vehicle illinois michigan
Registering car cosigned by another person who lives in another state
<p>I am currently renting and working in the state of Illinois.  However, I was thinking about buying a car and having my dad who lives in Michigan cosign for it.  I still consider my "permanent address" to my parents place in Michigan. Is it legal for me to register my car in Michigan?  Would the answer change if I could make my dad a co-owner on the car?</p>

<p>The question of where you are a resident is supposed to be a matter of objective fact rather than subjective viewpoint, but the law (in Illinois) does not give a uniform legal definition of residency. For instance if you have an out of state driver's license, you are not a resident, for tuition purposes. If you are in Illinois "for other than a temporary or transitory purpose during the taxable year", you are a resident <a href="ftp://www.ilga.gov/JCAR/AdminCode/086/086001000J30200R.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">for tax purposes</a>, which includes being "employed in a position that may last permanently or indefinitely". If you are registered to vote in Illinois, you are a resident. The matter of residency has presumably been established in connection with employment and state income tax. As a resident, you are required to transfer your vehicle registration to Illinois <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh%2E%203&amp;ActID=1815&amp;ChapterID=49&amp;SeqStart=35500000&amp;SeqEnd=67900000" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(625 ILCS 5/3-101(a))</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Except as provided in Section 3-102, every owner of a vehicle which is
  in this State and for which no certificate of title has been issued by
  the Secretary of State shall make application to the Secretary of
  State for a certificate of title of the vehicle.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, if the vehicle is owned by a non-resident because of 3-102 which says that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>No certificate of title need be obtained for...(3) a vehicle owned by
  a non-resident of this State and not required by law to be registered
  in this State</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If you co-own the car, this raises the question whether the fact that it is also owned by a non-resident means that the vehicle need not be registered in Illinois (as long as it is registered in Michigan: see the reciprocity section (625 ILCS 5/3-402(B))). The statute does not directly address the matter of co-ownership where the owners are residence of different states, but under a literal reading of §102 the fact of it being registered to a Michigan co-owner should suffice to be in compliance with the law. Naturally, your (Illinois) attorney should inform you as to what the law is.</p>
