The short answer
| Question | Michigan answer |
|---|---|
| Late renewal fee | $10, flat, per registration. It applies whenever the registration tax is received after the plate expiration date and doesn't grow with time. |
| Grace period | None. The fee applies from the day after expiry. The COVID-era extensions ended in 2021. |
| Waivers | No fee if your mail renewal was postmarked before expiry. The fee must be waived if you had storage insurance for the whole lapse (see below). |
| Ticket for driving on it | Civil infraction: fine of up to $100, plus a $40 justice system assessment and possible costs. |
The $10 late fee
Under MCL 257.801(4), the Secretary of State adds $10 when the registration tax is received after the plate's expiration date. It's charged once per registration, however late you are.
Michigan doesn't prorate a late renewal either: you pay the full renewal tax for the new registration period on top of the $10, even though part of that period has already passed.
Example
Your plate expired and you renew three weeks later. You pay the full yearly registration tax plus $10. Renewing three months later costs the same: full tax plus $10.
Car in storage? Ask for the waiver
If your car sat unused with storage insurance covering the whole time the registration was expired (a common winter set-up), the Secretary of State must waive the $10 late fee. Two conditions:
- Show proof of storage insurance covering the entire lapse.
- Ask for the waiver in person at a Secretary of State branch when you renew.
Separately, no late fee applies if you renewed by mail and the envelope was postmarked before the expiration date.
Ticket for driving with expired tabs
Driving an unregistered vehicle breaks MCL 257.255. For a passenger car it's a civil infraction. The fine is capped at $100 (MCL 257.907(2)(a)) and the court sets the actual amount within that cap. A $40 justice system assessment is added (MCL 257.907(13)), and the court may add costs.
Commercial vehicles registered under the elected gross vehicle weight schedule are treated more seriously: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
Fleet-program vehicles pay a $100 late fee per vehicle instead of $10 (MCL 257.801h(4)).
What renewal costs
The Michigan calculator shows the registration fee, which is based on the car's list price and drops in the second, third and fourth years. For other states, see car registration late fees by state and what an expired registration ticket costs. Nearby states: Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Bought or sold a car? See Michigan title transfer fees for the $15 title fee, 6% use tax and the 15-day deadline.
What this guide doesn't cover
Court costs beyond the $40 assessment, which vary by court, and the rules for trailers and motorcycles.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an expired tags ticket in Michigan?
Up to $100, plus a $40 justice system assessment and possible costs. Courts set the actual fine within the $100 cap (MCL 257.907).
Is there a grace period for expired registration in Michigan?
No. The $10 late fee applies from the day after the plate expires. The COVID-era extensions ended in 2021 and no longer apply.
How much is the late fee to renew registration in Michigan?
$10, flat, per registration (MCL 257.801(4)). It doesn't increase with time, but the full renewal tax is due on top of it.
Can the Michigan late fee be waived?
Yes, in two cases: your mail renewal was postmarked before expiry, or you show proof of storage insurance covering the whole lapse and ask for the waiver in person at a branch when renewing.
Calculate your Michigan fees
Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.
- Registration fee (1 yr)Based on original MSRP$178.00
- Title fee$15.00
- License plateNew standard plate$5.00
- Sales tax6% of price$1,800.00
Total excludes items marked "not available".
What you'll pay later
Renewal at today's rates: $178.00/yr
5-year total: not shown, because the registration fee drops in the second, third and fourth years.
Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.
Rates and sources for every fee are on the Michigan car registration fee calculator page.
- Michigan Compiled Laws 257.801: registration tax and $10 late fee (subsection 4) – legislature.mi.gov
- Michigan Compiled Laws 257.801h: fleet program, $100 late fee (subsection 4) – legislature.mi.gov
- Michigan Compiled Laws 257.255: operating an unregistered vehicle – legislature.mi.gov
- Michigan Compiled Laws 257.907: civil infraction fine and justice system assessment – legislature.mi.gov
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.
Related guides
- PenaltiesCar registration late fees in all 50 statesLate registration renewal fees by state from official sources: $5 in Missouri, $10 in Michigan and Virginia, $20 in Illinois, none in Maryland or Pennsylvania.Read guide →
- MichiganMichigan Car Title Transfer Fees: $15 Title Fee, 6% Use Tax and the 15-Day DeadlineMichigan title transfer: $15 title fee, 6% use tax on price or retail value, 15-day deadline and $15 late fee. Family exemptions and worked totals inside.Read guide →
- RankingsCheapest and most expensive states to register a car in 2026The 50 states we cover, ranked by what it costs to register a $30,000 car in 2026: fees alone and with sales tax, from official rates.Read guide →