Yes if you have a cottage in Michigan where you keep the boat, for example, and you live in Ohio, you can register a boat in Michigan if you live in another state. If you’re transferring a boat from another owner, start at michigan.gov/sos. If you’re buying a new boat from a dealer in Michigan, they will have your new registration set up for you when you buy the boat and initiate this transfer for you.
If you need to go IN to a location, find one near your place in Michigan. Most communities, even small ones, have a Secretary of State branch, or they are often located in Meijer stores too. If you live, say, in Florida, half the year (lucky you!) and want your boat registered at your second home in Michigan, you’ll do the same process – register your boat or renew your boat online. If you bought the boat in Florida, use the TRANSFER process to bring it into Michigan with a Michigan MC number. If you bought the boat (new) in Michigan, your dealer will have your new registration paperwork. If you bought it used you’ll TRANSFER the boat from the previous owner to you. The language on the Secretary of State Website uses TRANSFER now, rather than REGISTER. Because that’s the process these days!
Frankfort, Michigan, seen below, is a terrific place to have a second home! You can get a Michigan Sticker of this photo too! Taken from Frankfort Beach in 2015 by Ann Siegle.
