California vs Michigan: RV Bill of Sale Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side: California vs Michigan RV sale
| Feature | California | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Official bill of sale form | REG 135 — Bill of Sale | TR-52 — Vehicle Bill of Sale |
| Sales / use tax rate | 7.25% sales/use tax · California procedure | 6% sales/use tax · Michigan procedure |
| Title fee (buyer pays) | $23 | $15 |
| Title transfer deadline | 10 days from sale | 15 days from sale |
| Notarization requirement | Not required | Not required |
| Lien release process | REG 227 | TR-11L |
| Odometer disclosure cutoff | Required for RVs newer than 2011 | Required for RVs newer than 2011 |
| VIN inspection (out-of-state) | Required (out-of-state vehicles) | Required (out-of-state vehicles) |
| Titling agency | California DMV | Michigan SOS |
When to choose California vs Michigan
Michigan charges 6% vs 7.25% in California, a 1.25-point spread the buyer pays at title transfer. California requires title transfer within 10 days; Michigan allows 15. Tight 10-day deadlines push back-dated late fees onto buyers who delay. Both states publish official bill of sale forms (California: REG 135, Michigan: TR-52), so the form itself is a non-issue — what matters is which one your titling agency accepts and how the odometer block reads. For a RV sale comparison, the buyer-side cost stack is dominated by sales/use tax, title fee, and any inspection or notary trip. Sellers should match the bill of sale format to the buyer's titling state because the buyer files the title transfer, not the seller.
Cross-state transfer: California to Michigan
If the RV moves from California to Michigan after the sale, the buyer registers and titles in Michigan — not California. The seller's bill of sale should still match California sale-side conventions (because the sale happened there), but the buyer takes that bill of sale plus the endorsed California title to Michigan SOS within 15 days of arrival. Michigan will assess 6% sales or use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued. Michigan requires a VIN inspection for vehicles arriving from out of state — Out-of-state vehicles must have a VIN inspection by a Michigan Secretary of State office before a Michigan title is issued. The federal odometer disclosure rules apply regardless of which state owns the title at sale time; RVs newer than 2011 need a written odometer reading on the bill of sale or title. If a lien existed on the California title, the California lienholder must release it (REG 227) before Michigan SOS will issue a clean title to the buyer.
Generate a state-specific RV bill of sale
Pick the buyer's titling state — the form ships pre-filled with the right odometer block, signature lines, and state-specific fields.
Frequently asked questions — California vs Michigan
Is the RV bill of sale form different in California vs Michigan?▾
Yes. California uses REG 135 (Bill of Sale) and Michigan uses TR-52 (Vehicle Bill of Sale). The buyer files the bill of sale at the state where they title the RV, so match the form to the titling state, not the sale state.
Which state has lower sales tax on a private-party RV sale, California or Michigan?▾
Michigan (6%) has the lower published state rate vs California (7.25%). Local county and city rates can shift this — check the buyer's home county before the sale.
What is the title transfer deadline for a RV in California vs Michigan?▾
California requires the buyer to title the RV within 10 days of sale. Michigan allows 15 days. Missing the deadline triggers late fees and back-dated registration penalties in both states.
Do I need to notarize the RV bill of sale in California or Michigan?▾
Neither California nor Michigan requires notarization of the RV bill of sale. A signed document with both parties' full names, addresses, and the date is sufficient.
If I sell a RV in California and the buyer registers it in Michigan, which state's rules apply?▾
The buyer titles and registers the RV in Michigan — Michigan's rules govern the title transfer. The seller's bill of sale should still reflect California sale-side conventions because the sale closed there. Michigan SOS will assess 6% sales/use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued, regardless of where the sale occurred.