MICHIGAN TRUCK BUYING

Sell Your Truck in Michigan

If you have a commercial truck in Michigan that you are considering selling, tell EasyTruckBuyer the year, make, model, VIN, truck type, location, mileage or engine hours when available, whether it runs, and what you know about the title and any lien.

EasyTruckBuyer evaluates truck details before making any offer decision and works with individuals, owner-operators, businesses, and fleets across all 50 states.

Buying trucks since 2007All 50 states servedFree towing with accepted purchases

Submitting a truck starts an evaluation. It does not guarantee an offer or purchase.

Provide the truck details you know. Additional information, documents, photos, or an inspection may be requested during evaluation.

QUICK ANSWER

What Should I Have Ready to Sell a Truck in Michigan?

You do not need a complete equipment inventory before making an inquiry. Start with the truck’s year, make, model, VIN, body configuration, mileage, engine hours when available, operating condition, title status, any lien, and current location.

For a non-running truck, also explain whether it rolls, steers, brakes, has usable wheels and tires, and has accessible keys. Accurate details help EasyTruckBuyer determine what additional evaluation may be needed.

Submit your truck details when you are ready to begin.

Michigan Trucks Can Require Different Information

The details that matter depend on what the truck does. A highway tractor, dump truck, box truck, and utility truck may need different condition and equipment information even when they are similar in age.

Highway Tractors and Day Cabs

Mileage, engine hours, drivetrain specifications, emissions-system condition, maintenance history, and axle configuration can all add useful context.

Dump, Utility, and Service Trucks

Describe the mounted equipment as well as the chassis. PTO systems, hydraulics, dump bodies, service bodies, cranes, compressors, and other installed equipment may matter.

Box and Delivery Trucks

Include body dimensions when available and note significant box, floor, roof, liftgate, mechanical, or drivetrain damage.

Older, Damaged, or Non-Running Trucks

Frame, underbody, suspension, body corrosion, missing components, collision damage, and whether the truck can roll or steer are useful details. A damaged truck can be submitted for evaluation, but no purchase is guaranteed.

How the EasyTruckBuyer Process Works

The process starts with evaluation, not an automatic offer. Ownership documentation and collection requirements are addressed only if the truck moves forward.

Submit the Truck Details

Tell us what the truck is, where it is located, its current condition, and the title or lien information you know.

Truck Evaluation

EasyTruckBuyer reviews the information. Additional details, photographs, documents, or an inspection may be needed.

Offer if Applicable

If the truck fits the purchasing criteria, EasyTruckBuyer may make an offer. There is no guaranteed offer or purchase.

Documentation

If an offer is accepted, the parties address title, lien status, business authorization, and other applicable documentation.

Payment and Collection

Payment and collection are arranged for the accepted transaction. No specific payment deadline or pickup date is promised. Free towing is included with accepted truck purchases.

Michigan Title Rules Sellers Should Check Before the Truck Leaves

For Michigan sellers, completing the ownership paperwork correctly is more important than simply handing over the truck. The Michigan Secretary of State provides the controlling vehicle title guidance.

Complete the Title Carefully

For a normal titled-vehicle transfer, Michigan SOS requires the original title to be properly completed and signed as applicable to the transaction. The seller information and buyer information should be completed accurately rather than leaving required sections blank.

Michigan warns that alterations can cause title-transfer problems, so avoid crossing out or changing completed information. If the truck is owned by a business or has multiple titled owners, confirm who has authority to sign.

Official source: Michigan Secretary of State, Title Transfer and Vehicle Registration.

Before the Truck Changes Hands

Confirm the titled owner.

Check whether a lien is recorded.

Complete required title fields accurately.

Remove the seller’s Michigan plate.

Keep evidence of the completed transaction.

Separate fleet credentials from the vehicle title.

Michigan Does Not Immediately Remove the Seller From the Title Record

Michigan SOS states that the title record remains in the seller’s name until the buyer submits the assigned title and completes the ownership transfer.

SOS recommends that the seller accompany the buyer to a Secretary of State office when practical. If that does not happen, Michigan SOS recommends keeping a copy of the front and back of the completed title for at least 18 months.

