ORV Certificate of Title

• ORV owners are required to obtain a certificate of title from the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS).
  • The SOS charges $11 for processing an ORV certificate of title application.
  • A Michigan title is not required on ORVs owned by nonresidents and used in Michigan.
• Every ORV sold through a dealer must be accompanied by a certificate of origin. This certificate of origin contains all of the information needed for applying for a certificate of title.
• It is unlawful for a seller to sell or transfer an ORV without transferring the title or for a buyer to purchase or acquire an ORV without obtaining a title.
  • If an ORV is purchased through a dealer, application for a title will be made by the dealer on behalf of the buyer.
  • If an ORV is purchased from someone other than a dealer, the buyer applies for a title.
• Application for a title must be made within 15 days of purchase or transfer.
• If an ORV certificate of title is lost, mutilated, or becomes illegible, the title holder applies to the Secretary of State for a duplicate title.

ORV License

• An ORV is required to have a license/sticker from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE).
• The annual fee for an ORV license is $16.25.
• Licenses are valid from April 1 through March 31 of the following year, regardless of the date of purchase.
• Vehicles that are licensed under the Motor Vehicle Code as “street vehicles” require an ORV license only when they are being used as an ORV. A street-licensed ORV does not need an ORV license to use forest roads, but it will need an ORV license if it is used on designated trails or in areas designated for cross-country use.
• An ORV license is not required for street-licensed vehicles used on the frozen surface of public waters or designated ORV routes.
• Private land owners, owners’ family members, and their invited guests are not required to license an ORV that is operated exclusively on the owners’ private property.
  • Licensing is required of ORVs used in areas open to public operation, regardless of whether the ORV is owned by a resident or nonresident of Michigan.
  • It is unlawful to operate an ORV without having a valid license permanently attached and visibly displayed on the vehicle in the following manner.
    • Two-Wheel Vehicle: Center the ORV license on the exposed rear fender.
    • Three- or Four-Wheel Vehicle (ATV): Place the ORV license on a flat metal surface, a bumper, or a plate permanently attached to the rear of the ORV.
    • Other ORVs, Including Dune Buggies and 4-Wheel-Drive Trucks: Place the ORV license centered and visible on the rear of the vehicle.
  • If your license to operate an automobile has been suspended (regardless of the state where the suspension originated), you may not operate an ORV in Michigan until the suspension has been terminated by the court.