State Breaks Record for Online Registration Renewals

More customers than ever choosing to skip the trip to branch office

LANSING, MI - Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - The Department of State’s online renewal program for vehicle and watercraft license plate registrations has reached an all-time high for the number of transactions recorded, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced today.

During the 12 months ending May 31, the 12th year of the program, more than 1.2 million online renewal transactions were recorded, including 1,189,840 vehicle and 47,930 watercraft registrations. That was a 9 percent increase from the previous year’s total of 1,130,938. Since the program began on June 19, 1998, there have been nearly 7 million transactions.

“Whether by desktop, laptop, tablet computer or smartphone, more and more customers are renewing their registrations the easy way—online,” Land said. “This timesaving technology offers the kind of convenient service that residents want from state government.”

After receiving their registration renewal notice in the mail, customers may renew their plates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by logging on to www.Michigan.gov/sos. They’ll be prompted to enter the PIN number from their renewal notice and the number of their valid Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit card. Their registration and license plate tab will then be mailed to them.

On average, transactions handled over the Internet can be processed at half the cost to the state of doing so at a branch office counter, Land said.

Customers still can renew their tabs by Self-Service Station, phone or mail as well. Visit the department’s Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos or call 1-888-SOS-MICH for more information about offices and services.