That retained copy can help document the transaction if the buyer does not promptly complete the transfer. This is why a Michigan seller should not assume that handing over the keys and signed title instantly removes the vehicle from the state’s ownership record.

Official source: Michigan Secretary of State, Titles FAQ.

Remove the Michigan License Plate

Michigan SOS instructs a seller to remove the plate when a vehicle is sold. Do not leave a normal Michigan plate on the truck for an unrelated buyer.

Michigan permits plate transfers in certain circumstances, including transferring a plate to another vehicle owned by the same person. Different rules apply to qualifying immediate-family transfers.

Commercial apportioned plates should be handled through the carrier’s IRP account rather than treated as part of the truck being sold.

What if There Is a Lien?

An outstanding lien should be disclosed before a transaction is treated as ready for transfer.

For a paper title showing a lien, Michigan SOS provides acceptable forms of lien termination documentation. Michigan also uses an Electronic Lien and Title system.

If a title is held electronically because a lien is active, Michigan SOS says the owner should contact the lienholder. Do not assume EasyTruckBuyer or another buyer can automatically remove or settle every lien.

Official source: Michigan Electronic Lien and Title Program.

Does Every Michigan Commercial Truck Need an Odometer Disclosure?

Not necessarily. Michigan’s general title-transfer guidance tells sellers to record required odometer information accurately, but commercial trucks can fall under federal exceptions that do not apply to many passenger vehicles.

Under 49 CFR §580.17, a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 16,000 pounds is exempt from the federal odometer disclosure requirements referenced in that regulation. Federal law also contains age-based exemptions.

A heavy Class 8 tractor therefore should not automatically be treated as having the same federal disclosure requirements as every lighter truck. Follow the requirements that apply to the specific vehicle and transaction.

Official sources: Michigan SOS title-transfer guidance and 49 CFR §580.17.

What if the Michigan Title Is Missing?

A missing title should be addressed rather than assumed to be acceptable. Michigan SOS allows eligible titled owners to request a replacement or duplicate title.

The available process can depend on the title record and lien status. Michigan does not issue a normal duplicate paper title while an electronic lien remains active.

You can disclose a missing title when submitting the truck, but that does not guarantee that the truck can be purchased.

Official source: Michigan SOS duplicate-title guidance.

Damaged, Salvage, and Scrap Are Not the Same Thing

A failed engine, damaged transmission, or collision damage does not automatically make a truck legally salvage or scrap.

Michigan uses specific title classifications. A salvage vehicle that has been rebuilt must satisfy the state’s recertification requirements before returning to normal road use. Michigan treats a scrap title more restrictively.

If the title has a salvage, rebuilt salvage, scrap, or other brand, disclose the actual title status rather than describing the truck only by its physical condition.

Official source: Michigan Secretary of State vehicle ownership guidance.

Michigan IRP and IFTA Issues for Fleet and Owner-Operator Trucks

If a truck was part of an interstate commercial operation, selling it can require updates to carrier records in addition to transferring the vehicle title. These requirements do not apply to every commercial truck in Michigan.

IRP Apportioned Registration

Michigan participates in the International Registration Plan for qualifying interstate commercial vehicles.

A power unit with two axles and a gross or registered gross vehicle weight above 26,000 pounds
A power unit with three or more axles regardless of weight
A vehicle combination exceeding 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight

There are exceptions and optional registration situations, so use the current Michigan IRP guidance for the specific operation.

Michigan SOS says an IRP plate can be transferred from one vehicle to another within the same IRP account through e-Services. It should not simply be left on a truck for an unrelated purchaser.

Official sources: Michigan International Registration Plan and Michigan IRP FAQ.

Michigan IFTA Decals

Michigan Treasury has specific guidance for an IFTA licensee whose decals were attached to a truck that was sold.

Treasury directs the licensee to submit Form 2824 to remove those decals from the IFTA account. The form also instructs the licensee to remove the decals from the sold vehicle and destroy them.

Selling one truck does not automatically mean the carrier should cancel its entire IFTA account. Michigan has a separate account-cancellation process for carriers that discontinue applicable operations.

Official source: Michigan Department of Treasury IFTA guidance.

