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

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.37 (2026)

“Owner” defined.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.37 “Owner” defined.

Sec. 37.

    "Owner" means any of the following:

    (a) Any person, firm, association, or corporation renting a motor vehicle or having the exclusive use thereof, under a lease or otherwise, for a period that is greater than 30 days.

    (b) Except as otherwise provided in section 401a, a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle.

    (c) A person who has the immediate right of possession of a vehicle under an installment sale contract.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 125, Imd. Eff. May 23, 1988

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 71 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1955–2023 · leading case: Twichel v. MIC Gen. Ins. Corp., 676 N.W.2d 616 (Mich. 2004).
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Twichel v. MIC Gen. Ins. Corp., 676 N.W.2d 616 (Mich. 2004). · cites it 4× “§ 257.37. As the Ringewold Court explained, it is not necessary that a person actually have used the vehicle for a thirty-day period before a finding may be made that the person is the owner.”
Iqbal v. Bristol West Ins. Grp., 748 N.W.2d 574 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 5× “The American Universal policy that was issued to VanderArk covered “owned autos,” but the list of autos contained in the policy did not identify the tractor at issue.”
Botsford Gen. Hosp. v. Citizens Ins., 489 N.W.2d 137 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 4× “Under Michigan law, a person is not entitled to be paid PIP benefits if that person was the owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident and that vehicle was required to be, but was not, insured *132 under Michigan's no-fault act.”
Sec. Ins. v. Daniels, 245 N.W.2d 418 (Mich. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 5× “*106 I Were Joseph and Benedict Sottile, d/b/a Sot-tiles’ Auto Parts, owners of the 1968 Oldsmobile at the time of the accident? MCLA 257.37; MSA 9.1837, defines the "owner” of a motor vehicle as: "(a) Any person, firm, association or corporation renting a motor vehicle or…”
Laskowski v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 429 N.W.2d 887 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 12× “Defendant claimed that plaintiff was the owner of the van under MCL 257.37; MSA 9.1837, § 37 of the Michigan Vehicle Code, which provides: *320 "Owner" means: (a) Any person, firm, association or corporation renting a motor vehicle or having the exclusive use thereof, under a…”
Deborah Bennett v. Carrie Russell, 913 N.W.2d 364 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “" The trial court found that Hogge did not meet the statutory definition of an "owner" set forth in MCL 257.37 and granted summary disposition in Hogge's favor, reasoning that his lack of ownership was fatal to plaintiffs' claim under the owner's liability statute and under a…”
Stanke v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 503 N.W.2d 758 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “MCL 257.37(a); MSA 9.1837(a). Thus, if Clothier had exclusive use of the vehicle for more than thirty days, he would be deemed an owner of the vehicle under the Vehicle Code even though title ownership *323 vested in someone else.”
Michigan Mut. Auto Ins. v. Reddig, 341 N.W.2d 847 (Mich. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 4× “On April 8, 1982, the trial court granted plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on the ground that Szymanski was a conditional vendee and thus the owner of the Nova under MCL 257.”
Hill v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 525 N.W.2d 905 (Mich. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 4× “(b) A person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession…”
Ringewold v. Bos, 503 N.W.2d 716 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 6× “See MCL 257.37; MSA 9.1837. Apparently, defendant received the vehicle from her former husband fifteen days before the accident occurred.”
Gold v. Harper (In re Ambrose-Burbank), 563 B.R. 820 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2017). · cites it 12× “Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 257.37 , and the MVC owner’s liability statute Defendant relies heavily on the definition of “owner” found in Mich.”
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Enter. Leasing Co., 549 N.W.2d 345 (Mich. 1996). · cites it 2× “§ 257.37; M.S.A. § 9.1837. It is also supported by the reasoning for the exclusion: The individual insureds have purchased insurance assuming each will have one car on the road for 365 days a year.”
Show all 71 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.37(a) — 12 cases
Sec. Ins. v. Daniels, 245 N.W.2d 418 (Mich. Ct. App. 1976). “*106 I Were Joseph and Benedict Sottile, d/b/a Sot-tiles’ Auto Parts, owners of the 1968 Oldsmobile at the time of the accident? MCLA 257.37; MSA 9.1837, defines the "owner” of a motor vehicle as: "(a) Any person, firm, association or corporation renting a motor vehicle or…”
Stanke v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 503 N.W.2d 758 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). “MCL 257.37(a); MSA 9.1837(a). Thus, if Clothier had exclusive use of the vehicle for more than thirty days, he would be deemed an owner of the vehicle under the Vehicle Code even though title ownership *323 vested in someone else.”
Iqbal v. Bristol West Ins. Grp., 748 N.W.2d 574 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). “The American Universal policy that was issued to VanderArk covered “owned autos,” but the list of autos contained in the policy did not identify the tractor at issue.”
Braxton v. Litchalk, 223 N.W.2d 316 (Mich. Ct. App. 1974).
Paul v. Bogle, 484 N.W.2d 728 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.37(b) — 9 cases
Botsford Gen. Hosp. v. Citizens Ins., 489 N.W.2d 137 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992). “Under Michigan law, a person is not entitled to be paid PIP benefits if that person was the owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident and that vehicle was required to be, but was not, insured *132 under Michigan's no-fault act.”
Clevenger v. Allstate Ins., 505 N.W.2d 553 (Mich. 1993).
Laskowski v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 429 N.W.2d 887 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). “Defendant claimed that plaintiff was the owner of the van under MCL 257.37; MSA 9.1837, § 37 of the Michigan Vehicle Code, which provides: *320 "Owner" means: (a) Any person, firm, association or corporation renting a motor vehicle or having the exclusive use thereof, under a…”
Ringewold v. Bos, 503 N.W.2d 716 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). “See MCL 257.37; MSA 9.1837. Apparently, defendant received the vehicle from her former husband fifteen days before the accident occurred.”
Ford Motor Credit Co. v. City of Detroit, 658 N.W.2d 180 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).
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