Trailer registration
Trailer registration in Michigan: the agency, the required documents, and the exact steps, sourced from Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State).
Who to contact
Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State)
Visit the official Michigan pageStep by step
Establish proof of ownership (title, assigned ownership document, dealer bill of sale, or seller bill of sale with year/make/VIN)
Title the trailer if it weighs 2,500 lbs or more
Obtain a permanent trailer plate at a Secretary of State office (plate fee based on empty weight)
What to bring
Fees & renewal
Fees
Not published on the official page as of September 2, 2026 — confirm the exact fee with Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State).
Renewal
Renews none (permanent plate never expires).
Good to know
Michigan issues a PERMANENT trailer plate that never expires (no annual renewal); plate fee is set by empty weight. A title is required only for trailers 2,500 lbs or more; under 2,500 lbs is not titled but still gets a plate.
More for Michigan
General guidance
Most states require any trailer towed on public roads to carry a title or registration, but the agency, the paperwork, and whether the rule depends on trailer weight vary by state. Pick your state below for the sourced, step-by-step process.
Nearly every state asks for a title, a manufacturer’s certificate of origin, or a bill of sale before it will issue a registration or plate. A homemade or older trailer without a title usually needs a separate title-application process before registration.
A number of states only require registration above a set gross weight, or price the fee by weight class. Check your state’s page below for whether a weight threshold applies before you assume a small utility trailer is exempt.
Most states issue the trailer plate through a county tag office, license plate agent, or DMV field office rather than by mail from the state capital. Confirm the exact office in the state guide below before you drive over.
Common questions
Yes — Michigan requires registration for this vehicle type. Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) handles it; see the steps above.
Michigan lists a none (permanent plate never expires) renewal cadence for this vehicle type.
It depends on the state and, in several states, on the trailer’s weight. Some states exempt trailers under a set gross weight from registration entirely, while others require every trailer towed on public roads to carry a plate. Check your state’s guide below — never assume a small trailer is exempt without confirming with the agency listed there.
Homemade trailers and some older trailers were never titled. Most states have a bonded-title or title-application process for exactly this situation — it usually starts at the same agency that handles trailer registration. The state guide below names that agency.