Sterling Heights, Michigan Electric Vehicle Bill of Sale

What to include

• Buyer and seller names and addresses
• Electric Vehicle VIN and vehicle details
• Sale price and date
• Signatures from both parties

Next step

Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.

Electric Vehicle title transfer deadline in Michigan

Michigan gives the buyer 15 days from the sale date on the bill of sale to complete the electric vehicle title transfer at the MI Secretary of State – Sterling Heights Office in Sterling Heights. 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 – Sterling Heights Office (33575 Schoenherr Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48312). Bring the signed title, the completed Sterling Heights bill of sale, your ID, and payment for the $15.00 title transfer fee plus 6.00% sales tax on the purchase price.

Electric Vehicle mechanical pre-purchase checklist for Sterling Heights buyers

Before you sign the Sterling Heights bill of sale, walk through this inspection on theelectric vehicle. 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.

Common mechanical issues to inspect

• Request a battery State of Health report — most OEMs and Tesla provide this at service
• Check 12V auxiliary battery age (often only 3–4 year service life on EVs)
• Inspect battery pack tray underside for road-debris damage or coolant weep
• Verify all charging modes (Level 1, Level 2, DC fast) function at full rate
• Test electric motor mounts for tear or sag (Tesla Model S/X common at 100K+)
• Check brake-rotor surface rust — light regen use causes pad-rotor mismatch

Safety checkpoints

• 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
• Confirm orange high-voltage cabling is intact and shielding is undamaged
• Verify regenerative braking smoothness and one-pedal-driving function

Title documentation notes. EVs are titled as passenger vehicles with federal odometer disclosure required on units under 20 model years old, identical to ICE cars. More than 30 states impose an additional EV registration surcharge ($50–$225/year) to offset lost fuel tax. Buyers should request the manufacturer battery warranty transfer (typically 8 years/100K miles) and verify it survives the title transfer — Tesla and most OEMs honor it automatically, but some require an in-network inspection.