Dearborn, Michigan
Use this bill of sale when selling a horse trailer in Dearborn, Michigan. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
A Dearborn, Michigan horse trailer bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership between a private buyer and seller in Dearborn. As of 2026, Michigan requires both parties to sign the bill of sale, and the buyer must present it at the MI DMV to complete title transfer.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office
Address
16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126
Phone
(888) 767-6424
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$15.00
Sales Tax Rate
6.00%
Base Registration Fee
$20.00
Michigan statewide rate 6% — no local vehicle sales tax
Michigan does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is the primary transfer document.
County Clerk / Recorder
Wayne County Clerk
Phone
(313) 224-6262
The most common horse trailer makes in private-party sales are Sundowner, Exiss, Trails West, Cimarron, Featherlite. Average private-party horse trailer prices range from $5,000–$75,000. Horse trailers average 0.6 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Axle/Suspension, Electrical, Floor Integrity.
Before completing a horse trailer bill of sale in Michigan, verify these safety items:
Horse trailer insurance averages $300–$800/year. Separate livestock mortality insurance is recommended for transit. Aluminum horse trailers hold value well — 60–70% retention over 10 years. Steel models rust and depreciate faster. Peak season for private horse trailer sales is spring when show and competition season begins, with an average of 35 days on market.
Horse Trailers are classified as "Horse/livestock trailer (standard trailer registration with weight-class titling)" for registration purposes. Two-horse bumper-pull trailers: 3,000–5,000 lbs. Gooseneck trailers for 3+ horses: 7,000–15,000 lbs. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to horse trailers.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 2,419 bill of sale documents for Michigan transactions, with 65 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
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)
Michigan gives the buyer 15 days from the sale date on the bill of sale to complete the horse trailer title transfer at the MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office in Dearborn. Miss the 15-day window and Michigan charges a late-transfer penalty of typically $25-50 plus accrued use tax, and the seller can still appear on the title for civil liability if the buyer crashes the vehicle before retitling. Keep your signed bill of sale and the assigned title together and file as soon as you can, even if registration plates will be transferred later.
VIN inspection. Out-of-state vehicles must have a VIN inspection by a Michigan Secretary of State office before a Michigan title is issued.
File at the MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office (16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126). Bring the signed title, the completed Dearborn bill of sale, your ID, and payment for the $15.00 title transfer fee plus 6.00% sales tax on the purchase price.
Before you sign the Dearborn bill of sale, walk through this inspection on thehorse trailer. A pre-purchase inspection costs $100-200 and routinely uncovers $1,000+ in deferred maintenance — that is the figure you negotiate off the price or walk away from entirely. Use this list as your shortlist when you meet the seller or when a local mechanic looks the vehicle over.
Title documentation notes. Horse and livestock trailers are titled like any other recreational/utility trailer above the state weight threshold using the trailer’s VIN, typically classified as "horse trailer" or "livestock trailer" body type. Gooseneck trailers usually require a 1-ton tow vehicle and may need commercial tags in some states. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply, but buyers should always inspect the floorboards before transfer because failed floors are the #1 horse-injury risk.
Our Dearborn, Michigan horse trailer bill of sale research is anchored to Michigan statute citations including 49 CFR Part 390 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and reviewed against current Michigan DMV publications by Amanda K. Torres, Small Business & Commercial Vehicle Specialist. Amanda K. Torres specializes in commercial vehicle transfers and fleet sales and routinely verifies fee schedules, notarization rules, and transfer deadlines for the BillOfSaleNow editorial team. Every Dearborn requirement on this page reflects the most recent guidance from the MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office and the underlying state transportation code.
Dearborn is in Wayne County. Title transfers are handled by the MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office at 16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126. Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Phone: (888) 767-6424.
The combined rate is 6.00%. Michigan statewide rate 6% — no local vehicle sales tax.
No. Michigan does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is the primary transfer document.
Title transfer fee: $15.00. Base registration fee: $20.00. Sales tax at 6.00% is collected at the time of title transfer.
Michigan requires the buyer to transfer the title within 30 days of the sale date. Late transfers may incur penalty fees at the DMV. Bring your signed bill of sale and the assigned title to the MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office.
In most cases, no. Michigan requires a clean title to complete a private vehicle sale. If the title is lost, the seller must apply for a duplicate title before selling. The bill of sale alone does not transfer legal ownership.
You will need: (1) the signed title from the seller, (2) a completed bill of sale, (3) a valid government ID, and (4) payment for the title transfer fee ($15.00) and sales tax (6.00%). Bring all documents to the MI Secretary of State – Dearborn Office.
Yes. A properly signed bill of sale is a legally binding document that protects both the buyer and seller. It records the agreed-upon sale price, date, and vehicle details. Sellers should keep a copy to prove they are no longer liable for the vehicle after the sale date.
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)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA