Top Access the Vehicle Code

Want to know what it takes to be an auto dealer in Michigan or what the penalty is for leaving the scene of an accident? How about what "manufacturer’s vehicle" means? It’s all there in black and white in the Michigan Vehicle Code, 293 pages of edge-to-edge type with no pictures, no drawings, and no plot.

But the vehicle code―first passed in 1949―is essential reading if you’re a wannabe car dealer, involved in law enforcement, or want to just get a clearer picture of why you were stopped for "following too closely."

The MVC is a living document that's altered slightly on a near-constant basis. Each legislative session sees a repeal or amendment to one section or another. That’s because as Michigan’s society changes, its laws need to keep pace. For instance, new technologies can make old laws obsolete.

In 2007 alone, there have been some 50 Senate and House bills introduced in the State Legislature that applied to the vehicle code. These ranged from a law requiring safety belts on school buses, to a proposal introducing a new breast cancer license plate.

Top How to Access the Vehicle Code

The Michigan Vehicle Code is available for download as a PDF file or HTML file, or it can be viewed, section-by-section, online.

Here’s a quick look at what’s available:

• Chapter I―Words and Phrases Defined (257.1...257.82)

• Chapter II―Administration, Registration, Certificate of Title and Anti-Theft (257.201...257.259)

• Chapter III―Operator's and Chauffeur's License (257.301...257.329)

• Chapter IV―Civil Liability Act (257.401...257.404)

• Chapter V―Financial Responsibility Act (257.501...257.532)

• Chapter VI―Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws (257.601...257.750)

• Chapter VII―Registration Fees (257.801...257.821)

• Chapter VIII―Penalties (257.901...257.910)

• Chapter IX―Miscellaneous (257.921...257.923)

Top Check Your Driver's License Status

Whenever you need or want to check the status of your driver’s license, you can order a driving record report. This record will spell out if your driver’s license is currently valid. Should your license have been revoked or suspended, the report will indicate that according to what’s on record at the SOS. This report will also show points against your license and, in some cases, information on any accidents you have had.

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