) The secretary of state shall determine the number of plates a manufacturer, dealer, or transporter reasonably needs in its business.

    (11) If a vehicle that is required to be registered under this act is leased or sold, the vendee or lessee may operate the vehicle on a street or highway for not more than 72 hours after taking possession if the vehicle has a dealer plate attached as provided under this section. The application for registration must be made in the name of the vendee or lessee before the vehicle is used. The dealer and the vendee or lessee are jointly responsible for the return of the dealer plate to the dealer within 72 hours. The vendee or lessee that fails to return or the vendor or lessor that fails to use due diligence to procure the dealer plate is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the license of the dealer may be revoked. While using a dealer's plate, a vendee or lessee shall have in the vendee's or lessee's possession proof that clearly indicates the date of sale or lease of the motor vehicle.

    (12) A vehicle owned by a dealer and bearing the dealer's plate may be driven on a street or highway for demonstration purposes by a prospective buyer or lessee for a period of 72 hours.

    (13) The secretary of state may issue a registration plate upon application and payment of the proper fee to an individual, partnership, corporation, or association that in the ordinary course of business has occasion to legally pick up or deliver a commercial motor vehicle being driven to a facility to undergo aftermarket modification, or to repair or service a vehicle, or to persons defined as watercraft dealers under part 801 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.80101 to 324.80199, or to the owner of a marina to deliver a vessel or trailer to a purchaser, to transport a vessel between a body of water and a place of storage, to transport a vessel or trailer to and from a boat show or exposition, to repair, service, or store a vessel or trailer, or to return a vessel or trailer to the customer after repair, service, or storage. A registration plate issued under this subsection must be used to move the vehicle or trailer.

    

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1952, Act 67, Eff. Sept. 18, 1952 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 90, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957 ;-- Am. 1960, Act 107, Eff. Aug. 17, 1960 ;-- Am. 1992, Act 306, Eff. Mar. 31, 1993 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 369, Imd. Eff. Jan. 2, 2001 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 485, Eff. Oct. 1, 2002 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 642, Eff. Jan. 1, 2003 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 539, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 2009 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 231, Eff. Mar. 27, 2014 ;-- Am. 2024, Act 116, Imd. Eff. July 23, 2024

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1979–2023 · leading case: Ford Motor Co. v. Dep't of Treasury, 884 N.W.2d 587 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Ford Motor Co. v. Dep't of Treasury, 884 N.W.2d 587 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “[MCL 257.244(1).] A manufacturer’s license plate is a physical representation that a vehicle is authorized to operate on public highways.”
Katherine Lynn Bazzo v. John Doe I (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 21× “ALLEGED VIOLATION OF MCL 257.244 Plaintiff also alleged that Groulx violated provisions contained in MCL 257.”
McCroskey v. Gene Deming Motor Sales, Inc., 288 N.W.2d 418 (Mich. Ct. App. 1979). “This is a proper use of the license plate under MCL 257.244(f); MSA 9.1944(f), which states in part: "(f) Upon the sale of a vehicle * * * the vendee shall be permitted to operate the vehicle upon the public highways for a period not to exceed 72 hours after taking possession…”
Gabriel Rookus v. Randy Merren Auto Sales Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 10× “244(6) by keeping the dealership plate on the Xterra while using it as a service car, MCL 257.244 did not impose a duty of care on defendant relevant to plaintiffs’ injuries.”
Gabriel Rookus v. Randy Merren Auto Sales Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 10× “244(6) by keeping the dealership plate on the Xterra while using it as a service car, MCL 257.244 did not impose a duty of care on defendant relevant to plaintiffs’ injuries.”
People of Michigan v. David Paul Tadgerson (Mich. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 4× “We note that MCL 257.244 addresses registration requirements and does not address no-fault insurance.”
Tommie McMullen v. Citizens Ins. Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “] Further, MCL 257.244(4) provides: A dealer owning a vehicle of a type otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle upon a street or highway without registering the vehicle if the vehicle displays, in the manner prescribed in section 225, 1…”
Tommie McMullen v. Citizens Ins. Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “] Further, MCL 257.244(4) provides: A dealer owning a vehicle of a type otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle upon a street or highway without registering the vehicle if the vehicle displays, in the manner prescribed in section 225, 1…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244(1) — 1 case
Ford Motor Co. v. Dep't of Treasury, 884 N.W.2d 587 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “[MCL 257.244(1).] A manufacturer’s license plate is a physical representation that a vehicle is authorized to operate on public highways.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244(10) — 1 case
Katherine Lynn Bazzo v. John Doe I (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “ALLEGED VIOLATION OF MCL 257.244 Plaintiff also alleged that Groulx violated provisions contained in MCL 257.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244(4) — 4 cases
Tommie McMullen v. Citizens Ins. Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “] Further, MCL 257.244(4) provides: A dealer owning a vehicle of a type otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle upon a street or highway without registering the vehicle if the vehicle displays, in the manner prescribed in section 225, 1…”
Tommie McMullen v. Citizens Ins. Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “] Further, MCL 257.244(4) provides: A dealer owning a vehicle of a type otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle upon a street or highway without registering the vehicle if the vehicle displays, in the manner prescribed in section 225, 1…”
Gabriel Rookus v. Randy Merren Auto Sales Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “244(6) by keeping the dealership plate on the Xterra while using it as a service car, MCL 257.244 did not impose a duty of care on defendant relevant to plaintiffs’ injuries.”
Gabriel Rookus v. Randy Merren Auto Sales Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “244(6) by keeping the dealership plate on the Xterra while using it as a service car, MCL 257.244 did not impose a duty of care on defendant relevant to plaintiffs’ injuries.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244(6) — 2 cases
Gabriel Rookus v. Randy Merren Auto Sales Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “244(6) by keeping the dealership plate on the Xterra while using it as a service car, MCL 257.244 did not impose a duty of care on defendant relevant to plaintiffs’ injuries.”
Gabriel Rookus v. Randy Merren Auto Sales Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “244(6) by keeping the dealership plate on the Xterra while using it as a service car, MCL 257.244 did not impose a duty of care on defendant relevant to plaintiffs’ injuries.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244(9) — 2 cases
Katherine Lynn Bazzo v. John Doe I (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “ALLEGED VIOLATION OF MCL 257.244 Plaintiff also alleged that Groulx violated provisions contained in MCL 257.”
People of Michigan v. David Paul Tadgerson (Mich. Ct. App. 2023). “We note that MCL 257.244 addresses registration requirements and does not address no-fault insurance.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.244(f) — 1 case
McCroskey v. Gene Deming Motor Sales, Inc., 288 N.W.2d 418 (Mich. Ct. App. 1979). “This is a proper use of the license plate under MCL 257.244(f); MSA 9.1944(f), which states in part: "(f) Upon the sale of a vehicle * * * the vendee shall be permitted to operate the vehicle upon the public highways for a period not to exceed 72 hours after taking possession…”
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