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Michigan boat and trailer move

Move a Boat and Trailer to Michigan

Register a boat through Michigan's title, ownership, tax, hull-number, and operator rules while keeping its highway trailer separate.

Use this order

Prepare the boat and trailer before the office visit

The government instructions are free. We show a private provider only when it is authorized for this vehicle and task.

  1. 1. Check when the application becomes due

    A boat registered in another state may use Michigan waters for up to 60 days. Michigan registration is required after that point when the boat is stored or anchored in Michigan and used exclusively on Michigan waterways, so do not treat the temporary-use exception as an indefinite resident registration.

  2. 2. Prepare the correct ownership record

    Michigan titles a watercraft 20 feet or longer and any watercraft with a permanently affixed engine, regardless of length. Use the assigned prior title when required, or the signed prior registration, bill of sale, manufacturer certificate, bond, self-certification, or Coast Guard documentation that fits the ownership history.

  3. 3. Complete identification and inspection

    Verify the hull identification number against every ownership document before filing. Michigan requires a HIN on every titled boat and on a non-titled boat when it is first registered; the state assigns one when an eligible boat has none. Title and register the highway trailer separately by its VIN and empty weight.

  4. 4. Register the correct vehicle class

    Register motorized and other covered watercraft for a three-year Michigan decal unless a listed exemption applies. Pay the length-based fee and six percent sales tax or show proof of tax already paid. A Coast Guard documented vessel does not receive a Michigan title but still needs Michigan registration.

Vehicle classification

Check the exact vehicle class

An operator born on or after July 1, 1996 needs a boating safety certificate for a motorboat over six horsepower. Personal-watercraft rules are stricter: the minimum operating age is 14, operators ages 14 and 15 need a certificate and adult supervision, and an operator born after December 31, 1978 needs a certificate.

Open the primary Michigan source before completing a form or paying a fee. The official agency decides which forms and checks apply to the specific vehicle.

Open the primary official source
No verified provider is listed for this exact transaction yet

Use the official state instructions. We do not show a near-match, unverified business, or provider with an expired authorization.

Open the official state guide
Separate state records

Other vehicles moving to Michigan

Open only the guide for the vehicle you are registering.

  • motorcycle
    Move a Motorcycle to Michigan

    Move an out-of-state motorcycle through Michigan's immediate title, no-fault insurance, registration, and CY endorsement steps.

  • rv
    Move an RV or Motorhome to Michigan

    Title and register a personal motorhome in Michigan while separating its ownership, no-fault insurance, driver-license, and recreational-double rules.

  • trailer
    Move a Trailer to Michigan

    Register a trailer in Michigan using its own empty-weight, permanent-plate, title, assembled-vehicle, and brake rules.

Reviewed 2026-08-24

Official Michigan sources

These are the state pages and forms used to prepare this guide.