How to Complete a VIN Inspection in Michigan

A Michigan VIN inspection is not part of the routine process for converting an ordinary out-of-state title to a Michigan title. If you are simply moving to Michigan or bringing in a vehicle you already hold a clean title for, the Secretary of State only asks you to confirm on your own that the VIN on your documents matches the VIN on the vehicle. A physical, officer-conducted VIN inspection instead comes into play in two narrower situations: when a salvage-titled vehicle is being recertified for the road, and when a vehicle is assembled, reconstructed, or converted from off-road use (such as an ORV or ATV) to on-road use.

When is a Michigan VIN Inspection Required?

To convert a standard out-of-state title, you generally only need to present your out-of-state title, a driver's license or ID, proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance, and your out-of-state registration (if you had one) at a Secretary of State office. No separate VIN inspection appointment is part of that process.

A physical VIN inspection is required when a vehicle carries, or is being converted from, a salvage title. Once a salvage-titled vehicle has been repaired or rebuilt, it can only be re-titled and registered for road use after it passes an inspection performed by a specially trained law enforcement officer known as a salvage vehicle inspector. Separately, anyone assembling a vehicle from parts, or converting an off-road vehicle (ORV) or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to on-road use, must have the vehicle undergo a Vehicle Number/On-Road Equipment Inspection.

Who Performs a Michigan VIN Inspection, and Where

Salvage vehicle recertification inspections are performed only by a certified salvage vehicle inspector — a specially trained law enforcement officer, not a general Secretary of State clerk or a private garage. Before scheduling the inspection, the owner completes an Application for Salvage Vehicle Inspection (form TR-13A) together with a licensed mechanic; at the inspection itself, the salvage vehicle inspector completes a Salvage Vehicle Recertification form (TR-13B).

The Vehicle Number/On-Road Equipment Inspection used for assembled or converted vehicles is completed by a Michigan police officer, who verifies that the vehicle has the equipment required for on-road registration. That inspection alone doesn't qualify the vehicle for a title, however — a Michigan Department of State Regulation Monitoring Division agent still has to schedule and conduct a separate final inspection, and it's that agent who places the assigned VIN sticker on the vehicle once everything passes.

What to Bring to a Michigan VIN Inspection

For a salvage vehicle recertification, bring:

• The completed TR-13A application
• The assigned title, along with bills of sale or receipts for all parts used in the rebuild
• The vehicle itself, ready for the inspecting officer to verify the repair parts and confirm compliance with Michigan Vehicle Code equipment and safety requirements

For an assembled or converted vehicle, bring:

• Ownership documents (titles, assigned ownership documents, or original bills of sale) for every major component used, including the engine, transmission, body parts, and frame
• A certification statement describing the vehicle, who assembled it, and when and where
• Payment of the $10 fee for the newly assigned VIN

What Happens After the Inspection

If a salvage vehicle passes recertification, the inspecting officer signs off on the TR-13B, clearing the way for the vehicle to be re-titled and registered for road use. If an assembled or converted vehicle passes its police equipment inspection, a Regulatory Monitoring Division agent still has to complete a final inspection and affix the assigned VIN sticker before the new title is mailed. In neither case does completing the inspection form by law enforcement, by itself, qualify a vehicle for a title or registration — the Secretary of State's final review and paperwork still have to be completed.