Michigan vs New York: Snowmobile Bill of Sale Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side: Michigan vs New York snowmobile sale
| Feature | Michigan | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Official bill of sale form | TR-52 — Vehicle Bill of Sale | MV-912 — Vehicle Bill of Sale |
| Sales / use tax rate | 6% sales/use tax · Michigan procedure | 4% sales/use tax · New York procedure |
| Title fee (buyer pays) | $15 | $50 |
| Title transfer deadline | 15 days from sale | 10 days from sale |
| Notarization requirement | Not required | Not required |
| Lien release process | TR-11L | MV-190 |
| Odometer disclosure cutoff | Required for snowmobiles newer than 2011 | Required for snowmobiles newer than 2011 |
| VIN inspection (out-of-state) | Required (out-of-state vehicles) | Required (out-of-state vehicles) |
| Titling agency | Michigan SOS | New York DMV |
When to choose Michigan vs New York
New York charges 4% vs 6% in Michigan, a 2.00-point spread the buyer pays at title transfer. Michigan requires title transfer within 15 days; New York allows 10. Tight 10-day deadlines push back-dated late fees onto buyers who delay. Both states publish official bill of sale forms (Michigan: TR-52, New York: MV-912), 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 snowmobile 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: Michigan to New York
If the snowmobile moves from Michigan to New York after the sale, the buyer registers and titles in New York — not Michigan. The seller's bill of sale should still match Michigan sale-side conventions (because the sale happened there), but the buyer takes that bill of sale plus the endorsed Michigan title to New York DMV within 10 days of arrival. New York will assess 4% sales or use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued. New York requires a VIN inspection for vehicles arriving from out of state — Out-of-state vehicles must pass a NY safety inspection within 10 days of registration. The federal odometer disclosure rules apply regardless of which state owns the title at sale time; snowmobiles newer than 2011 need a written odometer reading on the bill of sale or title. If a lien existed on the Michigan title, the Michigan lienholder must release it (TR-11L) before New York DMV will issue a clean title to the buyer.
Generate a state-specific snowmobile 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 — Michigan vs New York
Is the snowmobile bill of sale form different in Michigan vs New York?▾
Yes. Michigan uses TR-52 (Vehicle Bill of Sale) and New York uses MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale). The buyer files the bill of sale at the state where they title the snowmobile, so match the form to the titling state, not the sale state.
Which state has lower sales tax on a private-party snowmobile sale, Michigan or New York?▾
New York (4%) has the lower published state rate vs Michigan (6%). 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 snowmobile in Michigan vs New York?▾
Michigan requires the buyer to title the snowmobile within 15 days of sale. New York allows 10 days. Missing the deadline triggers late fees and back-dated registration penalties in both states.
Do I need to notarize the snowmobile bill of sale in Michigan or New York?▾
Neither Michigan nor New York requires notarization of the snowmobile bill of sale. A signed document with both parties' full names, addresses, and the date is sufficient.
If I sell a snowmobile in Michigan and the buyer registers it in New York, which state's rules apply?▾
The buyer titles and registers the snowmobile in New York — New York's rules govern the title transfer. The seller's bill of sale should still reflect Michigan sale-side conventions because the sale closed there. New York DMV will assess 4% sales/use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued, regardless of where the sale occurred.