InstantBillOfSale

How to Register a Snowmobile in Michigan: the Checklist

SOS transfer, 6% use tax, three-year registration and the trail permit, in the right order. Free bill of sale generator included; nothing is uploaded.

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Step by step: registering a snowmobile in Michigan

  1. Start with the bill of sale. Michigan does not title snowmobiles, so the signed bill of sale (tunnel VIN, price, date, both signatures) is your proof of ownership. The generator above creates it and pins Michigan’s rules automatically.
  2. Go to a Secretary of State office. Bring the bill of sale and your ID; the SOS moves the registration into your name.
  3. Pay the 6% use tax and the registration fee. Tax is calculated from the purchase price on your paperwork. Registration runs on a three-year cycle.
  4. Apply the decal. Put the registration decal on the sled as directed in the materials you receive.
  5. Buy the annual trail permit. Required for the designated trail system and it funds the groomers you will be thankful for in January.

Last reviewed September 2026. Confirm current fees with the Michigan SOS.

What you need at the counter

ItemWhy
Signed bill of saleProof of ownership; basis for the 6% use tax.
Photo IDIdentifies the new registrant.
PaymentUse tax plus the three-year registration fee.
Old registration (if the seller has it)Speeds up the transfer; not mandatory.

Michigan snowmobile registration: FAQ

Do snowmobiles have titles in Michigan?
No. Michigan registers snowmobiles through the Secretary of State on a three-year cycle but does not title them, so the bill of sale is the ownership record in a private sale.
How much is the use tax?
Michigan collects 6% use tax on the purchase price when the registration transfers at the SOS, calculated from the price on your bill of sale.
Do I need a trail permit as well?
Yes, to ride Michigan’s designated trail system you need the annual trail permit sticker in addition to current registration.
Where does the registration sticker go?
The registration decal goes on the forward half of the sled per the instructions issued with it; the trail permit goes above or near the headlight area as directed.

Related guides

Michigan Snowmobile Bill of Sale Snowmobile Bill of Sale (all states) Michigan ATV (ORV) Bill of Sale