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

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257 (2026)

Altering, forging, or falsifying documents; violation; penalty.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.257 Altering, forging, or falsifying documents; violation; penalty.

Sec. 257.

    (1) A person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of a felony:

    (a) Alters with fraudulent intent a certificate of title, registration certificate, or registration plate issued by the department.

    (b) Forges or counterfeits a certificate of title, registration certificate, or registration plate purporting to have been issued by the department.

    (c) Alters or falsifies with fraudulent intent or forges an assignment upon a certificate of title.

    (d) Holds or uses a certificate of title, registration certificate, or registration plate knowing that it has been altered, forged, or falsified.

    (e) Knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale a stolen, false, or counterfeit certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, registration decal, or registration tab.

    (f) Fraudulently indicates on a certificate of title that there is no security interest on record for the vehicle.

    (g) Forges or counterfeits a letter from the holder of a security interest in a vehicle stating that the security interest has been released.

    (2) A person who is convicted of a second violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 2 years or more than 7 years, or by a fine of not less than $1,500.00 or more than $7,000.00, or both.

    (3) A person who is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 5 years or more than 15 years, or by a fine of not less than $5,000.00 or more than $15,000.00, or both.

    (4) A person who is convicted of a violation of subsection (1)(f) or (g), in addition to any other penalty, shall pay restitution to the holder of a security interest in the vehicle in the amount of the outstanding lien on the vehicle.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1992, Act 309, Eff. Mar. 31, 1993 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 289, Eff. Mar. 31, 2015

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: People v. Wilcox, 781 N.W.2d 784 (Mich. 2010).
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People v. Wilcox, 781 N.W.2d 784 (Mich. 2010). · cites it 2× “529 (providing a sentence of "life or for any term of years" but "not less than 2 years" for armed robbery involving "an aggravated assault or serious injury"); see also MCL 257.257(2) and (3) (providing sentences for subsequent offenses of altering or forging documents from the…”
People v. Martinez, 535 N.W.2d 236 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “553 [6] MCL 257.257; MSA 9.1957 [7] MCL 750.248; MSA 28.”
20221215_C360716_47_360716.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 17× “The prosecution argues that this Court could simply remand the case to circuit court and order that “the language in the Defendant’s Information should be amended to that of subsection [(1)](d) in MCL 257.257 to cure the defect.” But the discretion on what charge or charges…”
People of Michigan v. Anthony John Carollo (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 14× “ANALYSIS The prosecution argues that the circuit court erred in limiting the term “uses” as provided in MCL 257.257(1)(D). We disagree and affirm.”
People v. Ross, 514 N.W.2d 253 (Mich. Ct. App. 1994). “] Moreover, MCL 257.257; MSA 9.1957 specifically prohibits the alteration or falsifying of any "certificate of title, registration certificate, or registration .”
People of Michigan v. Dominique Demetrius Miller (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “224f, forgery of a license plate, MCL 257.257, and concealing or misrepresenting the identity of a motor vehicle with the intent to mislead, MCL 750.”
People of Michigan v. Dominique Demetrius Miller (Mich. Ct. App. 2019). “plate, MCL 257.257, and concealing or misrepresenting the identity of a motor vehicle with the intent to mislead, MCL 750.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(1)(D) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Anthony John Carollo (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “ANALYSIS The prosecution argues that the circuit court erred in limiting the term “uses” as provided in MCL 257.257(1)(D). We disagree and affirm.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(1)(a) — 1 case
20221215_C360716_47_360716.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “The prosecution argues that this Court could simply remand the case to circuit court and order that “the language in the Defendant’s Information should be amended to that of subsection [(1)](d) in MCL 257.257 to cure the defect.” But the discretion on what charge or charges…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(1)(b) — 2 cases
20221215_C360716_47_360716.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “The prosecution argues that this Court could simply remand the case to circuit court and order that “the language in the Defendant’s Information should be amended to that of subsection [(1)](d) in MCL 257.257 to cure the defect.” But the discretion on what charge or charges…”
People of Michigan v. Anthony John Carollo (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “ANALYSIS The prosecution argues that the circuit court erred in limiting the term “uses” as provided in MCL 257.257(1)(D). We disagree and affirm.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(1)(d) — 2 cases
People of Michigan v. Anthony John Carollo (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “ANALYSIS The prosecution argues that the circuit court erred in limiting the term “uses” as provided in MCL 257.257(1)(D). We disagree and affirm.”
20221215_C360716_47_360716.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “The prosecution argues that this Court could simply remand the case to circuit court and order that “the language in the Defendant’s Information should be amended to that of subsection [(1)](d) in MCL 257.257 to cure the defect.” But the discretion on what charge or charges…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(2) — 1 case
People v. Wilcox, 781 N.W.2d 784 (Mich. 2010). “529 (providing a sentence of "life or for any term of years" but "not less than 2 years" for armed robbery involving "an aggravated assault or serious injury"); see also MCL 257.257(2) and (3) (providing sentences for subsequent offenses of altering or forging documents from the…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(d) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Anthony John Carollo (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “ANALYSIS The prosecution argues that the circuit court erred in limiting the term “uses” as provided in MCL 257.257(1)(D). We disagree and affirm.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.257(l)(b) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Anthony John Carollo (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “ANALYSIS The prosecution argues that the circuit court erred in limiting the term “uses” as provided in MCL 257.257(1)(D). We disagree and affirm.”
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