Do I need a special bill of sale for a junk tractor in Michigan?
Michigan requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A junk tractor may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Junk vehicle bill of sale
Selling a junk tractor in Michigan? Junk or scrap vehicle sale — generate the right bill of sale for your transaction.
When selling a junk tractor through a private party sale in Michigan, a bill of sale protects both the buyer and seller by documenting the transaction details and the vehicle's condition at the time of sale.
Michigan issues a Certificate of Scrapping for junk vehicles through the Secretary of State. The title must be surrendered and the vehicle can only be sold to a licensed scrap processor.
Michigan Vehicle Code Section 257.217c requires disclosure of scrap status. The bill of sale must state the vehicle is sold for scrap only.
A Michigan vehicle with a scrap certificate cannot be rebuilt, re-titled, or registered. It is permanently designated for scrap only.
In Michigan, the title transfer fee is $15 and registration costs Based on vehicle list price; varies widely. Tractor sales are subject to 6% use tax on purchase price. Michigan does not require notarization for private-party tractor transfers. Michigan does not require emission testing for private-party tractor sales.
Michigan has a 6% state sales tax rate. Flat 6% use tax statewide. Private-party tractor sales in Michigan are subject to sales tax. Use tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. The title transfer fee is $15.
The most common tractor makes in private-party sales are John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Case IH. Average private-party tractor prices range from $5,000–$50,000. Tractors average 1 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Hydraulic System, PTO Shield, Electrical.
Before completing a tractor bill of sale in Michigan, verify these safety items:
Farm tractors are typically covered under a farm liability policy, not auto insurance. Standalone tractor insurance averages $200–$600/year. Tractors hold value exceptionally well — John Deere and Kubota models retain 60–80% after 10 years. Peak season for private tractor sales is late winter to early spring ahead of planting season, with an average of 40 days on market.
Tractors are classified as "Farm equipment (exempt from standard vehicle registration in most states when used for agriculture)" for registration purposes. Tractors are measured by PTO horsepower rather than weight. On-road operation may require slow-moving vehicle (SMV) signage. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to tractors.
Tractor title requirements depend on whether the tractor is used for agriculture or commercial purposes. Many states exempt farm tractors from standard title and registration requirements. Non-agricultural tractors may need standard title transfer. Many states do not title farm tractors. A bill of sale with the serial number, make, model, and year is often the only ownership document. Non-farm tractors used commercially may require a standard title.
When selling a tractor in Michigan, the following disclosures apply:
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.
Generate a Michigan tractor bill of sale with condition details included.
Create Michigan Tractor Bill of SaleMichigan requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A junk tractor may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Include buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers (VIN, year, make, model), sale price, date, signatures, and a clear description of the vehicle condition as junk.
Yes. A properly completed bill of sale is a legal document in Michigan. For junk vehicles, disclosing the condition protects both buyer and seller.
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.
Average private-party tractor prices range from $5,000–$50,000. Junk vehicles typically fall in the lower range. The most common makes are John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Case IH.
Verify ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) is present and unmodified Check hydraulic system for leaks — lines, cylinders, and fittings
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