Vehicle registration requirements - Michigan

License plate display

Michigan requires vehicles to display a license plate on the rear of the vehicle. A license plate for a truck tractor or road tractor must be attached to the front of the vehicle.

International Registration Plan

Michigan is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

Motor vehicles that qualify for apportionment consist of the following:

• A power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or registered weight in excess of 26,000 pounds;
• A power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
• A unit used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds a GVW or 26,000 pounds.

Temporary permit: A 72-hour reciprocity permit is required for any power unit from a reciprocal jurisdiction exceeding its maximum gross vehicle weight while in Michigan, or any power unit from an IRP jurisdiction that does not have an IRP plate. The permit authorizes 72 consecutive hours of travel within or throughout Michigan. The fee for each permit is $20.

A 30-day temporary authority permit is also available online after processing and paying for an IRP transaction through eServices. The temporary authority is valid for transporting passengers for hire, as well as transporting goods, wares, or merchandise commercially.

Hunter's or unladen weight permit: A 30-day permit may be used in lieu of a Michigan IRP plate when an owner-operator terminates a lease and must surrender the apportioned license plate to the carrier. These permits allow the operation of a vehicle for the purpose of locating a new job; however, a vehicle operating under a 30-day permit can't be used to transport passengers for hire, or to transport goods, wares, or merchandise commercially.

Agency: Michigan Department of State — Industry Services

Fees: The base jurisdiction collects the full license registration fee and distributes a portion of it to other jurisdictions based on the percentage of distance the carrier has traveled within each jurisdiction. Registration fees for new fleets with no prior distance to report are based on an Average Per Vehicle Distance chart available at the IRP office. Specific IRP registration fees will vary.

Other

Permanent trailer plates

All trailers and trailer coaches — whether they are manufactured, assembled, or homemade — must be registered if used on public roads. Trailers are issued a registration and permanent license plate that doesn't expire. The plate and registration can't be transferred to another trailer.