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Financed vehicle — Michigan

Michigan Electric Vehicle bill of sale for financed vehicle

Complete your Michigan electric vehicle bill of sale for a financed vehicle transaction. Enter buyer and seller details, vehicle information, and generate a signed PDF in minutes.

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Reviewed against state DMV requirementsLast reviewed: March 20266 min readEditorial policy

What to know about financed vehicle sales in Michigan

If you are selling as a private party offering financing (seller financing), the transaction is governed by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 1026). You must provide the buyer a written disclosure of APR, finance charge, amount financed, total payments, and payment schedule. Failure to comply can expose you to civil liability.

What to include in your bill of sale

  • Full legal names and addresses for both buyer and seller.
  • Electric Vehicle make, model, year, VIN, and current mileage.
  • Agreed sale price, payment method, and transaction date.
  • Any financed vehicle-specific disclosures required in Michigan.

Seller guidance

If you are selling as a private party offering financing (seller financing), the transaction is governed by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 1026). You must provide the buyer a written disclosure of APR, finance charge, amount financed, total payments, and payment schedule. Failure to comply can expose you to civil liability.

Buyer guidance

When financing through a bank or credit union, your lender will place a lien on the title. You will not receive a clear title until the loan is paid off. Under TILA, you have the right to a written disclosure of all loan terms before signing. Review the APR and total cost of financing carefully.

Michigan-Specific Note

Michigan records liens through the Secretary of State's ELT system. The buyer must carry minimum liability insurance (20/40/10) plus lender-required coverage. Under MCL 257.236, the lender must release the lien within 7 days of payoff. The Secretary of State issues a clear title after the release is processed.

Legal considerations

Michigan records liens through the Secretary of State's ELT system. The buyer must carry minimum liability insurance (20/40/10) plus lender-required coverage. Under MCL 257.236, the lender must release the lien within 7 days of payoff. The Secretary of State issues a clear title after the release is processed.

Michigan Electric Vehicle transfer fees and requirements

In Michigan, the title transfer fee is $15 and registration costs Based on vehicle list price; varies widely. Electric Vehicle sales are subject to 6% use tax on purchase price. Michigan does not require notarization for private-party electric vehicle transfers. Michigan does not require emission testing for private-party electric vehicle sales.

  • Secretary of State handles title and registration
  • Title transfer must be completed within 15 days
  • Plate transfer allowed between vehicles owned by same person

Michigan sales tax on electric vehicle purchases

Michigan has a 6% state sales tax rate. Flat 6% use tax statewide. Private-party electric vehicle sales in Michigan are subject to sales tax. Use tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. The title transfer fee is $15.

Electric Vehicle market data and safety information

The most common electric vehicle makes in private-party sales are Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford, Rivian, Hyundai. Average private-party electric vehicle prices range from $12,000–$60,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent electric vehicle models is 4.6 out of 5 stars. Electric vehicles average 2.8 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Battery/High Voltage, Software/OTA Updates, Charging System.

Safety checkpoints for buying a used electric vehicle

Before completing a electric vehicle bill of sale in Michigan, verify these safety items:

  • Check battery State of Health (SOH) — capacity degradation below 70% significantly reduces value
  • Verify full charge range matches manufacturer specifications for the model year
  • Test DC fast charging capability — some older EVs have degraded charge acceptance
  • Check for any battery recall or warranty coverage status

Electric Vehicle insurance and depreciation in Michigan

EV insurance costs 10–25% more than comparable gas cars due to higher repair costs and battery replacement risk. EV depreciation is volatile — Tesla holds value best, while some models lose 50–60% in 3 years. Battery warranty transfer is a key value factor. Peak season for private electric vehicle sales is spring when gas prices typically rise and ev incentive programs refresh, with an average of 28 days on market.

Electric Vehicle registration and titling

Electric Vehicles are classified as "Passenger vehicle (EV-specific registration fees apply in 30+ states to offset lost fuel tax revenue)" for registration purposes. EVs weigh 20–30% more than comparable gas vehicles due to battery packs. Some states have proposed weight-based surcharges. Federal odometer disclosure is required for electric vehicles under 20 years old.

Michigan requirements for financed vehicle electric vehicle sales

For electric vehicle financed vehicle transactions in Michigan, the buyer must pay 6% use tax on purchase price and a $15 title transfer fee. Notarization is not required. Odometer disclosure is required.

  • Secretary of State handles title and registration
  • Title transfer must be completed within 15 days
  • Plate transfer allowed between vehicles owned by same person

Safety tips for financed vehicle electric vehicle transactions

When completing a financed vehicle electric vehicle sale in Michigan, always verify the vehicle against NHTSA recall databases. The most common electric vehicle recall categories are Battery/High Voltage, Software/OTA Updates, Charging System. Check recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls before signing the bill of sale.

Checklist for financed vehicle electric vehicle sale in Michigan

  1. Obtain pre-approval letter or lender commitment before finalizing sale price
  2. Confirm lender's payoff instructions if seller has an existing lien
  3. Record the new lienholder on the title at the DMV
  4. Review TILA disclosure for APR, finance charge, and payment schedule
  5. Retain a copy of the signed bill of sale and loan documents
  6. Carry minimum liability insurance (20/40/10) plus lender-required coverage
  7. Lien recorded through Michigan Secretary of State ELT system
  8. Lender releases lien within 7 days per MCL 257.236

Need the printable workflow?

Use the main Michigan electric vehicle bill of sale flow when you are ready to generate the completed document.

Open Michigan Electric Vehicle bill of sale

Why Documentation Helps Protect Asking Price

45% faster sale

Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.

Source: Experian / AutoCheck

$4,000 avg loss

NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.

Source: NHTSA

17.5M private sales/yr

About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.

Source: Cox Automotive 2024

1 in 3 buyers

Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.

Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)

Frequently asked questions

When should I use the financed vehicle page?

Use this page when your electric vehicle sale in Michigan fits a financed vehicle scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.

Why does the financed vehicle scenario have its own page?

Different sale scenarios — such as private party, dealer, or gifted transfers — have different documentation requirements. This page focuses on what buyers and sellers need for a financed vehicle transaction specifically.

What should be included in this bill of sale?

Include the buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers, sale price, date, signatures, and any notes specific to the financed vehicle transaction.

What are the Michigan fees for a financed vehicle electric vehicle transfer?

Michigan charges a $15 title transfer fee. Registration costs Based on vehicle list price; varies widely. Sales tax: 6% use tax on purchase price. Notarization is not required for most transfers.

What electric vehicle makes are most commonly sold in Michigan?

The most popular electric vehicle makes in private-party sales are Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford, Rivian, Hyundai. Average private-party prices range from $12,000–$60,000.

Do I pay sales tax on a financed vehicle electric vehicle sale in Michigan?

Michigan has a 6% state sales tax rate. Use tax applies to private party vehicle purchases

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