Keep Ownership Transfer and Carrier Administration Separate

The truck title establishes vehicle ownership. IRP, IFTA, insurance, USDOT records, operating authority, and fleet records relate to the commercial operation.

A Michigan owner-operator or fleet should review the credentials connected to the vehicle instead of assuming that every registration, account, permit, or decal transfers with the truck.

Preparing a Michigan Truck for Collection

If a purchase is accepted, accurate pickup information helps determine how the truck can be collected.

Tell Us How the Truck Moves

Does it start and run?
Can it move under its own power?
Does it roll freely?
Does it steer?
Do the brakes function?
Are the wheels and tires usable?
Are keys available?
Is there major collision or structural damage?

Do not attempt to drive or reposition an unsafe truck simply to prepare it for collection.

Michigan Road Restrictions Can Matter for Some Truck Movements

Michigan’s transport rules become relevant when the vehicle or transport combination exceeds ordinary legal dimensions or weights.

MDOT issues oversize and overweight permits for travel on state trunklines under its jurisdiction. County roads and city streets can fall under different permitting authorities. Michigan also uses seasonal spring weight restrictions on affected routes while roads thaw.

These rules do not prevent someone from selling a truck. They can affect how an unusually heavy, oversized, disabled, or specialized vehicle is transported after a transaction.

For trucks in the Upper Peninsula or other locations involving longer or restricted routes, accurate location, dimensions, weight information when available, and operating condition help with transport planning. A seller does not need to determine every transport permit before submitting an inquiry.

Official source: Michigan Department of Transportation commercial vehicle transport guidance.

Private Sale, Dealer, or Direct Truck Buyer?

Michigan truck owners have several ways to sell. No method automatically produces the highest price or best result for every vehicle.

Private Sale

A private sale gives you direct access to individual buyers. You also handle advertising, inquiries, showings, negotiation, payment arrangements, paperwork, and transaction records.

Commercial Truck Dealer

A dealer may be interested when the truck matches its inventory or trade-in needs. Interest can depend on age, mileage, configuration, condition, equipment, and current inventory strategy.

Direct Truck Buyer

With EasyTruckBuyer, you submit the vehicle for evaluation rather than advertising it publicly. The truck still needs to fit the purchasing criteria, and no offer or purchase is guaranteed.

Compare more than price. Consider how much selling work you want to handle, the truck’s condition, ownership paperwork, specialized equipment, and which type of buyer is likely to want that configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling a Truck in Michigan

Do I need to notify Michigan separately after selling my truck?

On the current Michigan SOS guidance reviewed for this page, the state emphasizes proper title completion, plate removal, completing the transfer with the buyer when practical, and keeping a copy of the completed title if you do not go to the SOS office together. Michigan SOS also states that the title record remains in the seller’s name until the buyer completes the transfer.

Can I submit a financed truck?

Yes, you can tell EasyTruckBuyer about a financed truck. An active lien still has to be addressed before ownership can be transferred as required. Electronic-title situations can require direct involvement from the lienholder.

Should I leave an IRP plate on a truck I sell?

Do not assume an apportioned plate transfers with the truck. Michigan SOS says IRP plates can be transferred between vehicles within the same IRP account through e-Services. If you operate an apportioned fleet, review the IRP account when removing the sold truck.

What if the truck has Michigan IFTA decals?

Michigan Treasury instructs current IFTA licensees to use Form 2824 when IFTA decals were attached to a truck that was sold. The decals should be removed from the sold vehicle as directed by Treasury.

Can I sell a Michigan truck that does not run?

You can submit it for evaluation. Tell us whether it rolls, steers, brakes, has keys, has usable tires, and can be accessed by suitable equipment. A non-running condition does not itself mean the truck has a salvage or scrap title.

A PRACTICAL NEXT STEP

Submit Your Michigan Truck for Evaluation

Send EasyTruckBuyer the year, make, model, VIN, mileage or engine hours when available, operating condition, truck location, title status, and any known lien.

EasyTruckBuyer has been buying trucks since 2007 and considers trucks from individuals, owner-operators, businesses, and fleets throughout all 50 states. Every inquiry is evaluated before any offer decision. If a purchase is accepted, free towing is included.

Get Your Truck Evaluated See How It Works

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