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Seller financing — Michigan

Michigan Electric Vehicle bill of sale for seller financing

Complete your Michigan electric vehicle bill of sale for a seller financing transaction. Enter buyer and seller details, vehicle information, and generate a signed PDF in minutes.

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Reviewed against state DMV requirementsLast reviewed: March 20266 min readEditorial policy

What to know about seller financing sales in Michigan

Seller financing is a regulated credit transaction under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 1026). You must provide the buyer with a written disclosure of APR, finance charge, total amount financed, payment schedule, and total of payments before the contract is signed. Perfect your security interest by recording yourself as a lienholder on the title with the DMV.

What to include in your bill of sale

  • Full legal names and addresses for both buyer and seller.
  • Electric Vehicle make, model, year, VIN, and current mileage.
  • Agreed sale price, payment method, and transaction date.
  • Any seller financing-specific disclosures required in Michigan.

Seller guidance

Seller financing is a regulated credit transaction under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 1026). You must provide the buyer with a written disclosure of APR, finance charge, total amount financed, payment schedule, and total of payments before the contract is signed. Perfect your security interest by recording yourself as a lienholder on the title with the DMV.

Buyer guidance

You are entitled to a written TILA disclosure before signing. Review the APR and total cost carefully — seller financing often carries higher rates than traditional lenders. The seller retains a lien on the vehicle until you pay in full; failure to make payments can result in repossession under the terms of your agreement and your state's repossession laws.

Legal considerations

TILA (15 U.S.C. § 1638) and Regulation Z require written disclosures for any credit transaction. A separate promissory note and security agreement should accompany the bill of sale. The seller must file a UCC-1 financing statement or record the lien on the title to perfect the security interest under UCC Article 9. State usury laws cap the maximum interest rate for private installment sales.

Michigan Electric Vehicle transfer fees and requirements

In Michigan, the title transfer fee is $15 and registration costs Based on vehicle list price; varies widely. Electric Vehicle sales are subject to 6% use tax on purchase price. Michigan does not require notarization for private-party electric vehicle transfers. Michigan does not require emission testing for private-party electric vehicle sales.

  • Secretary of State handles title and registration
  • Title transfer must be completed within 15 days
  • Plate transfer allowed between vehicles owned by same person

Michigan sales tax on electric vehicle purchases

Michigan has a 6% state sales tax rate. Flat 6% use tax statewide. Private-party electric vehicle sales in Michigan are subject to sales tax. Use tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. The title transfer fee is $15.

Electric Vehicle market data and safety information

The most common electric vehicle makes in private-party sales are Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford, Rivian, Hyundai. Average private-party electric vehicle prices range from $12,000–$60,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent electric vehicle models is 4.6 out of 5 stars. Electric vehicles average 2.8 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Battery/High Voltage, Software/OTA Updates, Charging System.

Safety checkpoints for buying a used electric vehicle

Before completing a electric vehicle bill of sale in Michigan, verify these safety items:

  • 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
  • Test pedestrian-warning sound (federally required at low speed)
  • Inspect for prior collision-repair history that touched the battery pack tray

Electric Vehicle insurance and depreciation in Michigan

EV insurance costs 10–25% more than comparable gas cars due to higher repair costs and battery replacement risk. EV depreciation is volatile — Tesla holds value best, while some models lose 50–60% in 3 years. Battery warranty transfer is a key value factor. Peak season for private electric vehicle sales is spring when gas prices typically rise and ev incentive programs refresh, with an average of 28 days on market.

Electric Vehicle registration and titling

Electric Vehicles are classified as "Passenger vehicle (EV-specific registration fees apply in 30+ states to offset lost fuel tax revenue)" for registration purposes. EVs weigh 20–30% more than comparable gas vehicles due to battery packs. Some states have proposed weight-based surcharges. Federal odometer disclosure is required for electric vehicles under 20 years old.

Michigan requirements for seller financing electric vehicle sales

For seller financing electric vehicle transactions in Michigan, the buyer must pay 6% use tax on purchase price and a $15 title transfer fee. Notarization is not required. Odometer disclosure is required.

  • Secretary of State handles title and registration
  • Title transfer must be completed within 15 days
  • Plate transfer allowed between vehicles owned by same person

Safety tips for seller financing electric vehicle transactions

When completing a seller financing electric vehicle sale in Michigan, always verify the vehicle against NHTSA recall databases. The most common electric vehicle recall categories are Battery/High Voltage, Software/OTA Updates, Charging System. Check recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls before signing the bill of sale.

Checklist for seller financing electric vehicle sale in Michigan

  1. Prepare a written promissory note specifying principal, APR, payment schedule, and total cost
  2. Provide TILA disclosure box (APR, finance charge, amount financed, total payments) at signing
  3. Record the seller's lien on the vehicle title at the DMV
  4. Include default and repossession terms in the financing agreement
  5. File a UCC-1 financing statement if relying on UCC Article 9 (varies by state for titled vehicles)

Need the printable workflow?

Use the main Michigan electric vehicle bill of sale flow when you are ready to generate the completed document.

Open Michigan Electric Vehicle bill of sale

The Private Vehicle Sale Market

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I use the seller financing page?

Use this page when your electric vehicle sale in Michigan fits a seller financing scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.

Why does the seller financing scenario have its own page?

Different sale scenarios — such as private party, dealer, or gifted transfers — have different documentation requirements. This page focuses on what buyers and sellers need for a seller financing transaction specifically.

What should be included in this bill of sale?

Include the buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers, sale price, date, signatures, and any notes specific to the seller financing transaction.

What are the Michigan fees for a seller financing electric vehicle transfer?

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 for most transfers.

What electric vehicle makes are most commonly sold in Michigan?

The most popular electric vehicle makes in private-party sales are Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford, Rivian, Hyundai. Average private-party prices range from $12,000–$60,000.

Do I pay sales tax on a seller financing electric vehicle sale in Michigan?

Michigan has a 6% state sales tax rate. Use tax applies to private party vehicle purchases

Michigan electric vehicle bill of sale by city

Create Michigan Electric Vehicle Bill of Sale

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Trusted by private vehicle sellers nationwide

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