Yes, jet skis do have titles in Michigan, and the state requires one for every unit. Because a jet ski has an internal combustion engine built permanently into its hull, it falls under Michigan’s rule that any watercraft with a permanently affixed engine must be titled through the Secretary of State, regardless of length.1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft You also need a separate registration before you can legally ride on state waters.
Why the Title Requirement Applies to Jet Skis
Michigan requires a certificate of title for two categories of watercraft: those 20 feet or longer, and those with a permanently affixed engine at any length.1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft Jet skis land in the second category. A 10-foot personal watercraft needs a title the same way a 30-foot cabin cruiser does.
The title is a legal document issued by the Secretary of State that proves ownership, much like a car title.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324 – Section 80312 Certificate of Title for Watercraft You will need it any time you sell, trade, or transfer the jet ski, and insurers generally will not write a policy without one.
How to Title a Jet Ski in Michigan
What you file depends on whether the jet ski is new or used.
For a brand-new jet ski, the dealer provides a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO), which serves as your initial proof of ownership. For a used jet ski, you need the seller’s existing Michigan title signed over to you, or a bill of sale showing both parties’ names and addresses, the year and make, and the Hull Identification Number.1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft
The HIN is a 12-character code permanently affixed to the hull. The U.S. Coast Guard has required it on every watercraft manufactured or imported for sale since November 1972, and you will find it on the transom or near the stern.3eCFR. Title 33, Part 181 Manufacturer Requirements Verify this number against the seller’s paperwork before you hand over money. A mismatch is one of the fastest ways to stall a title application.
Submit the completed watercraft title application along with your ownership documents to any Secretary of State branch office in person or by mail. The application asks for the purchase price or fair market retail value, whichever is higher, because that figure sets your use tax. The Secretary of State processes the application and mails the physical title.
Bringing a Jet Ski From Another State
If you purchased the jet ski elsewhere, you will need the out-of-state title (or the prior state’s registration, if that state does not title personal watercraft), a bill of sale showing the purchase price, and proof of any sales tax already paid. Michigan gives credit for sales tax paid to another state, so you would only owe the difference if the other state’s rate was below 6%. Without proof of prior tax payment, expect to pay the full 6% Michigan use tax on the purchase price.
The 6% Use Tax at Titling
Michigan levies a 6% use tax on jet ski purchases.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 205 – Section 93 Use Tax Act It applies to the purchase price or fair market retail value, whichever is greater. The Department of Treasury administers it, and the Secretary of State collects it at titling.1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft On a $12,000 jet ski, that is $720 on top of your title and registration fees.
Registration Is a Separate Step
A title proves you own the jet ski. Registration is what gives you legal permission to ride it. Michigan requires both, and they are separate transactions handled through the Secretary of State. When you register, you receive a Certificate of Number (your “MC” numbers) and a color-coded decal showing the expiration date.
Display the MC numbers on each side of the forward half of the hull, with the decal placed about three inches to the right of the numbers.1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft Numbers must be at least three inches high and a color that contrasts with the hull.
Registration fees are based on length and cover a three-year period. Most jet skis fall into one of these brackets:1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft
- Under 12 feet: $14 for three years
- 12 feet to under 16 feet: $17 for three years
- 16 feet to under 21 feet: $42 for three years
If you buy a used jet ski with time left on the seller’s registration, transferring and adding two years costs $9 for units under 12 feet and $11 for units 12 to under 16 feet.1State of Michigan. Recreational Vehicles and Watercraft
Registrations expire March 31 of the third year. You can renew as early as January 1 of the expiration year, and the Secretary of State mails renewal notices. Renewals are available online, by mail, at a self-service station, or at a branch office.5Michigan Department of State. Watercraft Decal
What Happens If You Skip Titling or Registration
Operating a jet ski without a current Certificate of Number on board, without MC numbers properly displayed, or without a valid decal is a state civil infraction carrying a fine up to $500.6Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324 – Section 80122 Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act Riding with an expired or missing decal is a separate violation, also up to $500.7Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324 – Section 80124
Federal enforcement adds another layer. The U.S. Coast Guard patrols the Great Lakes and connecting waterways, and federal law makes operating an unnumbered recreational vessel on navigable waters a civil violation carrying penalties up to $1,000. A willful violation can bring criminal fines up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 46 USC Ch. 43 Recreational Vessels
The practical fallout goes beyond fines. An untitled jet ski is nearly impossible to sell legitimately, insurers will not cover it, and reconstructing ownership after the fact means proving your claim to the Secretary of State’s satisfaction, which takes considerably longer than titling correctly at purchase.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324 – Section 80312 Certificate of Title for Watercraft