No title — Michigan

Michigan Farm Equipment bill of sale for no title

Complete your Michigan farm equipment bill of sale for a no title transaction. Enter buyer and seller details, vehicle information, and generate a signed PDF in minutes.

MichiganFarm EquipmentNo title

BillOfSaleNow Legal Team

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

What to know about no title sales in Michigan

If the title is simply lost, apply for a duplicate title at your state DMV before the sale — this is the cleanest path. If no title ever existed, the buyer will likely need a bonded title: a surety bond valued at 1.5× the vehicle's appraised value that protects against future ownership disputes. The bond period is typically 3 years after which a clean title is issued.

What to include in your bill of sale

Full legal names and addresses for both buyer and seller.
Farm Equipment make, model, year, VIN, and current mileage.
Agreed sale price, payment method, and transaction date.
Any no title-specific disclosures required in Michigan.

Seller guidance

Buyer guidance

Purchasing without a title carries significant risk. You may be unable to register the vehicle, and you could lose ownership if a prior lienholder or owner surfaces. Insist the seller obtain a duplicate title or provide a surety bond as part of the transaction. Verify the VIN against the NMVTIS database to check for theft or brand history.

Michigan-Specific Note

Michigan issues bonded titles through the Secretary of State. Submit TR-54 (Application for Michigan Bonded Title) with a surety bond for 1.5x the vehicle value. The bond is held for 5 years. A mechanic's lien process is available for repair shops holding abandoned vehicles.

Legal considerations

Michigan Farm Equipment transfer fees and requirements

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

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

Farm Equipment market data and safety information

The most common farm equipment makes in private-party sales are John Deere, Case IH, AGCO, CLAAS, Kubota. Average private-party farm equipment prices range from $5,000–$200,000. Farm equipments average 0.9 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Hydraulic System, Electrical, Safety Guards.

Safety checkpoints for buying a used farm equipment

Before completing a farm equipment bill of sale in Michigan, verify these safety items:

Inspect all safety guards and shields — OSHA requires guarding on all PTO and moving parts
Check hydraulic system pressure and hose condition
Verify operator station controls and emergency shutoff function
Test lights and SMV signage for road transport
Confirm fire extinguisher is present and current (combine/baler standard)
Inspect ladder, platform, and handrails on cab-equipment
Test seat-presence switch and ensure safety interlocks are not bypassed
Verify pinch-point warning decals are legible and unmodified

Farm Equipment insurance and depreciation in Michigan

Covered under farm policy. Standalone equipment floater policies available for $300–$1,000/year. Well-maintained farm equipment retains value strongly — 50–70% after 10 years for major brands. Peak season for private farm equipment sales is late fall after harvest and late winter before planting, with an average of 50 days on market.

Farm Equipment registration and titling

Farm Equipments are classified as "Farm implement (exempt from standard registration in most states)" for registration purposes. Farm equipment is classified by function (combine, baler, planter, etc.) rather than weight. Oversized equipment may require transport permits for road movement. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to farm equipments.

Safety tips for no title farm equipment transactions

When completing a no title farm equipment sale in Michigan, always verify the vehicle against NHTSA recall databases. The most common farm equipment recall categories are Hydraulic System, Electrical, Safety Guards. Check recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls before signing the bill of sale.

Checklist for no title farm equipment sale in Michigan

Request duplicate title from DMV if title is merely lost
Run a VIN check via NMVTIS or CARFAX to confirm ownership and brand history
Obtain surety bond (1.5× appraised value) if no title exists
Complete a state VIN inspection by a licensed inspector or law enforcement
Document all known ownership history in the bill of sale
Complete TR-54 (Application for Michigan Bonded Title)
Purchase surety bond for 1.5x vehicle value — held 5 years
Consider the mechanic's lien process if vehicle was abandoned at a repair facility

Need the printable workflow?

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

Open Michigan Farm Equipment bill of sale

Why Documentation Helps Protect Asking Price

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)

Frequently asked questions

When should I use the no title page?

Use this page when your farm equipment sale in Michigan fits a no title scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.

Why does the no title 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 no title 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 no title transaction.

What are the Michigan fees for a no title farm equipment 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 farm equipment makes are most commonly sold in Michigan?

The most popular farm equipment makes in private-party sales are John Deere, Case IH, AGCO, CLAAS, Kubota. Average private-party prices range from $5,000–$200,000.

Do I pay sales tax on a no title farm equipment sale in Michigan?

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

Michigan farm equipment bill of sale by city

Create Michigan Farm Equipment Bill of Sale

Free • 3 min • Printable PDF