In Michigan, you can donate a car even if the registration is expired or has been lapsed for years. With Great Lakes Givers, what really matters is that you have a valid Michigan title in your name—not current tags or plates. You don’t have to stand in line at the SOS, pay back registration fees, or make the car roadworthy. We send a professional towing partner to pick it up for free anywhere from Detroit and Grand Rapids to Traverse City and Marquette, and you still receive your tax receipt.
Here’s how it works in practical Michigan terms: you sign your Michigan title over to Great Lakes Givers, we arrange a free tow (the vehicle does not have to run or be insured), and once it’s picked up, responsibility transfers to the charity. We work with Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) whose programs support people who are blind or visually impaired. After pickup, you should notify the Michigan Secretary of State of the transfer so you’re not responsible for future tickets or fees. Whether your car is sitting in a driveway in Warren, behind an apartment in East Lansing, or at a repair shop in Kalamazoo, we can help you move it on—without renewing the registration.
How to get your free pickup scheduled
1. Confirm you have the Michigan title in your name
Find your Michigan vehicle title and check that your name is listed as the owner and that there are no unresolved liens. Current tags are not required. If the title is in your name, your expired registration won’t block the donation. If you’re missing the title, you can request a duplicate from the Michigan Secretary of State before we schedule pickup.
2. Tell us about your car and expired registration
Go online or call Great Lakes Givers and share basic details: year, make, model, location, and that the registration is expired. Let us know if it runs or has been sitting for a long time. We accept most vehicles in Michigan, even if they’re non-running, unregistered, or stored in a driveway, garage, or lot. We’ll answer any Michigan-specific questions on the spot.
3. Schedule your free Michigan tow truck pickup
We coordinate a free tow anywhere in Michigan—Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, the Upper Peninsula and beyond. The car does not need current plates, insurance, or inspection, and it doesn’t have to be drivable. Our towing partner meets you (or a designated contact), verifies the vehicle, and loads it up so you never have to drive a car with expired tags.
4. Sign the title and hand over the keys (if available)
At pickup, you’ll sign the Michigan title over to Great Lakes Givers following the instructions we provide. If you still have plates on the car, you can remove them before it leaves. Keys are helpful but often not required for many tow-away vehicles. Once the tow truck leaves, the vehicle becomes the charity’s responsibility, not yours.
5. Notify the Michigan SOS and receive your tax receipt
After donation, you should notify the Michigan Secretary of State of the transfer of ownership and keep your copy of the title or bill of sale. This helps protect you from future tickets or fees. Great Lakes Givers then processes the donation with Heritage for the Blind. You’ll receive a tax receipt—typically at least $500 value—with instructions for using Form 1098-C if your deduction exceeds $500.
Potential complications to watch for
Title problems can slow things down more than expired tags
Tip: Expired registration usually isn’t an issue, but a missing or incorrect title can delay pickup. Make sure the Michigan title is in your name and signed where indicated. If you’ve lost it or your name has changed, contact the Michigan Secretary of State for a duplicate or correction before scheduling your donation.
Cars stored in tight or gated spots may need planning
Tip: If your car is tucked in a backyard in Ferndale, stuck in a garage in Sterling Heights, or behind a gate at a complex in Lansing, we can still usually tow it—but we may need access arrangements. Let us know about gates, low ceilings, or HOA rules when you schedule so we send the right truck and avoid rescheduling.
Tickets or fees tied to your name may linger if you skip notice
Tip: Donating the vehicle doesn’t automatically update state records. After you sign over the title, notify the Michigan Secretary of State and remove your plates. This helps ensure you’re not held responsible for future parking tickets, tolls, or municipal issues involving the vehicle after donation.
Non-Michigan titles on a car in Michigan need an extra look
Tip: If your car is sitting in Michigan but titled in another state, we can often still accept it, but the process can differ slightly. Tell us which state the title is from when you contact Great Lakes Givers. We’ll walk you through what’s needed so your expired registration still doesn’t become a roadblock.